If we’re going to do an online magazine about specialty coffee in the Middle East, I can’t imagine a better place to start than a review of 4 of the best specialty coffeeshops in Dubai.

At the time of writing this I’ve been in Dubai for 3 years. And I’ve fallen in love with this city. For many reasons. Not least of which is that I’ve found some fantastic specialty coffeeshops. There are many to choose from. But here are five to get you started.

Select Shop Frame

Peter Ahn opened Selectshop Frame as a space dedicated to his passions: avant-garde fashion, delicious ramen, street art, exclusive collectable toys, and specialty coffee. It’s the only place I know of in the UAE (if I’m wrong, let me know in the comments below) that serves La Cabra Coffee Roasters.

This is not only some of the best coffee in Dubai, it’s some of the best coffee in the world. Served inside a pretty sick space.

You’ll find Selectshop Frame here.

Nightjar Coffee Roasters

Maybe the coolest specialty coffeeshop of them all, a place you want to see and be seen in, is Nightjar Coffee Roasters. I’ve never not needed to queue for a seat on weekends. And since I have a principle against queuing, I’ve only been twice. But it was enough to qualify Nightjar in my Top 5. Great service. Great food. Great coffee.

You’ll find Nightjar inside the trendy Alserkal Avenue here.

The Climbing Goat Roastery

A relatively recent addition to the Dubai specialty coffee scene, The Climbing Goat Roastery is a beautiful coffee bar built around a Giesen roaster. While you won’t go wrong with any of the usual suspects, expertly pulled espressos, V60s and other filter brews, here’s an insider tip for you: the Japanese cheesecake is the best Japanese cheesecake outside Japan.

You’ll find The Climbing Goat Roastery inside the Depachika Food Hall, in Palm Jumeirah’s Nakheel Mall.

Drop

Drop has been a firm favourite of mine since day 1. Yes, it’s instagram-worthy. Yes, there’s great service. But Drop is all about the coffee. And they do it so, so well. A list of the best specialty coffeeshops in Dubai would be incomplete without Drop.

You’ll find Drop here, inside Level Shoes at The Dubai Mall and at Al Khawaneej Walk.

There you have it. These are five of the best specialty coffeeshops in Dubai. It’s by no means an exhaustive list. But it’ll get you started. I’ll post more soon.

What do you think of these? Who would you add to the list?

Images by Love That Design, Selectshop Frame, Nightjar Coffee Roasters and HiDubai.