Dubai’s cafes and restaurants are increasingly making their decisions with the planet in mind, some are reducing their carbon footprint by opting for locally sourced produce while others are pioneering biodegradable and reusable packaging. Top Spots Dubai lists the top 10 UAE-based restaurants and cafes setting standards in sustainability.
1. Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, Dar Wasl Mall in Jumeirah, Timeout Market and Dubai Hills
Reif Japanese Kushiyaki describes its offering as ‘unconventional affordable Japanese street food’. The eatery uses local, hormone-free produce as well as seasonal seafood from France, Italy and Australia. Reif Japanese Kushiyaki serves up the first bottle of tap-filtered still and sparkling water complimentary and they focus on minimising food wastage.
2. Lowe, Al Barari
Lowe is the only restaurant in the UAE to be awarded a Michelin Green Star. The restaurant serves up a specially curated menu that makes use of the would be waste products and offcuts from their menu. They make use of locally sourced seafood as well as work with local farmers as much as possible. This is to ensure that what their guests are eating keep in line with their ethos of “Waste Not” and ensuring the use of single use plastic doesn’t make it into their supply chain. The restaurant composts all its organic waste and uses it in its own vegetable garden that it harvests from and uses it fruit and vegetables as garnish in its drinks.
3. 1 Life Kitchen and Cafe, Dubai Design District and JVC
1 Life Kitchen and Cafe serves up a selection of healthy snacks and meals including vegetarian and vegan dishes. 1 Life prepares all their food daily on site. They support the planet by encouraging customers to swap single-use containers with reusable glass bottles. They purchase their produce locally to minimise their carbon footprint and focus on reducing food waste. Remaining stock is either sold at a discount or distributed among the staff to ensure that nothing goes to waste.
4. Seva Experience, Jumeirah 1
Plant-based cafe, Seva is set inside a peaceful garden inside a Jumeirah villa. Their meat-free menu is environmentally friendly and dishes and drinks are served from entirely plastic-free containers. Other than certain superfoods that are currently unavailable in the UAE, all of Seva’s ingredients are sourced from local farms and organic stockists.
5. The Sum of Us, Sheik Zayed Road
The Sum of Us is a Melbourne-inspired coffee shop that’s entirely plastic-free. They only use bio-degradable packaging – their straws are even made from avocado seeds! Guests can enjoy free filtered water while coffee beans are sourced ethically from organic growers. The Sum of Us works with local suppliers where possible and partners with local farms.
6. Boca, DIFC
Boca’s Mediterranean menu centres around local ingredients. Their menu changes seasonally so that they can prioritise local ingredients like Emirati honey and they work with local farmers and fishermen. Boca has even published its own Sustainability Manifesto. The eatery employs its own Waste Officer and continuously audits kitchen and bar operations to ensure efficiency. Boca refuses single-use plastic from suppliers and runs on 100 per cent renewable energy.
7. Cassette, Al Quoz
Parisian-style bistro, Cassette minimises food waste by repurposing its offcuts in soups and sauces. Their menus prioritise seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms. Cassette’s takeaway containers are made from an 80 per cent energy-efficient material while their straws and cups are entirely bio-degradable.
8. Teible, Jameel Arts Centre
Teible is a farm-to-table restaurant located inside the Jameel Arts Centre. Their menu centres around seasonal ingredients sourced from the UAE. Inside the restaurant, Teible works with interior design designed to preserve the planet. Their ceiling is eco-friendly, made from wood sourced from an FSC-certified forest and the countertops are made from a date seed-based material while the walls are made from discarded palm wood sourced from Abu Dhabi.
9. Kave, Alserkal Avenue
Kave is a healthy cafe that focuses on upcycling its materials. Interiors are made from recycled wood while all crockery and other materials in the cafe have either been upcycled or recycled. Takeaway isn’t an option here as the team at Kave is keen on reducing waste from packaging. Diners are encouraged to bring their own cups to reduce unnecessary waste.
10. Hapi, Al Khazzan Park
Ice cream shop and all-day diner, Hapi, serves up a zero-waste menu. They also prioritise local suppliers like Deena Organic Dairy. Hapi works mainly as a takeaway kitchen so they prioritise planet-friendly packaging. Hapi’s food tubs, cutlery and cups are biodegradable and made from cornstarch.
