Collagen Drinks Are Taking Over Dubai Cafes & Restaurants

We began the year with matcha taking over everything, from smoothie bowls to creamy, frothy drinks. Now, it’s collagen. Yes, this supplement has also found its café and fine-dining moment. Whether in powder or liquid form, its versatility is sparking creative flavour experiments and inspiring chefs to dream up inventive dishes. And in Dubai, it’s fast becoming the sip of the season.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen people shift away from social drinking and towards rituals that nourish rather than deplete. Collagen-based beverages, adaptogenic elixirs, and functional smoothies have become the new ‘social drink’; they’re still indulgent and aesthetic, but with intention behind them. It’s a reflection of a wider wellness mindset and one that values clarity, energy, and self-care over escapism,” says wellness and fitness expert Ivana Bruic, who is also the founder of Storm Cycling, a rhythm-based indoor cycling studio.

At Café de Palma in Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah and Creek Harbour, collagen has made its way into two smoothies — Ocean Breeze, a tropical blend of coconut, banana, dates, and blue spirulina, and Cranberry-Cherry, a mix of cranberry, banana, cherry purée, and honey. Across town, Risen Café & Artisanal Bakery serves creamy collagen lattes made with matcha powder (talk about the power of two wellness staples) that look as good as they sound. And at SLRP Ramen eatery, collagen takes the form of comforting ramen made with chicken collagen broth and homemade noodles. Even at Ivana’s Storm Cycling studio, they use collagen in their post-cycle ride smoothies. “Clients genuinely enjoy consuming these add-ons as they care about factors such as skin glow and muscle recovery over time,” she adds.

Interestingly, for some chefs, the collagen trend is also a way to honour family recipes and cultural traditions. “It might be trending right now, but the idea of eating with purpose, for longevity and vitality, has been around in Eastern cultures for centuries,” explains celebrated Chef Kelvin Cheung of Jun’s, the award-winning Dubai restaurant, which was also ranked #7 on The World’s 50 Best Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list.

The restaurant serves a 'Fountain of Youth' soup as part of their new 13-course tasting menu. inspired by Chinese traditions of nourishing the body from within. The dish has fish maw, which is almost pure collagen, cooked down in a double chicken stock and layered with fresh crab meat. “It features a delicate steamed egg, something my mom, an immigrant parent, used to make when we didn’t have much budget for fancy food, but it was our version of comfort and wellness. meat. Guests have been fascinated by both the texture and flavour as well as by the story behind it. It’s been amazing to see people connect to something that feels both ancient and regular to my culture, but also can feel so unique and innovative,” he adds.

Not just limited to Dubai, the trend is growing. Even in the capital, Abu Dhabi, collagen has made its way onto café menus. At Seed & Bloom Café, for instance, the signature Matcha Glow blends matcha with collagen powder for a drink that’s as nourishing as it is photogenic. “They blend the familiar ritual of coffee culture with ingredients that support wellbeing from within. Many guests are already familiar with it through their beauty routines, so discovering it in a drink feels like an extension of their self-care. The feedback we often hear is how light, nourished and refreshed they feel after enjoying one. People are no longer choosing between wellness and enjoyment; they’re looking for drinks that bring both together in a way that feels intentional and elevated,” reasons Thea Gigauri, general manager of the cafe.

Part of this shift stems from the city’s growing sober-curious and clean-living movements. Collagen drinks, also known as ‘inner beauty tonics’, fit neatly into that redefined indulgence. “We all know that drinking a collagen latte is not a guaranteed transformation, but it is a small, consistent action that, along with others, will build momentum. People have started to realise that small, positive choices do accumulate over time. This is especially true in the case of micro-choices, which form the foundation of more meaningful changes in one’s lifestyle,” clarifies Dr Taylor Elizabeth, an emotional intelligence and etiquette coach. The idea behind these drinks is simple: replenish from within.

With the cultural shift toward healthier living, it remains to be seen whether collagen—both as an ingredient and as a feature on restaurant menus—will have lasting power. “Moving away from the trend of consumption, the focus is on emotional intelligence. There is less emphasis on the performance of wellness and more on the embodiment of it. Slowing down, being intentional, and opting for authenticity over aesthetics. Consumers are becoming increasingly discerning. They want meaning as opposed to marketed fluff. Even if some shallow trends fade, true wellness trends, the kind that nourish the nervous system and the spirit, will always be in season,” Dr Taylor clarifies.

For now, though, Dubai is wholeheartedly embracing this global wellness trend and transforming it into its own aesthetic through food and drink in some truly intriguing ways!