Imagine stumbling across a secret garden.
A heavenly oasis filled with lush greenery, reclaimed wood furniture and some of the most incredible vegan food in all of Dubai.
When I first laid eyes on Life ‘n One over a year ago it was truly love at first sight. Everything from the laid-back atmosphere to the beautiful green garden, mellow music and welcoming staff made me feel as though I was transported. For the briefest of moments I totally forgot that I was smack-dab in the middle of the urban jungle that is Dubai.
Needless to say, my heart and soul were sold instantly. As for my tastebuds?
They were positively singing by the end of my first meal there. I’ve since been back many times, so the dishes included in this review are but a few examples of the incredibly fresh and positively scrumptious vegan fare on offer at Life ‘n One.
On my inaugural visit, I had to sample the guacamole with flax crackers – it was simple yet perfectly seasoned, peppered with chopped tomatoes and onions and came in an very generous portion!
Next up was the vurger – served in a gluten-free bun with a cashew-based mayo and tons of veggies.
Although this burger definitely errs on the side of the earthier and more wholesome patties, I loved it all the same. A fragrantly spiced combination of spinach, mushroom and lentils definitely hit the spot. The GF bun was savoury and dense which I enjoyed, although it didn’t hold together very well and proved particularly messy to eat.
Next came dessert, their infamous snickers pie.
I have to say that I am not the biggest fan of raw desserts as they tend to be very dense on account of the high fat content from nuts, blended coconut or coconut oil – but this pie was incredible.
The perfect combination of sweet and salty, this dessert is somewhere between an ice cream and a chocolate and peanut butter pie infused with caramel and topped in raw chocolate sauce. I simply can’t recommend this dessert enough.
On other visits I’ve also tried the raw summer rolls (which I believe are now called raw sushi rolls, if I’m not mistaken)
They were tasty and held together well (the key issue with many rice paper rolls) but definitely not filling enough as a meal, so I’d recommend ordering it as a starter.
Another enjoyable dessert was the chocolate brownies which came served with a scoop of ice cream and a salted caramel cream of sorts.
If you’re heading there for breakfast or brunch, I’d highly recommend their chickpea omelets.Dense, chewy and perfectly savoury, I opted for the omelet stuffed with grilled peppers, cashew cheese and avocado.
If you’re in the mood for a light snack, the sharing is caring platter is just the remedy with a selection of three dips, crackers and veggie sticks.
And you can never go wrong with a fresh Thai young coconut on a hot summer’s day.
If you do decide to visit Life ‘n One (and I strongly recommend that you do), here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Although the alfresco seating area is my favourite, there is an indoor section that is air conditioned for the summer months
- The menu changes from time to time as the creative team behind the restaurant and wellness center are constantly innovating
- Life ‘n One operates a natural slow-food concept where almost everything is made to order. That said, service can be a little bit slow during high traffic times as there is only one small kitchen on the premises so bear that in mind and avoid getting angry with the wait staff.
- There is (intentionally) no Wi-Fi for guests to connect to as the restaurant encourages diners to peruse a book from their mini library or engage in real life conversation instead
If you’re looking for innovative yet simple and whole-food vegan options in a truly zen atmosphere, Life ‘n One is the place for you. In terms of value for money, I’d say that their prices are definitely on the higher side – but not unjustifiable given the high quality ingredients, novel dishes and decent portion sizes (on most dishes).
Life ‘n One is located on Jumeirah Beach Road, 27B Street, Villa 5/1B Jumeirah 1, Dubai. Tel:056 534 2899. They are open Sunday – Thursday from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm and Friday – Saturday from 8:30 am – 7:30 pm.
This place looks magical! With the serene, airy surroundings & wholesome food, I can see why you’ve visited often. Even though I doubt I will ever get there, I loved hearing about it!
Thank you very much for the interesting article, this restaurant will be definitely on my bucket list if I visit Dubai – hope to do soon, there is so much to see and to taste in this area!