Coffee, tea and creativity

At Café Ceramique, visitors can discover the hidden artist in them


Sipping a cup of coffee with friends or family and painting are two of the most relaxing things one can do. And Café Ceramique offers both.

The cafe at Town Centre, Jumeirah is an unusual place. On weekend mornings, before the holy month of Ramadan began, it was a common sight to see a father reading the newspaper over a cup of coffee while his daughter sat quietly beside him engrossed in painting a ceramic teddy bear; sometimes one found an entire family painting a personalised dinner set for their home while tucking into a breakfast of croissants and crepes.

"This is a unique concept designed to help people relax totally. At Café Ceramique we invite visitors to let their imagination run wild and discover the hidden artist in them. And we provide an opportunity to make friends with other art enthusiasts as well," says Rana Eid-Denis, manager of the café.

The shelves running all along the walls of the spacious, well-lit café are lined with a variety of plain white ceramic articles ranging in price from Dh10 to Dh300. One can choose from teddy bears, miniature motorbikes and cars, mugs, jugs, cookie jars, teapots, plates, bowls, vases, candle stands, ashtrays and other decorative items in every shape and size.

For a small studio fee, in addition to the cost of the item, the café provides paints, brushes palettes and also technical advice if required. You can choose from over 60 different colours and spend as long as you like over your artwork. Once the piece is painted, it is handed over to the café supervisor, who arranges to have it glazed and fired in the oven.

And when you go back a week later to collect your piece you will be pleasantly surprised to see the soft colours you applied transformed into bright, shiny hues making your amateur efforts look really professional. And what's more, you can actually use your masterpiece, because the materials used are non-toxic and microwave safe.

The café offers endless scope for creativity. Six-year-old Megan Ludlow was there with her mother Gail. With careful brush strokes she wrote 'I love grandma and grandpa' on mugs that will be her Christmas present for her grandparents.

Six-year-old Eva Khouri was painting a motorbike for her twin brother while her father Ghassan enjoyed his coffee.

"She loves to come here and insisted that I bring her here today," said Ghassan.

Eight-month-old Sam Davies was one step ahead. The little baby gurgled happily while his mother Julie dipped his foot in paint to put his footprint on a plate for his grandmother's birthday.

It is not only children who enjoy the place. Many women take advantage of the discounted rates offered on week day mornings. Durriyah Vasi who was sketching out an intricate pattern on a large plate is a regular at the café. "Me and my friends enjoy this so much that we even drove down to Café Ceramique in Abu Dhabi before they opened in Dubai," she said.

Café Ceramique also conducts ceramic painting classes for children and adults.

All materials are provided and trained staff supervises the workshops held in the spacious party room of the café.

During Ramadan the café will open at 5.00pm. A children's workshop is scheduled from 6.00pm to 8.00pm on November 14 while adults can join a class on November 18.