• Alba reinvents afternoon tea with a bold Japanese twist.
  • Sweet and savoury towers channel serious Geisha and Samurai energy.
  • Limited-edition Kakigori dessert is the cool finale you need.
  • Perfect for weekday escapes, opera nights, or flex-worthy hangs.

Let’s be honest: afternoon tea in 2025 needed a glow-up. Cucumber sandwiches? Cute. But predictable. Enter Alba, the award-winning Downtown Dubai gem that just said, “Hold my teacup” and unveiled the most aesthetically pleasing, flavour-forward Japanese afternoon tea in the city — and honestly, we’re obsessed.

Launching on 1 May 2025, Alba’s new concept, Yūgure, isn’t your average tea time. Named after the Japanese word for twilight, it’s designed to taste like that golden hour moment when the sun kisses the skyline and the vibes are immaculate. Think: handcrafted wagyu sandos, mochi, and shaved ice served on a Seletti x Diesel cake stand — because minimalism is out, and playful maximalism is the new flex.

Behind this genius concept is Group Executive Chef Vladimir Chistyakov, who’s spun Asian nostalgia into modern luxury. The menu is split into two poetic collections: the Geisha (a sweet dream of tiramisu, halva cookies, mochis and even a dessert handroll), and the Samurai (a savoury knockout with Hamachi tostadas, wagyu onigiri, and tamago sando). Each tier tells a flavour story — the kind that makes you pause mid-bite and say, “Wait, what is that?” in the best way.

And just when you think it can’t get cooler — enter Kakigori, the underdog of Japanese desserts finally getting its moment. Shaved ice, whipped into a fluffy, cloud-like texture, drenched in mango cream or matcha strawberry syrups? It’s the kind of refreshing extra you didn’t know you needed post-tier tower.

But what really seals the deal is the vibe. Alba’s tea lounge is perched on a stylish mezzanine with a sweeping view of the city — part zen garden, part couture runway. And the tea itself? A rarefied mix of floral oolongs, Wabi Sencha, ceremonial matcha and even Asian cold brews. Bonus: you can spike the experience with botanical mocktails inspired by Asian wildlife, because of course you can.

So, whether you’re flexing pre-Opera, planning a birthday surprise, or just want a midweek serotonin hit that doesn’t involve retail therapy — Alba’s Afternoon Tea is the most delicious detour from reality. Elegant, curated, and just the right amount of extra.

Dubai, your tea era has officially begun!

Instagram: @Albarestdubai