Where to eat in The Greens, Dubai: plus things to do and the best place to stay

From acai bowls to maki rolls and places to picnic: here's your guide to one of Dubai's most popular residential areas

The Greens, Dubai is a great place to live. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Greens is predominantly a down-to-earth residential area, but it’s beginning to attract more visitors, thanks to its charming selection of restaurants and retail outlets

From breakfast to dinner: where to eat in The Greens

A range of tastes are catered for here. Popular neighbourhood-style cafe Arrows & Sparrows, from the same people who brought us Friends Avenue Cafe, appeals to a family-friendly crowd and serves up a decent mix of healthy and comfort food. Think acai bowls and avocado on toast next to pancakes and a pulled beef burger with six-hour slow-roasted brisket. If you prefer Japanese cuisine, there are a couple of great options. Firstly, next to Arrows & Sparrows sits Yugo Sushi, popular among those craving nigiri or maki. There's also a branch of Wagamama, which has a quaint eatery with an outdoor terrace, where you can enjoy the British chain's world-famous selection, including its relatively new vegan options. Birch Cafe & Bakery at The Greens Souk is a new addition to the area, selling homemade breads and pastries, as well as organic coffee and tea.

The map of all our top picks:

The best things to do in The Greens

One of the best yoga studios in Dubai is based in The Greens. Yoga House offers a range of sessions, as well as Pilates and meditation classes, in its quaint premises in Emaar Business Park. Nearby, there's The Pad for Pilates and Dance by Yasmin Karachiwala, the fitness instructor to Bollywood A-listers. A spot of pampering while you're here wouldn't go amiss, either. There is not one, but two Tips & Toes branches, one in The Greens Souk and the other at Panorama, offering everything from mani-pedis to massages and hair styling services.

Where to shop

For a small area, residents have a great pick of supermarkets. There's a Choithrams, which is handy for all the essentials and for its deli and bakery, while Organic Foods & Cafe offers a selection of organic fruits, vegetables, meats and more. Then there's 1004 Gourmet, a specialty Asian supermarket that sells everything from kimchi to imported meat cuts (even shabu-shabu) and every Korean sauce under the sun. The shop is also home to Kaffe Bloom, a casual cafe with a small selection of tasty sandwiches and salads, plus kakigori, a Japanese shaved ice dessert. Also there is Lamise Beauty, a haven for lovers of K-beauty products. There are a couple of spots for our furry friends, too: World of Pets, at Panorama Building, has all sorts of animal essentials, including those for aquatic critters; and Beauty Pets at Onyx Tower is a newer boutique focusing on health products.

Where to stay

Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens is a boutique-style hotel. Its rooms boast an industrial, New York loft-inspired aesthetic. The property features a couple of great restaurants, too. Pan-Asian hot spot Lah Lah is packed almost every night of the week, not just because its reasonably priced food is excellent and the vibe is upbeat, but also because there are ladies' nights, a brunch and other deals on offer. On the lobby level, there's also Social Company, an international all-day dining spot with an a la carte menu, regular buffet spreads, as well as grab-and-go options, plus a lounge area. Don't forget to pop by the spa while you're there.

Plus … you can take a stroll and have a picnic

The Greens is home to a couple of manmade lakes that are surrounded by a walking/running track, exercise machines, a children's playground and plenty of greenery. It's a lovely place to go for a walk or a run. You could also take a blanket and find a spot on the grass to have a picnic. There's a little book swap corner, too, if you're looking to offload a few novels.