Not too far back in time, the Beijing café brigade was limited to big shopping stores, leaving coffee connoisseurs little in the way of choice.
Perhaps it was the arrival of the Olympics that changed all that... or maybe it was down to Starbucks setting up shop in the Forbidden City at the launch of the new millennium – it certainly created some controversy then. An overseas chain store in the heart this most iconic of Chinese pieces of history! It took seven years for the famous coffee chain to note the objections, shutter the branch, and move elsewhere in the teeming metropolis of Beijing.
Maybe Starbucks should have realized that tea, rather than coffee, was the way forward at the time... who knows? No matter, at least it created awareness, and the City Fathers seem to have a more relaxed approach to cafés and coffee shops these days. Good thing, too, because many Western visitors and more and more Chinese can’t go very far or wait too long between the next good brew of coffee.
These days, caffeine shops are stealing a march on traditional teahouses found all over the Far East. It’s almost as if a whole new experience has opened up, with a rich new beverage never before imbibed - well, not by the locals at least. This is somewhat along the lines of a flamboyant Walter Raleigh discovering that weed we call tobacco, and then setting it alight! But I digress, because the purpose of this article is to create an awareness of what’s out there and worth exploring in the world of Beijing cafés.
You might be surprised how many Western-style cafés there are to be found, when little more than a decade ago there were virtually none. The list of coffee shop choices in Beijing - both foreign and homegrown - is healthy, and growing rapidly, in an effort to keep the many coffee-lovers suitably refreshed and satisfied, and the young and trendy stocked with places to work and relax. In this article, we’ll review some really pleasant places. But before doing that, let’s take a quick peek at the history of the coffee bean, and how it became so popular across the globe.
About Coffee, and About This List of Shops
Arabs discovered wild coffee in the 14th century as they wandered through North and East Africa in search of slaves. It took a few decades for a member of a Sufi monastery in Yemen to brew the bean and taste it. In no time at all, coffee was the rave throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.
It soon it became the preserve of the rich and wealthy throughout Europe. From Europe, it spread East, and then West, as colonial powers went out in search of new dominions and colonies, taking their precious cargo of coffee beans along with them.
For many of us, a regular cup (or more) of coffee is an important ritual of daily life. And most of us want our laptops, notebooks, and tablets to accompany us wherever we go so we can check our mail - thanks to technology, we can now enjoy our favorite brew while surfing the Internet... no need to slow our productivity just because we’re having coffee.
So, how good is the Wi-Fi setup around the network of Beijing cafés?
Well, it does depend on the café; Internet is slower in China than in
many other countries, and the cafés you'll frequent have varying levels
of Internet speed and access - some having relatively fast connections,
and others trudging along at dial-up-like speeds.
Overall, in the cafés we'll look at
today, Internet speed is reliably good, and genuinely free. No
per-second
connection charges here. This means you can download your emails,
upload your latest blog and surf the net for free - the only thing you
pay for is that coffee and strudel you ordered. Wi-Fi connectivity was
one of the main
discriminators in compiling this list of Beijing cafés; if it's on this
list, its Internet's good.
Not forgetting, of course, that the main function of a decent café is to serve food and beverages, we added several other important considerations that make for a pleasant café experience:
- Creature comforts, as in decent tables and comfortable chairs
- Ambience, as in the first impression
- Design layout of the facility
- Service quality
- Location
- Pricing
Factoring in different strokes for different folks, try to keep in mind that each and every café patron will likely change the rating criteria to suit his or her own important list of needs. Life is full of choices, and sipping your favorite beverage at the local café around the corner is one of the better ones.
Guessing what turns people on makes for some difficulty when drawing comparisons. I suggest you regard the list as presented as some sort of starting point, rather than a definitive review of what’s available in the Beijing café context. Fads come and go as quick as a flash, so what’s hot today could become unfashionable in a short time.
Colibri Café
Sanlitun; Open 10:00 am to late every day
This café opened recently in the Sanlitun area. It’s a great place to meet up and catch up over a decent cup of coffee. The benches along its side are comfortable, and make for a nice group-gathering area, too. The service here is great and the food well priced and enjoyable. It’s a well thought-out café that appeals right from the moment you walk in.
It’s also centrally located, with tables available both inside and
outside for those wanting fresh air and a view of the passing parade.
Lighting is natural and good. Judging from the different languages
you'll hear in
evidence, the international set has already discovered Colibri as a
trendy gathering spot
Café Zarah
Dongdajie; Open 10:00 am to midnight every day
Even the name intrigues, and seems to demand further investigation. A friend of the owner gave birth at around the same time as this café opened at the end of 2007; no prizes for guessing the child’s name: correct, Zarah! Cute story indeed, but let’s take a look at what’s on offer. As always, the menu needs to be inviting - even tempting... otherwise why would you want to choose Zarah with so many other choices?
Café Zarah offers a decent selection of European treats and a good choice of beverages. Breakfast is traditional German in the sense of delicious fresh-baked breads served with lots of butter, cheese, and a selection of hams. In fact it’s served all day long. For the sweet and savory-minded, you can order from a selection of sandwiches, pasta, and salads, and there’s always a gateaux to round off with. Enjoy a glass or two of wine from a fine selection on offer. Open until midnight.
Trends Lounge
GuangHuaLu/CBD; Open 10:00 am to 11:00 pm every day
A friend of mine acts a little strangely when considering a new restaurant or café. He insists on walking past several times before making the next bold decision. Perhaps he’s just superstitious. Eventually, he throws caution to the wind and walks right in to see what the place has to offer.
No problem when it comes to exploring what made Trends Lounge stand out. First impressions are a little confusing, because when viewed from the outside, Trends looks small and cramped. Nothing could be further from the truth! To begin with, apart from being a Beijing café of note, this establishment doubles as an impressive library, with both Chinese and English books on offer.
Once inside, Trends occupies a huge space, and thanks to the resident bookworms, there’s an air of decorum present (though not stiflingly so). Trends has a full bar on offer for the thirsty. Good Wi-Fi is of course free and reliable. Once you venture in, you’ll be impressed with what you’ll find inside - there are adorable leather chairs to sink back into too. Don’t be put off by a misleading façade, particularly when exploring new city life – or in this case the cafés of Beijing.
Village Café
Sanlitun; Open 6:30 am to 11:00 pm every day
“Step into our cosmopolitan city café and enjoy its thriving atmosphere. Where you can enjoy casual dining throughout the day in a spacious naturally lit setting. And where our menu offers a contemporary take on international favourites such as the village steak sandwich, beetroot, almond and ricotta salad and teriyaki salmon with jasmine rice.”
Village Café is located in Sanlitun's famous Opposite House, along with a handful of other trendy bars, restaurants, and upmarket accommodations.
Fisheye Café
Sanlitun Village; Open 10:00 am to 10:00 pm every day
This is a popular venue among Beijing's expatriate residents. The coffee is imported from San Francisco, and transport you to that city's own coffee shops. Fisheye Café opens for 12 hours - from 10 to 10 – and every day of the week. The design is wonderful, and includes plenty of natural light. It describes itself as a “Lomo” café, meaning lomography-themed events take place here. Not the most comfortable chairs in China though – seems like the owners don’t want you getting too relaxed!
Out of interest, lomography is the work of photographers who aspire to creative film shoots for later exhibition.
Café Alba
Houhai; Open 9:00 am to 2:00 am every day
Yet another relaxing experience, and one that won’t empty your purse either. Trademark decent salads with lots of chunky vegetables. Nice light pasta too, all without heavy sauces. Try the café's rooftop challenge; it gives a great view of the city.
This place has character, an amazing whiskey collection, and of course good food. It may be a little far out of the city center for some, but the view affords a fantastic panorama.
Element Fresh
Sanlitun Village; Open 10:00 am to 11:00 pm every day
Element Fresh was recently voted the best American café in Beijing. That’s best for families and best for brunch, according to one of the city's local newspaper's review and reader voting.
You’ll find Element Fresh open every day for lunch and dinner, and all-day breakfasts are on offer each weekend (with an opening time of 8 am Saturdays and Sundays). The menu has seasonal creations and sensations, and there’s always something to tempt the taste buds. An impressive range of beverages awaits the thirsty drinker as well.
In Summary
Beijing is just like any other large metropolis, where locals and visitors need somewhere to meet and take a break from hectic schedules, so they can they can quench that thirst and quell that hunger bug, and a good café does the trick.
And if, after a snack or a work session at one of Beijing's cafés, you're on the hunt for a dinner restaurant to round out the day, do check out our article on the best restaurants in the city right here: "25 Best Beijing Restaurants to Dine At."
Happy chatting / snacking / working / relaxing!
Yours,
Cerise
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