No. 57 Boutique Café is an elegant, minimalist dining space, perfect for leisurely afternoons spent enjoying iced coffee in the sun. The café directly overlooks the tranquil Al Bateen harbour so customers can enjoy a scenic view of the waterfront while dining. Soft indie music adds to the laid-back atmosphere and WiFi is available for those who would like to work or simply take Instagram photos of their beautiful brunch.

Photograph by Vamika Sinha

Similar to its sparingly stylish interior, the drinks and dishes at No. 57 are presented in a chic, polished manner. Milkshakes come in cute, pocket-size milk bottles and breakfasts are served on wooden, chalkboard-like trays. Here, the aesthetic experience of the meal matters as much as the taste.

No. 57’s menu boasts an impressive selection of Guatemalan coffees, which are exceptionally refined and balanced, neither too strong nor overpowering, with a slight, pleasant woodiness. The Marocchino Con Nutella, a cup of espresso served with Nutella, is a must-try, offering what one might fondly call a hug in a mug. The Iced Tea with Earl Grey, agave honey and lavender is another No. 57 bestseller. It tastes like the languid summer days all of us are anxiously waiting for.

Full meals are definitely on the pricier side at No. 57 so if you have an occasion to splurge, then opt for something really special like the Ricotta Pancakes with honeycomb butter for breakfast, or the Chicken in Coriander and Coconut Sauce for a delicious dinner date.

Photograph by Vamika Sinha

Finally, for a restaurant that prides itself on serving sophisticated comfort food, the dessert menu is aptly rich and varied. Go for their signature pudding, called the Ermahgerd, which is made up of toffee crumble, cream and roasted marshmallows. No. 57 is also particularly proud of its Toffee Skillet Cookies. And aside from these, there’s a slew of other mouth-watering options to try, such as the Baked Chocolate Fondant, served with vanilla ice-cream, the Brioche Nutella Loaf or the Peach Pecan Cobbler.

Photograph by Vamika Sinha

No. 57 Boutique Café is located in the Al Marasy area at Al Bateen Harbour. To reach the café, take the shuttle to the Corniche. From there, you can take a 10 minute taxi ride to the Al Bateen harbour. Head to the Marasy apartments, and a security guard will be able to direct you to Building 2 behind Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. The café is tucked into the bottom of this building.

The restaurant is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.