Upon completing an upcoming interview of Rumana Nazim from The Edit, myself and Moe happened upon Alchemy; a specialist coffee shop located opposite to Dar Wasl Mall, in sunny Jumeirah. Alchemy is a minimalist's haven ( think Apple stores with specialised coffee blends) In this two-story cafe of sky-high glass and wooden floors accented by metal decanters, potted ferns and an outdoor pool you'll find ethically sourced coffee in a hyper-modernist setting.
Eager to get our caffeine fix, we eagerly requested a menu but were informed that in fact the coffees available were on the wall behind us. Taken by surprise, we turned around and lo and behold, much like a long lost heirloom, there they were, thirteen types of coffee neatly stencilled in black and gold onto the stark white wall.
Once our initial surprise wore off and we found a table outside, I couldn't help but wonder. Surely, there's a menu for the food? Turns out I was wrong. The 'food' is a humble selection of delightful pastries available at the counter. Alchemy is clearly operating with a legitimate take on eco-conscious business practices, and while limiting the use of paper is a sure fire way to do this. One has to ask, aren't families and groups of consumers a bit challenged with this particular setup? Not to mention single parents or the elderly.
But, then Alchemy isn't for them. It is the newest of the new, a living testament to the rapid pace of life in a metropolitan city. And there, while we sipped our cold oatly-milk lattes out of perfectly chiselled glass overlooking the pool I had to ask myself if it did, in fact, warrant a place on 'Secret Diners'. The answer? A surefire yes.
Because while there are many specialist bistros/cafes springing up in Dubai, very few of them have a strong point of view; a vision. And while, Alchemy certainly has a few kinks to iron out, businesses such as these are shaping the landscape of an industry that continues to operate with little or no thought of ethical impropriety. Oh, and their coffee was sensational!
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