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Bliss with a mug: 3 delightful cafes at West Lake
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Crisp air, sunny weather, a cup of coffee and light music — sounds like a good way to while away an autumn afternoon, especially when you are in the touristic city of Hangzhou.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to tour the city of waters and mountains, and besides hiking, biking and boating, a good way to spent some leisure time is to find a good place, sit back with a mug and let your mind go blank.
For tourists who may not have much time to hunt for that perfect spot, Shanghai Daily suggests three cafes that boast good coffee, outdoor balconies and a great location in the center of the city — the area of Nanshan Road, a must-visit place next to West Lake.
Pulio Bakery
The delicious aroma of freshly baked goods lures passersby, including a lot of foreign customers who are proof of its claims to be an authentic French bakery.
Opposite the Nanshan campus of the China Academy of Art, Pulio’s cafe is a rendezvous location for students, including many from overseas, as well as a favorite of West Lake tourists.
The bakery’s ovens stay busy, which brings in more customers with the alluring smell of baked goods. Plus, Pulio’s affordable prices and cozy decor keep many coming back.
The two-floor bakery, though not facing West Lake but Nanshan Road, has an outdoor balcony with seating for a dozen people. The view is of the art college campus and the road with its lofty phoenix trees.
Pulio’s terrace on the second floor overlooks the first-floor courtyard, so the fragrance from the oven on the first floor fills every corner of the store. The second floor has 10 tables, each separated by walls or plants, so there is some sense of privacy.
The prices of baked goods range from 2 yuan to 20 yuan, and the coffee is 9 yuan to 15 yuan. Considering its location, the prices are good. Each table has an electric plug, and free wifi is available.
Address: 103 Nanshan Rd
Tel: (0571) 8708-7555
In Lake Youth Hostel/Cafe
Lilies, roses, lavender and other flowers decorate In Lake Cafe, which is part of In Lake Youth Hostel 50 meters from West Lake.
Flowers provide a pleasing aroma at In Lake — the staff puts not one flower in a vase on each table but a large porcelain pot that contains dozens of fresh flowers on each table.
The vintage decor is also pleasing. Old-fashioned ceiling fans and lights, traditional Chinese-style wood and bamboo chairs, and calico tablecloths perfectly match the abundant flowers and jazz music at In Lake.
The cafe turns into a bar in evenings, and glass doors are opened so that some high tables and chairs can be moved at least partway onto the sidewalk of narrow Luyang Road, which leads to West Lake.
Address: 5 Luyang Rd
Tel: (0571) 8682-6700
Mingtown Cafe/Youth Hostel
Through a long line of French windows, the afternoon sunshine paints Mingtown Cafe in an orange hue, contrasting with its blue decor.
The cafe provides what all Western cafes provide, from pizza and pasta to coffee and juice. The coffee is made from premium illy coffee beans, yet priced at around only 20 yuan per cup. The thin crust Italian pizza (10 inch) is recommended, and it has a good price of 29 yuan to 42 yuan per pie.
The outdoor area is a spacious corridor with a wood-plank floor and it can seat 20 people. It’s a great spot for tea and coffee during a sunshine-bathed afternoon.
Address: 101-3 Nanshan Rd
Tel: (0571) 8577-7788
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