10 places for coffee in Shanghai

Doug Williams
Author: ThalesEGO - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Author: ThalesEGO - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

China is not generally known for coffee, but in recent years, due mainly to the expat community there, it is growing in popularity among locals. Cafés have sprung up to meet the demand. Having a great latte or cappuccino, alone or when you meet a friend, is a kind of ritual and here are some great places you can visit.

Vienna Café

Vienna Cafe, Shanghai. Author: Lynn Lin – CC BY-ND 2.0
Vienna Cafe, Shanghai. Author: Lynn Lin – CC BY-ND 2.0

With a name like Vienna Café, you would expect a great cup of coffee in the Viennese style. This coffee house is situated in the French concession, and the owner/manager is Austrian. Viennese coffee is traditionally sweet and creamy, but you can choose to have yours either latte or black. The menu is traditional European, and the food is good. Vienna Café holds a “movie” night on Thursday evenings.

Address:  25 Shaoxing Road Shanghai

Opening times:  Sunday to Wednesday 8.00 to 20.00; Thursday to Saturday 8.00 to 22.00

Phone:  + 86 216 445 2131

Sumerian Coffee Roasters

This quaint Jing’An café roasts and blends their own beans.

Address:  415 Shaanxi Bei Road near Bejing Xi Road

Opening times:  Every day 9.00 to 18.00

Phone:  +86 138 1843 7240

Café Paddy

Here is a tiny establishment in the French concession. It is quaint with an eclectic mix of décor. They serve good coffee during the day and cocktails till late.

Address:  394 Yonjia Road near Tai Yuan road

Opening times:  Every day from 11.00 to 23.30

Phone:  +86 216 466 8608

Amokka Café

View of open roof structure over dining room during brunch at Amokka Café at 201 Anfu Lu, west of Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, Shanghai. Author: bricoleurbanism – CC BY-NC 2.0
View of open roof structure over dining room during brunch at Amokka Café at 201 Anfu Lu, west of Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, Shanghai. Author: bricoleurbanism – CC BY-NC 2.0

This café has an upstairs room which is airy and light. The furnishings are comfortable, and there are electric sockets available for your use so that you can plug in your laptop and stay all day. Great coffee and food, and other drinks are served in pleasant surroundings.

Address:  201 Anfu road

Opening times:  7.00 to midnight

Phone:  +86 215 404 0998

Rumors Café

This tiny venue facing the street has space for four patrons only – this is about an experience and an expensive cup of coffee. The beans are imported via Japan by the Japanese owners and are roasted on site. The drip coffee is prepared to order. The friendly owners are happy to chat (in Japanese) and allow you to smell the blends to help with your selection.

Address:  9 Hunan Road

Opening times:  Tuesday to Thursday 11.00 to 19.30; Friday to Sunday 11.00 to 21.30

Phone:  + 86 2134 605708

Xun Mi Café and Coin Qian Boutique

Author: 2 dogs – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Author: 2 dogs – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Visit this emporium with vintage décor and order a cup of coffee while you browse the boutique, which sells quality accessories such as scarves and handbags.

Address:  Yuyuan Road Lane 541 house 30

Opening times:  Monday to Friday 11.00 to 21.00

Café del Volcan

As you enter this café, the smell of freshly ground coffee hits your nose, and here the coffee roasters mix their own speciality blends. You can order a great cuppa here or request a bag of the product to take home.

Address:  8 Yonkang Road near Xiangyang Road

Opening times:  Monday to Friday 8.00 to 20.00

Phone: + 86 156 1866 9291

Melange Oasis

Author: Sam Zheng – CC BY-NC 2.0
Author: Sam Zheng – CC BY-NC 2.0

Super coffees as well as lovely toasted sandwiches and pasta dishes. There are fresh cakes and pastries to tempt you. This venue is child-friendly and has access to a charming enclosed courtyard where they have high-chairs for babies and bean bags to sit on. They also hold occasional “movie” nights.

Address:  Jiashen market Shaanxi Nan Road Lane 550 No. 37 Building D

Opening times:  9.00 to 22.00

Phone:  +86 216 433 7727

GZ Café

This charming café is in a lane comprised of a variety of cafés, shops, and houses, and it is well-placed and close to one of the upmarket shopping areas.

Address:  JingAn villas Lane 1025 Nanjing Lu House no 162

Opening times:  Every day 10.00 to 18.00

Baker and Spice 

There’s nothing quite like a classic latte
There’s nothing quite like a classic latte

The first Baker and Spice outlet established in China is on Anfu Road – and this is still the nicest one. It was one of the first places to have a western style bakery. They serve great cappuccinos and lattes. There are several outlets which are mostly in shopping malls. You can check the website for your closest branch.

Address:  (First branch) 195 Anfu Road       http://www.bakerandspice.com.cn/

Opening times:  Every day 7.00 to 20.00

Phone:  +86 213 404 2733

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fmssolution

fmssolution is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival