We Had a Sugar Rush Looking for the Best Bakeries in Dubai
My friends get pissed about this, but I easily get distracted when there’s a bakery. I just ADORE the smell of freshly baked bread. Whenever I catch a whiff of any puff pastry, it’s like my feet have a life of their own and I drop everything to go get some.
But the problem is, not every mouthwatering smell automatically leads me to something tasty. Sometimes, the scent is highly deceptive and I end up with stale bread or low-quality desserts that are way too sweet, bland, or tough.
So with the help of my bread-loving buddies, we scoped out the city for the best bakeries in Dubai. If you’re as obsessed with bread, baked goods, or pastries as we are, check out our reviews and butter up your day with some toasty freshness!
How We Chose
1. French Bakery
French Bakery is one of the best spots in Dubai to soak up some cozy French vibes with its chic wooden walls, floors, and lots of sunlight.
We love the big variety of sweet and savory treats on display. For us, many of these look super pretty and colorful too! You’ll find plenty of bread, pastries, chocolate cakes, macarons, cupcakes, and other yummy snacks here.
We recommend embracing the Parisian vibes with a croissant and Spanish latte or keeping it chill with a club sandwich and orange juice. Everything’s freshly baked too—a previous customer told us the baguettes were baked fresh within a few minutes!
In our opinion, the outdoor space looks perfect for those who want to enjoy breakfast or brunch in the sunshine. And no worries—there are several umbrellas for shade too.
Also, we find it convenient that the cafe is located in Dubai’s healthcare city, surrounded by hospitals and clinics. We think it’s a relaxing place to grab a drink before or after medical appointments.
Just a heads-up, though: parking can be tricky around the bakery. We reckon it’s a good idea to arrive early and find a spot.
Pros
- Chic French vibes
- Bright indoor and outdoor spaces
- Accessible near clinics and hospitals
Cons
- Inadequate parking
Very Good Service
“I would like to appreciate the French bakery branch health care city …it’s very good service and I’m nearly a daily customer because of the nice stuff they are very very kind actually I started to tell my other colleagues in the hospital to come to the French bakery and to enjoy the service of the amazing staff..many thanks to Sita and Rose ..Ronnel and Thomas and keep going guys..French bakery is very fortunate with this amazing staff”
-Ms. Ikram Hamoud, Google Review
Perfect for Working or Hanging Out
“The setting is really tranquil and decent, perfect for working or hanging out with friends. The salad and sandwiches are delicious, as is the bakery. Thanks to Ann for the great service..”
-Ms. Dina S, Google Review
2. Risen Café and Artisanal Bakery
Risen Café and Artisanal Bakery is another cool bakeshop to explore in the city. It’s bright with several glass doors and walls. Plus, there are plenty of plants inside for a natural vibe.
As for the grub, the highlights for us are the honey cake and blueberry lavender tart. But if you want something lighter, we suggest going for the gluten and sugar-free cheesecake—we think this also goes perfectly with a cappuccino or matcha latte!
We also love the vegan and low-glycemic options for those with food preferences, like sourdough, ciabatta (crusty, open-crumbed Italian white bread), brioche (soft, buttery French pastry), focaccia (flat leavened oven-baked Italian bread), and many more.
In our opinion, kids might love this place too! There are a bunch of fun milkshake flavors for them here, like Oreo, chocolate banana, strawberry peach, and vanilla lemon custard.
Also, this spot is right next to the Millennium Place Marina Hotel, which is close to the DMCC metro station. For us, this makes the cafe a great place to stop by during your commute.
However, the service can sometimes be a bit slow. In our view, this might be because the cafe can get short-staffed and pretty busy during peak hours.
Pros
- Many unique-looking cakes
- Caters to dietary preferences
- Lots of kid-friendly milkshakes
- Near a hotel and metro station
Cons
- Reports of slow service
Very Tasty & Fresh
“Very tasty and fresh breakfast. There are special coffee creations such as a Matcha Latte made from coconut milk or a coffee with rose water. The coffee tastes very good. The atmosphere is cozy and modern. Our waiters Hsu and Betty were very attentive.”
-Ms. Nadine R., Google Review
Quiet Place with Good Pastries
“Quiet place with good pastries…A big plus for the service, everyone will listen to you and respond to your needs without you even having to ask!”
-Ms. Mylene Abroissiere, Google Review
3. Occasions Confectionary LLC
If you’re an introverted bakery lover, Occasions Confectionary is a fantastic place to chill with friends in Dubai. For us, its white and soft pink decor creates such a relaxing vibe!
We reckon you’ll also love that almost all the baked goods are on display, making it super easy to pick out your favorites.
