The coffee scene in Bahrain is having its hey day, with new coffee shops and roasters popping up. It’s a great time to be a coffee lover in Bahrain! There’s a lot of amazing places to go, but consider this my short list for my personal favorites- the ELC guide to the best coffee shops in Bahrain.
The criteria for inclusion in my roundup are obviously how good the coffee is, the atmosphere, service, location and overall vibe. Bonus points for yummy goodies to have alongside your coffee!
Every Little Crumb’s guide to the best coffee shops in Bahrain:
Roast:

Roast opened up at the tail end of 2019, and with a bang. This place does excellent coffee with a true commitment to the process. It comes from a true place of passion and authenticity, with an owner who’s been thoroughly trained in roasting and completely emulates knowledge when it comes to coffee. They roast all their beans in house and test the quality with every cup. If you want to sample, they have public cupping sessions for people to partake in.
They also have delicious sandwiches, salads, and cakes. I love their gorgeous seating area with floor to ceiling windows they open up during good weather. It makes you feel like you are sitting outside! They do training for baristas, and have a quiet upstairs area. Upstairs is perfect for those who want to work in a more secluded atmosphere, or who want to hold meetings there. Popular since it’s opening, I predict this is going to be one of the biggest names in Bahrain coffee!

Neo:

A true gem that opened up in the Riffa Palms strips of Riffa Views. It’s a bookshop/coffeeshop and it brings two of my favorite worlds together in perfect harmony. They have a beautiful assortment of books for kids and adults, a communal downstairs working table and a sunny coffeeshop upstairs that’s not just an afterthought. Their beans are flown in from London, and they have delicious pastries too. The flat white is impeccable, and their mocha is also delicious. Try their blueberry crumb cake, flourless chocolate cake, or the range of products they have from local Vegan candy makers/bakers, Raw Candy. All this surrounded by bookshelf after bookshelf of books, a beautiful interior, and super friendly staff. This has become a haven for me!

Crust and Crema:

No frills, no frou frou, just plain old good coffee. Two branches, one in Galleria Mall with a handy little kids playground attached, and a large more industrial style space in Seef, perfect for working. They have a massive assortment of beans, all roasted in house. with a full description of each so you can try whatever you are in the mood for. Their V60 is a go to for me, as well as their flat white, which is smooth and mellow and goes down perfectly. Don’t miss their açai bowl selection, made from authentic açai pulp and at a really good price point. I customised my own açai bowl there, with raspberries and blueberries, coconut flakes, granola, dark chocolate, peanut butter, and it’s delicious! We called it the Açai Crumbowl 🙂 .This is another place that does cupping sessions, and sells a whole array of beans.

Grind:

The cool kid on the coffeeshop block. Also a roastery, this place will evoke London vibes with exposed brick walls, a neon sign, a comfy leather couch, and darn good coffee. As a bonus, it has it’s own restaurant attached (Hopscotch), if you want a more substantial sit down meal. If not, go for their white chocolate sea salt mocha, and don’t miss their tahini chocolate chip cookies. They also have very popular gluten free chocolate brownies, but I recommend raiding Hopscotch’s display case for banana bread with espresso butter or morning buns. Delicious pastries, very chill hipster vibe, and they completely come through when it comes to the quality of the drinks.

Arabica:

Arabica needs no introduction. The only non local place on my list, but I still need to have it on here. This Japanese franchise is minimal, smooth, and ultra modern. They make little cups of coffee with no option for larger sizes, but even that compact cup will deliver the exact hit you need. Their cafe latte is velvety and I savour every sip- the most popular drink they have is the Spanish latte, but in my opinion you don’t need the sugar in that. Just get their standard latte, pair it with their ultra fudgy sea salted brownie and that’s the way to start your day, or take a much needed mid day break.

For more reviews and pictures of all my dining adventures in Bahrain, follow me on Instagram @everylittlecrumb
Article originally written for Traveling Suitkace’s lovely blog.
If you want to make own coffee pairing treats, check out the recipes for:
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