Founded in Australia in 1996, Jones the Grocer has always had a focus on great produce and communal dining. Now, there are more than 20 sites globally, where shoppers can peruse artisanal products or settle in for a meal. This branch finds itself in Dubai Mall, boasting a walk-in cheese room, communal dining tables, show kitchens and an exclusive range of private-label groceries. On the coffee counter, you'll find freshly baked cakes, pastries and breads, while the coffee itself is top-tier (as one might expect, given the company's Aussie heritage). It's a light and bright space, with high ceilings, modern lighting fixtures and plenty of plants dotted around.
If you're visiting in the morning, there are some great breakfast options to try, including the traditional English breakfast, Amazonian acai bowl, egg in the hole bagel and crunchy granola. Later in the day, you'll find plenty of quick bites to grab mid-shopping like a cauliflower vegan wrap, beef bacon, lettuce and guacamole sandwich or prawn and papaya salad. More sit-down style mains include a hot Asian broth packed with veggies, house chicken caesar salad, grilled salmon or steak and chips. The sharing boards, however, aren't to be missed, especially for larger groups. The 'let's steak together' features steak with green sauce, rosemary and garlic while 'the big easy' features mini burgers, crisps and fresh tomatoes.
The deli-style platters, meanwhile, feature piles of meats, cheeses, olives, fruit and nuts - ideal for grazing. To drink, coffee is the go-to, but you'll also find blueberry smoothies, pistachio lattes, chocolate brownie hot chocolate and iced tea too. On your visit, don't miss the walk-in cheese room - it is truly a sight to behold. There are gift towers of cheese adorned with truffle, dried flowers and other extravagant decorations. For a healthy bite and spot of food shopping, this is certainly the place.