In our opinion, the cafe’s breakfast options are fantastic too. We heard good things about the poached eggs, French toast, and avocado toast if you want to start your day right.
For dessert, we say go for the Persian cake with pistachio cream and rose petals. If you have an adventurous palate, we think the Arcobeleno (rainbow) cake and the saffron cardamom leches (milk pudding) cake are fun and vibrant options too!
The classic cappuccino and fresh fruit smoothies like squeezed orange and strawberry are big hits here too, so we recommend giving them a try.
On top of that, we like that there’s a spacious lot and street parking around here. In our book, this makes the trip much more hassle-free, especially if you’re going to stay for a while.
However, we think you should communicate well with the staff. We’ve heard of a past client having trouble getting a refund, so just be clear if you have any issues throughout the service.
Pros
- Serene cafe ambiance
- Big dessert display
- Lots of free parking
Cons
- Occasional refund issues
Very Nice Place & Staff
“Very nice place and very friendly staff… We booked for our daughter’s birthday. The cake was yummy and perfectly done, the food and service were great..”
-Mr. Hussam Saba, Google Review
Great for Afternoon Coffee
“The place is quiet, great for an afternoon coffee with friends. The food is delicious, super well prepared. The staff are fast and attentive, extremely polite. Whenever I go there I order avocado toast, the poched egg is always on point, a delight !!! Today I ordered the French toast for dessert and I was surprised, great too. I highly recommend you to know, super fair prices for what it offers.”
-Ms. Eduarda Telles Rocha, Google Review
4. Milk Bakery
Milk Bakery is among our favorite neighborhood bakeries and dessert shops in the city. This store is all about creating a comfy Fika (Swedish for a coffee break) vibe that brings folks together with coffee and baked goods.
Some of our favorites include the cinnamon “cruffin” (a croissant-muffin mix), the white chocolate cookie, and the baklava tiramisu.
In our opinion, kids might get a kick out of the Cereal Killer milk cake too—either for its unique flavor or just the fun name!
We also love the shop’s bright aesthetics, indoors or outdoors. If you’re bringing your laptop, we think this spot is a suitable place to be productive.
Another plus for us is that the store has plenty of free parking in the basement, so we bet this spot is convenient for families and groups.
On the downside, this place can be understaffed at times, which may cause delays in giving out orders. Also, we noticed that many pastries here get sold out as early as 11 am, so make sure to get there early if you’re interested.
Pros
- Swedish vibes
- Original goods like “cruffins”
- Fun cakes for kids
- Good for working or studying
- Free underground parking
Cons
- Occasionally understaffed
- Easily sold out baked goods
Breakfast is a Whole New Level
“I’m a breakfast person and thought I’d tried it all, so it’s not easy to impress me. However, they took breakfast to a whole new level. I hope they keep it up. Well done!”
-Ms. Dahlia M. Refaat, Google Review
Stunning Cafe
“absolute gem of a bakery in Dubai! one of the most stunning cafés in the city! the outdoor sitting area, indoor aesthetics, decor, service, food and drinks were all top notch! highly recommended! i can’t wait to go back to try more of all they have to offer”
-Ms. Fatema Sondarjee, Google Review
5. Home Bakery
For us, Home Bakery is among the easiest bakeries to get to since it’s right in Dubai Mall. We think one of the store’s main attractions is its all-vegetarian options!
If you’re here for the first time, we say the classic milk cake. Feeling adventurous? We recommend going for the saffron milk cake for a unique twist.
Should you be in the mood for something savory, we think the chili pesto mozzarella sandwich is a good choice. We think the spicy potato with fried egg dish is a winner too! For us, these are delightful pick-me-ups for those slow days.
We also heard a couple of regulars rave about the chewy melt cookies! So if you’re picky about cookie textures, why not give these a shot?
Don’t skip the drinks here, either. For us, the pistachio and rose lattes really stand out because of their one-of-a-kind flavors.
Just know that it can get pretty busy in the evening since the shop is inside the mall. In our opinion, it’s best to plan well and get here earlier to secure some good seats.
Pros
- Easily accessible in a mall
- Known for its milk cakes
- Unique latte flavors
Cons
- Can get crowded at night
Delicious Sweets
“From the sweet cafes in the Dubai Mall, they have delicious brownies and fresh butter cake and a wonderful mix between cream with a brownie and French toast. I wanted to try their sweet treats”
-Ms. Mariam J, Google Review
Absolute Delight
“My recent visit to Home Bakery in Dubai Mall was an absolute delight! The star of the show was definitely their croffle egg. It was simply to die for. It was flaky, crispy on the outside, and soft and buttery thanks to the creamy spinach on the inside.”
-Ms. Reema Alsogair, Google Review