Dubai: Shakshouka at Creekside Cafe

Update: It looks like the cafe has gone out of business.

The area around Dubai Creek is one of my favorite places in the city, and if the traffic wasn’t so horrible, I would go there all the time. For me, a trip to Dubai Creek usually start with a walk through the textile souk and the maze-like alleys in the historical district Bastakiya. If I manage to find my way out to the water, I go for a walk along the creek before I stop for lunch at one of the area’s many nice cafés and restaurants.

One of my favorites is Creekside Cafe. The food there is really good, and the tables outside are right by the water. They serve all-day breakfast and their shakshouka is amazing. Shakshouka is eggs baked in a thick red sauce. It is a popular breakfast dish in Dubai, but it is very filling and works just as fine for lunch or dinner.

Creekside Cafe isn’t just a café but also a hangout for local artists, and if you are curious about the art scene in Dubai, you can sign up for one of the events, which are frequently held at the café. This place is bustling with creativity, and if I were to write a book or a poem, this would be the perfect place to do it. What rhymes with Dubai? Mai Tai? Superfly? 🙂

Creekside Cafe can be difficult to find. Don’t trust GoogleMaps on this one, but visit the cafe’s website instead for better directions. The closest metro station is Al Fahidi on the green line. If you take a taxi or an Uber/Careem, ask the driver to drop you off at The Grand Mosque or Dubai Museum in Bur Dubai