There’s a new café in Dubai that’s working its magic on patrons and we mean that quite literally. The Brown Bear Magic Shop and Café has made its grand appearance in Jumeirah and it’s a charming little space full of charms. Although the cosy little café might seem like it popped out of thin air and settled itself in The Village Mall, the offbeat concept has been under the works for eight months and is the first magic cafe in Dubai.
The café is a proper working magic shop, so the shelves and mantles are stocked with every imaginable modern illusion and traditional tricks such as cardistry cards, mind-boggling puzzles, tornado cubes, ropes and cups and balls. The cafe’s staff, who are also magicians and illusionists, will happy to demonstrate tricks in a special stage area.
Geeky? The staff will fill you in on the history of this art form while refilling your coffee. Will they make your coffee vanish? Maybe they’ll pull a coin out of your ear too. Who knows, these are sleight of hand experts!
Brown Bear’s got a pretty enchanting origin story: having started as an online-only magic shop in 2020, the city’s magic aficionados loved it instantly. And lo and behold! – their desire for an actual shop manifested it into a physical store and café. Besides granting wishes, this snug little magic cafe in Dubai grants visitors an escape from the madness of everyday life with it’s unique ambiance.
Designed to resemble the subtle glamour of mid-20th century, the café is a cross between English gentleman’s clubs and a New York speakeasy. Bricked walls are lined with books, warm glow of candles, comfy armchairs and a fireplace. You could easily lose yourself here absorbed in the pages of a book believing you’re sat in some stately house in 1900s Europe. While we want to believe it’s because someone waved a wand and transported us to a different era, in reality it’s because Brown Bear is located in the mall’s courtyard, which cuts the venue off from Dubai’s hustle and bustle.
Besides coffee, which is procured from local sustainable roaster RAW Coffee, the menu features an array of scrummy pastries, wraps, salads and sandwiches can be ordered as well as iced teas from New Zealand, organic teas from ALTHAUS Germany and signature mocktails.
Just like it’s worldly menu, the café hopes to rope in international magicians to drop by and perform small parlour shows once it takes off. Until then both budding magicians and non-magicians can swing by and enjoy some wholesome tricks and treats. You don’t even have to say open sesame.