Switch
Light the fires of inspiration by surrounding your team with an innovative décor and funky design. Described by its creator, Karim Rashid, as ‘a strong, soft, womb-like space’, Switch should nurture creative ideation in your workers; its space age, experimental interior lends a touch of the wow factor to this Dubai Mall outlet. Listing

Zaroob
This Levant street-tyle café on Sheikh Zayed Road features furtniture made from recycled items and corrugated iron walla covered in graffiti and Pop Art to complement the cheap and tasty food. Listing

The Archive
Located in Safa Park, The Archive is the first specialised library/workspace/café of its kind in the region that aims at promoting a diverse and active cultural community, nurture a new generation into literature and education while at the same time, create a space of exploration and entertainment. Explorer chatted with programme manager Sarah Malki to find out more about this unique venue where visitors can browse books, work independently in its creative spaces and enjoy free Wi-Fi. 


MAKE Business Hub
Located in Dubai Marina just behind JBR is this absolute hidden gem, that, if you’re a creative-freelancer type, you’ll no doubt have heard about it, spent hours sipping coffee while restlessly working on your sleek MacBook Pro and generally just having blast. MAKE is the home of young business & big ideas that provides an environment which nurtures entrepreneurship & promotes connections between like minded creatives in the UAE.  It’s an inspiring urban café designed specifically for the mobile workers based in Dubai. Listing

BookMunch Café 
Opening on Wednesday 27 February, the BookMunch Cafe located in Dubai’s latest, coolest hotspot in Al Wasl Square is this lovely literary café designed by the community for the community. In addition to offering tasty dishes, it houses a big collection of hand-picked titles that caters to all ages. The BookMunch team is also set to host regular events for book lovers, book clubs, book signings, readings, arts and culture but is also set to become a great hub for Dubai’s creatives. Website

Evocative Art

The Pavilion
Predominantly a contemporary art space, this unique, airy venue, with its polished concrete floors and light wooden tables has already become the scene to be seen locale for fashionable, hipster folk and the tasty menu offerings keeps them happy. If you’re in Downtown Dubai, and looking for an escape from commercial mania, you’ll not find a better spot. Website

XVA Café
Take inspiration from authentic works of art at the XVA Café. In the courtyard of a windtower house in Bastakiya, the café is surrounded by beautifully restored Arabic architecture which houses paintings, installations and sculptures by local and international artists, while the menu delivers delicious vegetarian light bits. Listing



The Jam Jar 
Book in for a group session at this fab little art space where each person is set up with their own easel, brushes and paints, plus a cup of coffee and top tips from the resident artist. Listing