I was invited to the grand opening of Cafe Barbera at Uptown Mirdiff Mall (Dubai) last Saturday. Originating from Trentola Ducenta in South Italy, Cafe Barbera started its humble beginnings in 1870 where the Barbera family sold coffee out of a car.

Today, Cafe Barbera has over 53 outlets across the globe, and has a devoted fan following from coffee addicts who want the real Italian deal.

I had the pleasure of meeting Enrico Barbera, CEO and Co-Founder of the Café Barbera Franchise. He is a fifth generation Barbera, and during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, he proudly declared that if his veins were slit, you would find coffee running through them, not blood!

The Dubai franchise for Cafe Barbera is owned by Mr. Husni Mughrabi and his wife. The very good-looking husband and wife duo can easily be mistaken to be Italian too! My daughter was won over by Mr. Mughrabi, after all he did give her two generous scoops of very delicious Italian chocolate gelato!

Cafe Barbera blends in perfectly with the friendly neighborhood residence of Uptown Mirdiff. Residents and shoppers alike can now enjoy authentic Italian coffee and deli treats, and the cooler months will allow for the use of the cafe’s very European-style alfresco dining area.

The interiors look very chic and Italian. I love the subtle contrast of the red upholstery with the more somber color palettes of the walls.

The walls feature framed vintage-style photographs, and the Italian mafia were spotted here too!

I had the Firenze, an Italian espresso coffee sweetened with caramel syrup and served with a milk foam drizzled with chocolate syrup. You can really taste the freshness of the beans in the Barbera coffees, and this decadent cup had a slight accent of almond that made it all the more indulgent.

We were served sandwiches and Italian pizza to go with our coffee.

A cake was cut to commemorate the opening of the Uptown Mirdiff branch, and what a delicious treat it was! This was a red velvet cake with multiple layers of cream cheese icing. I would have gladly accepted another slice 🙂

Cafe Barbera offers a refreshing change from many other commercialized coffee chains. The brand has remained true to its Italian roots, and continues to brew a beautiful range of coffees to suit a wide range of palettes.

Apart from the newest opening at Uptown Mirdiff, Cafe Barbera has 8 other branches across the UAE. Look them up on their website, and have a well-deserved coffee break. Buon Appetito!