Dubai’s café scene is constantly brewing up new drinks that are quickly becoming social media favourites. From seasonal rutab creations and earthy hojicha lattes to colourful ube, pistachio and flavoured matcha, there’s always something new to try. Cream-topped coffees and refreshing coconut cold brews are also having their moment. Here are eight viral sips taking over the UAE right now.
Viral Drinks In UAE
1. Dirty Drinks
Dubai’s café scene has embraced the ‘dirty drink’ trend, giving classic beverages a striking layered twist. Expect combinations like espresso poured over milk, matcha topped with a shot of coffee, and even dirty hojicha for those who want something a little different. The dramatic layers make these drinks just as photogenic as they are fun to sip. The trend has turned the humble iced coffee into a seriously Instagrammable order.
Where To Find: The Grey Al Wasl, Bkry and Drinkit Speciality Coffee
2. Rutab Drinks
Rutab, the soft and caramel-like stage of dates, is having a moment in Dubai’s café scene, with the seasonal fruit making its way into creative drinks. You can find Rutab Iced Coffee, Rutab Matcha and Rutab Lattes, often paired with creamy milk or cold foam for a naturally sweet finish. Some cafés are also experimenting with rutab-infused shakes and dessert-style beverages. It’s a distinctly regional twist that puts a fresh spin on the usual summer café order.
Where To Find: Shalwa, Neighbors and Kava café
3. Hojicha Lattes
Hojicha lattes are having a moment in Dubai, offering a roasted, nutty alternative to the increasingly popular matcha. The Japanese green tea is roasted before being ground and whisked with milk, creating a smooth drink with a naturally toasty flavour. Iced Hojicha Lattes, Hojicha Cream Lattes and Hojicha Cold Foams are among the variations showing up on café menus.
Where To Find: The Matcha Tokyo, Avantcha and L’ETO
4. Coconut Cold Brew
Coconut cold brew is giving Dubai’s summer coffee scene a tropical twist, pairing smooth, slow-steeped coffee with refreshing coconut water. The result is light, naturally sweet and less creamy than a traditional iced latte, making it an easy pick for hot days. Some cafés are taking it further with coconut foam or creamy toppings for an indulgent finish.
Where To Find: Ours Café, Polline and Bo’s Coffee
Also Read: From Smash Burgers To Fresh Pasta: 7 New Restaurants & Cafés To Try In Dubai This September
5. Ube Drinks
Ube drinks are very popular in the UAE, with the vibrant purple ingredient showing up in everything from creamy lattes to colourful matcha creations. Ube Latte, Ube Iced Matcha and Ube Iced Latte are among the variations making their way onto café menus, often paired with coconut or vanilla for extra creaminess. The striking purple-and-green layers also make these sips particularly popular for social-media-worthy café orders.
Where To Find: Dopa Matcha, SAKCO le café and NETTE
6. Pistachio Drinks
Pistachio has gone from a dessert favourite to one of the UAE’s most popular drink flavours, with its creamy, nutty taste making its way onto café menus. Iced Pistachio Lattes, Pistachio Matcha and Pistachio Coffee Frappes are among the versions you can try, with some finished with crushed pistachios for extra texture. The flavour is also being paired with matcha and chocolate, giving classic café orders a distinctly indulgent twist.
Where To Find: Drinkit Speciality Coffee & Starbucks UAE
7. Flavoured Matcha
Matcha in the UAE is moving well beyond the classic latte, with cafés experimenting with colourful and dessert-inspired flavours. Strawberry, pistachio, mango, coconut and blueberry matcha are among the creative combinations making waves, often finished with flavoured cold foam or fruit purées. The trend has turned matcha into a playful, highly photogenic café order that keeps getting new flavour twists.
Where To Find: Matcha Vibes, Matcha 16 and Dopa Matcha
8. Cream-Topped Coffee
Cream-topped coffee is giving the classic iced latte a more indulgent makeover, with thick layers of cold foam or flavoured cream piled over the coffee. Vanilla cream, pistachio foam, ube cream and salted caramel cold foam are some of the combinations showing up across UAE cafés. The contrast between bold coffee and a soft, creamy topping makes these drinks both decadent and highly photogenic.
Where To Find: The Grove and Diva’Me Café
So try these viral drinks that bring plenty of flavour, colour, and creativity to the UAE’s café scene.
Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/vetrestudio and Ika Rahma