From breakfast beside lily pad-covered lakes to plant-based cafés serving adaptogenic lattes, here’s where to eat in one of Dubai’s most tranquil neighbourhoods.
Dubai’s Al Barari is where desert gives way to boundless greenery. Built around acres of mature trees, water gardens and fragrant blooms, this exclusive address has quietly become known for its food as much as its foliage. Woven within the landscape are cafés, pizzerias and relaxed restaurants that lean into the same slow rhythm as the neighbourhood itself. Whether you’re seeking a picture-perfect brunch spot to impress out-of-towners, or a quiet venue that leaves room for silky sundowners, these are the best places to eat in Al Barari.
The Farm
Easily Dubai’s most transportive al fresco restaurant, The Farm is an award-winning concept tucked into Al Barari’s lush landscape. Breakfast, lunch and dinner unfold beside towering trees, lily pad-covered lakes and gently flowing streams — the kind of setting that feels half Bali, half botanical dreamscape. The menu is broad and international but leans toward Thai, with a particularly good massaman lamb curry and green papaya salad. Elevated classics can also be found on the menu at The Farm, such as fish and chips and artisan flame-baked pizzas. Plant-based diets are well catered to with fragrant green curries and a popular paprika tofu scramble.
More than a restaurant, The Farm has become a community space too, hosting everything from book readings and talks to pop-ups, weddings and corporate retreats — all with that same quiet, leafy ambience.
Go early, linger long, and don’t skip dessert.
New Earth Cafe
Tucked into Seventh Heaven, New Earth Café is a plant-based sanctuary that embraces healthy foods without the usual clichés. The space is warm and minimal, draped in earthy tones, natural textures, and just enough greenery to feel grounded. The menu is mostly vegan, but there are a number of vegetarian options, including creamy ricotta toast and sumptuous shakshuka verde. All the staples of new-wave plant cooking are here with an Al Barari polish, from buckwheat pancakes to jackfruit tacos and smoothie bowls that are as photogenic as they are filling.
As for drinks, expect a rainbow of wellness elixirs: bright blue spirulina lattes, ashwagandha and cacao blends, and chaga-based infusions. It’s the kind of place to fuel up, stay a while, and maybe leave with a new favourite adaptogen.
HideOut
Also in Seventh Heaven, HideOut is Al Barari’s answer to a contemporary sports lounge – equal parts restaurant, bar, and social hub. Designed to balance art and sport, the interiors are a mix of industrial chic and botanical warmth, with polished concrete floors, hanging greenery, and curated art pieces that give the space a gallery-like feel. Depending on the night, you might hear live jazz, a DJ spinning vinyl, or simply catch the game with a craft cocktail (or mocktail) in hand.
The menu is a global affair, with crowd-pleasers like cheesy sliders and truffle pasta, alongside more refined dishes like molten cheese fondue and mint crème brûlée. Weekend brunches and themed nights — especially the all-you-can-eat sushi Wednesdays — draw a loyal crowd. For something slower, the outdoor terrace offers Burj Khalifa views with a breeze of fresh Al Barari air.
The Mill
Few scents ensnare like the smell of fresh bread. Tucked into the base of Seventh Heaven, The Mill is the community’s resident bakery-café — a hipster hideaway where mornings move a little slower. The space is ambient and understated with natural wood, soft lighting, and just enough buzz for a light lunch, leisurely coffee date or a quiet stretch of remote work.
The menu at The Mill is a tribute to slow, thoughtful baking, with buttery croissants, crusty country loaves, and German-style brötchen, all baked in-house daily. On the savoury side, there are flaky pies (the beef bourguignon is a standout), herbed veggie quiches, and generously filled sandwiches layered with roast chicken, brie, or peppered beef. Sweet tooths are well looked after too, with pistachio-orange blossom éclairs, Valrhona brownies and impossibly light cinnamon rolls. Vegan and gluten-free options are available, including a rich chocolate chip cookie that doesn’t taste like a compromise.
Red Tomato Pizza
Al Barari’s local pizza den, Red Tomato Pizza in Seventh Heaven, is where comfort food meets community. Perfect for casual dining, it’s the kind of place you can drop into on a Sunday night — no reservation, no dress code, just the smell of oven-fresh pizza and the hum of regulars who know exactly what they’re ordering. The pizza is thin, crisp and generously topped, baked in an authentic wood oven imported from Naples. Pasta, salads and seasonal seafood dishes round out the menu, with something for everyone (including the kids). Whether it’s a quick pick-up or a full family pizza night, this Al Barari spot stays unpretentious, consistent, and always food-first.
NETTE
The newest addition to Al Barari’s Seventh Heaven, NETTE is an upscale community eatery with long communal tables and grassy outdoor seating. Helmed by Executive Chef Shaunne Cordier, the menu fuses Japanese and French influences with inventive dishes like the miso-braised beef French dip sandwich and a yuzu-dressed crispy salmon salad. Coffee is a serious affair, with beans from local favourite Three Roastery and skilled baristas behind the counter. It's a venue where everyone’s welcome — kids can cool off at the nearby splash pad, and dogs are invited too. Meals at NETTE can be enjoyed in good conscience, with 3% of sales supporting Water.org.
