WatchHouse Lands in Dubai: A Modern Coffee Moment on Marsa Boulevard

We first discovered WatchHouse in London, tucked into one of those beautifully designed corners of the city that make you forget you are meant to be somewhere else.

So when word got out that the cult-favourite Modern Coffee brand was opening in Dubai, we made our way to Marsa Boulevard faster than we care to admit. And yes, the excitement was entirely justified.

WatchHouse officially opened on 1 November, marking its first-ever location in the UAE and the beginning of its Middle Eastern story. Set along the new seasonal waterfront destination on Dubai Creek, the House create the perfect opportunity to slow down, breathe and reconnect with the ritual of coffee in a place where land, water and evening light meet effortlessly.

We arrived curious, a little nostalgic for our London memories and very ready to see how WatchHouse would translate in Dubai. We were also daring enough to try the falafel pastry, which turned out to be excellent, warm, savoury and the perfect companion to one of the best coffees we have tasted in the city. Between an espresso and a soy flat white, both prepared with the precision that makes a great drink, it became clear that WatchHouse’s philosophy had travelled well.

It is this philosophy (as to know, Modern Coffee as connection, intention and sensory experience) that defines WatchHouse. The Dubai opening takes that ambition forward, with Founder and CEO Roland Horne describing the House as a love letter to what the brand does best: craftsmanship, design integrity and hospitality rooted in meaning.

Set at the edge of the Creek and facing the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, WatchHouse becomes part of a curated neighbourhood celebrating food, design and culture. It is a spot where you can watch the sunset paint the water gold, catch up with friends or stage an effortlessly cute coffee date without trying too hard.

A Coffee Menu Worth Showing Up For

The Dubai pop-up introduces the city to WatchHouse’s signature menu, including Rarities, the brand’s celebrated collection of exceptional coffees sourced from renowned producers. Each is prepared with a level of precision that honours its origin: the Wilder Garcia Gesha, Peru, scented with lemon verbena and nectarine, the Los Rodriguez SL28, Bolivia, bright with hibiscus and blackberry, the Sebastian Ramirez Gesha, Colombia, wrapped in notes of lavender, peach and fig.

There is also the Golden Cardamom Latte, a Dubai-appropriate creation that blends cardamom, turmeric and chai into something that feels like a warm hug disguised as a drink.

Whether enjoyed at the water’s edge or taken to go, every cup reflects WatchHouse’s devotion to quality and its insistence that small rituals deserve sincerity.

Design Worth Slowing Down For

Designed with Berlin-based architect Kirill Borisov, the Marsa Boulevard House is a study in calmness and cultural memory. Drawing from desert architecture and the Creek’s maritime heritage, the space features four sculptural wind towers, a brutalist reinterpretation of traditional barjeel ventilation that doubles as a symbolic lighthouse.

Locally sourced materials, earthy textures and modular lines frame uninterrupted views of Dubai Creek, creating a design-led retreat that feels both grounded and contemporary. It is minimalist but warm, architectural yet intimate, and unmistakably WatchHouse in its pursuit of purposeful beauty.

A New Ritual in the City

WatchHouse’s arrival feels timely. In a city that embraces innovation while holding tight to heritage, the brand’s Modern Coffee ethos resonates deeply. It offers not just a caffeine fix, but a space where architecture, landscape and intention converge.

And for us, it has already become one of those places you plan to revisit: sometimes for the coffee, sometimes for the sunset and sometimes simply because it feels good to be there. We already cannot wait for the Abu Dhabi openings, this 2026!

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