A short walk away from the Sultan bin Zayed stop on the 170 Bus Line from NYU Abu Dhabi is Kulfilicious. The first Abu Dhabi branch of the popular Indian kulfi café is right next to Sama Tower – the former home of NYUAD. The colorful and lively café is opposite of Qasr Al Hosn and nestled between many small shops and supermarkets. It is hard to miss, with its bright yellow store front and lively crowd.

The décor inside is reminiscent of the street carts that sell kulfi in the Indian subcontinent, although it has a modern spin. Kulfi is a frozen dairy dessert that is thought to have its origins in Mughal India. Instead of the traditional way of serving kulfi in cone shaped mounds in earthen matka pots, Kulfilicious serves the dessert in sticks, pieces or in elaborate configurations with multiple flavors. Prices range from 10 to 25 AED, and the flavors are almost infinite. Their most popular ones are paan – betel leaf with areca nut–, saffron, mango and pistachio, often in a variety of combinations.

Kulfilicious started as the dream of two friends in Dubai. After arduous work and many challenges, the first Kulfilicious opened in August 2014. Since then, the brand has become popular and many franchises have popped up across the UAE. Today, there are ten branches in Dubai, two in Sharjah and one in Abu Dhabi, which opened in September 2018.

The kulfi parlor comes alive on the weekends, with people from all over Abu Dhabi pouring in to enjoy some quality time together. They sit together and reminisce as their children play.

As I ordered the mango, pistachio and saffron kulfi, I sat down to get some work done. A family sat at the next table and the children played and jumped around the parlor, occasionally bumping into bikes or carts. I observed people walking in and out of the store, marking the beginning of a busy day.

Large pillars are peppered with post it notes from grateful customers. Some are childish drawings of ice cream and smiley faces, but others are long and filled with nostalgia for a home that is now far away. Many pledge to continue visiting and are thankful for the sweet and savory flavors of home and tradition.

Kulfilicious is a great place for a quick stop during a busy day of errands in the city or for working on overdue papers. It is one of the many places along the 170 Bus Line that connects the island to the vibrant city. The friendly and courteous staff will gladly give you the Wi-Fi password and outlets are conveniently located near comfy chairs and tables.

For those members of our community who were here during the Sama Tower days, it is the perfect spot to sit down and reminisce about the life in the old campus.

It is a welcome change from both the city right outside its doors and the isolated, academically-driven life on Saadiyat.