Explore the intricate connection between mental health and physical wellbeing, and how one affects the other.
It’s 7 PM. You’ve just gotten home from work, kicked off your shoes somewhere near-but-not-quite-on the shoe rack, dropped your bag like it personally offended you, and collapsed onto the couch. Thirty minutes later, you’re still there – scrolling aimlessly, halfway between tired and ravenous.
You’ve face-planted onto the couch after work, scrolling mindlessly while hunger gnaws at your soul. Then—there it is. A vision: juicy meat draped in silky sauce, a tangy pickle crunch, verdant greens, and two golden slices of bread holding it all together like a carb-wrapped hug.
Your kitchen? Dead to you tonight. Here are 10 sandwiches worth leaving the house for (or at least opening Deliveroo).
Birch Bakery
Tucked away behind a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it white gate in Al Quoz is one of our favorite hidden gems in the city—a bakery so good, we almost don’t want to tell you about it (but we’re not monsters). Seating is very limited, so your best bet? Grab your goodies to-go and enjoy them in the car, at the beach, or anywhere within immediate arm’s reach of your mouth.
Sure, they’re famous for their pastries—hello, Morning Bun and that Burnt Emirati Honey & Sea Salt Croissant—but let’s talk sandwiches. Specifically, the Roast Beef Sando. It’s a stacked masterpiece of juicy roast beef, jammy onions, crisp greens, and Parmesan, all hugged by their signature Sea Salt Focaccia.
- Al Quoz
- @birch.bakery
- +971 4 222 6665
Gino's Deli
If anyone’s in touch with Gino, tell them to call us—we just want answers. Specifically: what are they putting in those panuozzos (a glorious mashup of pizza and sandwich, for the uninitiated) that makes them so impossible to put down? Gino’s Deli has been blessing Dubai with top-tier sandwiches since 2018 (a golden year for carbs, honestly), and they haven’t missed a beat since.
The one we keep coming back for? The Rebecca, obviously. This bad boy went viral on TikTok for a very good reason. Slow-cooked BBQ brisket, garlic-herb sauce, sliced pickles, and aged smoked cheddar, all wrapped in their signature dough? One bite and we’re done for.
- Delivery only
- @ginos_deli
- +971 4 585 1646
La Fabbrica Italiana
Some restaurants feel like destinations. La Fabbrica Italiana feels like coming home. From the moment you walk in—greeted like family by co-owner Karam Abban and chef Maurizio—you’re wrapped in the kind of warm, unfussy hospitality that makes you cancel plans just to linger another hour. Born in Dubai’s lockdown days, this intimate trattoria proves magic happens when Italian soul meets local heart.
Their 72-hour fermented sourdough focaccia isn’t just good—it’s revelation-level. Imagine: a golden crust giving way to an airy, honeycombed interior with just the right chew. The star? The Mediterraneo. Ripe tomatoes burst against creamy buffalo mozzarella, while fresh basil and grassy EVOO sing in harmony.
- Various locations
- @la_fabbrica_italiana
- +971 4 547 0719
Mattar Third Culture BBQ
When you hit Time Out Market, skip the browsing and march directly to Mattar Third Culture BBQ for their showstopping Pastrami Reuben. Imagine: 14-day cured pastrami, tangy house mustard, a double punch of pickles and pickled onions, all hugged by golden, crusty sourdough. It’s everything you want – generously portioned, gloriously messy, and packed with flavor that makes the inevitable nap afterward totally justified.
Downtown gridlock killing your craving? Game changer alert: Mattar’s premium deli meats are now at select Spinneys locations (Town Centre Meadows, Motor City, Al Khawaneej Walk and Khalidiya, we see you). Consider your weeknight sandwich game permanently elevated.
- Time Out Market
- @mattar.ae
Nightjar Coffee Roasters
@nightjar.coffee get that bag
♬ original sound - Sultans of Sling
This Alserkal OG has been holding it down since 2018. Whether it’s for a quick coffee meeting that spirals into a two-hour brainstorm or a solo afternoon spent flipping through a book you swear you’ll finish this time, Nightjar just gets it right. The staff? Lovely. The cold brew? On tap. The vibe? Warm, familiar, and irresistibly welcoming.
But let’s cut to the real reason we’re here: the Salt Beef Sandwich. A total unit of a meal, it’s stacked with smoky pastrami, sharp cheddar, and tangy red cabbage—all pressed into something transcendent and served with (no exaggeration) some of the best pickles we’ve ever had. Like… ever.
- Various locations
- @nightjar.coffee
- +971 50 365 1120
Pekoe Tea and Bread Bar
This Japanese-inspired sanctuary is our antidote to urban chaos.Pekoe‘s Egg & Cheese Sando is your gourmet awakening. Imagine: custardy-soft scrambled eggs (so fluffy they defy physics), gooey melted cheese, sweet onion jam, and fresh chives, all cradled by their pillowy milk bread – so fresh it practically sighs when you bite in.
It’s a masterclass in minimalist perfection: no fancy tricks, just expert technique and premium ingredients transporting you straight to a Tokyo kissaten. Boarding pass? Optional.
- Various locations
- @thegreydxb
- +971 4 236 2996
The Lazy Guy Cafe
If you love a coffee shop that serves up banging food alongside your flat white, let The Lazy Guy be your next stop. A quick Instagram scroll might make you think it’s all about smoothies and brunch, but do not sleep on their coffee. Whether you’re a cappuccino loyalist or someone who swears by a V60 or Chemex, TLG does it all, and they do it right. And if you’re looking for something sweet? The Sticky Date Pudding is the stuff of dessert dreams. Warm, gooey, and impossible to stop eating.
Address: Al Fattan Downtown Towers, Downtown Dubai, Dubai. Tel: + 971 04 296 8932
- Downtown Dubai
- @thelazyguycafe
- +971 4 296 8932
To The Moon and Back
A hidden café tucked away in a secret garden, To The Moon and Back is as charming as it is serious about coffee. While its whimsical setting invites relaxation, the quality is paramount: beans hail directly from 5 Senses Coffee Roasters in Melbourne, expertly brewed with precision. This makes it a must-visit for true coffee aficionados. For an insider tip, don’t miss their legendary Pie Fridays, featuring a limited-edition flavor weekly – it’s definitely worth the trip.
Address: To The Moon and Back Cafe, La Plage Residence, Al Athar Street, Jumeirah. Tel: +971 04 388 8414
- Jumeirah
- @ttmb.coffee
- +971 4 388 8414
Toby's Estate
If there’s one thing the Australians know how to do, it’s coffee. Enter Toby’s Estate, the famed Aussie café that landed in Dubai in 2023 and has been serving up some of the city’s best specialty coffee ever since. Their signature blends – Woolloomooloo (try saying that three times fast), Brunswick, and Broadway – are a treat for true coffee lovers, and their limited-edition seasonal blends always keep things exciting.
Address: Branches in Dubai Hills Mall, Jumeirah 2 Branch, Last Exit DXB Bound and Dubai Mall. Tel: +971 04 392 9917
- Various locations
- @tobysestate.ae
- +971 4 392 9917
Wise Guys
Enter Wise Guys—a homegrown deli that could easily hold its own against the heavyweights of the Big Apple. The whole menu’s a win, but if we had to play favorites (which we absolutely do), it’s the Forget About It that takes the crown. Smoked turkey, pecorino, truffle cream cheese (!!!), pickled onions, and leafy greens, all tucked into a butter-toasted schiacciata that’s doing the most. One bite, and you’ll be saying fuhgeddaboudit in no time.
- Various locations
- @wiseguysdubai
- +971 52 686 3801
