Just outside one of the more interesting neighborhoods in Dubai, the Al Fahidi Historic District, sits a small picturesque cafe — the Arabian Tea House Cafe. I’d been on my feet for more than three hours and the heat of the day was ramping up, so I thought I’d take a break to rest and get a snack.
The cafe was situated in a shaded courtyard (shade provided by both trees and canopies) with comfortable tables. Fans moved air around and it was quite pleasant, despite the ambient heat. The clientele was a mixture of locals and tourists and the staff courteous and attentive.
On my table sat a bisected green citrus fruit studded with plant seeds of some kind. I’d never seen this before and when I asked my waiter about it, he informed me it was to keep the flies away (and it seemed to work).
I enjoyed a bottle of cold water and an avocado milkshake — a flavor I’d not previously tried. The milkshake was served topped with honey and granola and was quite tasty.
After studying my guidebook for about 15 minutes, I was off and making my way to the city’s souks on the opposite banks of the Dubai canal.
