Coffee houses provide kick beyond caffeine
March 26, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IT is commonplace for white-collar workers in Shanghai to rush to their office buildings in the morning, with cups of Starbucks or other chain coffee in hand. But nowadays, people with more time to spare are choosing a quieter way to enjoy their daily java fix.
Small, locally run coffee shops are popping up in Minhang, offering a homely atmosphere, a good brew, soft background music, books to read and games to play. Their relaxing ambience is reminiscent of the original coffee houses of Europe centuries ago, where people met to socialize and to leisurely discuss the events of the day in politics and the arts.
Like its name implies, this cafe is more like a living room than a shop. An interior red brick wall is decorated with paintings, photos and exquisite small vases and other art pieces.
Artificial flowers and a floral curtain give the room the air of a garden. There is a piano and a book shelf, and cute toys placed randomly. The menu is hand written and accompanied by beautiful drawings.
Every Wednesday night is movie night, when classic old films are screened.
Zhang Zhanei, owner of the shop, has been an art aficionado since childhood and her major at university was English. Born in 1984, she sits in the shop reading books in English, doing cross-stitching, painting and playing the piano as she keeps an eye on business.
"I hope to create a family feel; customers can do whatever they want in the shop," said Zhang, with a smile.
The shop is 60 square meters. People can browse through magazines, surf the Internet with wireless access and play games.
Zhang brought her art flair into full play when decorating the shop, which opened in March 2010.
"The wall was made of glass, and I painted it myself to save cost," she said.
She also brews coffee and makes cookies and chocolate truffles for customers. Her cheesecake is especially popular with patrons.
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
Address: 1/F, 2915 Hongmei Rd
Tel: 3422-2128, 1391-7157-229
Recommendations: Chocolate cheese, latte, mocha, cheese cake, milk tea
Corner Coffee took its name from its location on a corner of Xinjian Rd E. The shop is easy to miss, but more's the pity because it's a hidden gem.
The two-story shop is a warm and tranquil place, filled with more than 20,000 books, 1,000 DVDs and exquisite souvenirs.
The shop was previously a book store. Corner Coffee owner Casper Lei, said she bought all the books from the previous owner. The 34-year-old said she's an avid reader and figures books and coffee go well together.
The air is permeated with the fragrance of coffee, accompanied by gentle music.
"Most of the customers are white collar workers who work nearby, and they like reading books by Murakami Haruki, a noted Japanese novelist, and Martin Heidegger, a German philosopher," she said.
Some customers even contribute their own books and other objects to the shop, Lei said. One patron, after traveling to Tibet, brought back indigenous dolls for the shop. The walls also hold photos of overseas trips taken by customers.
Corner Coffee opened in 2004. Visitors can play table games and even practice their English and Japanese here.
Rice and noodle dishes are also available on a short menu.
Opening hours: 10am-11pm
Address: No. 54, Sub-Lane 26, Lane 399, Xinjian Rd E.
Tel: 6414-4191
Recommendation: Latte, braised pork rice
Sunny Coffee offers more than a cup of coffee. It aims to replicate a stylish "bourgeoisie" atmosphere.
It's a tiny place, only 40 square meters, but it is always packed with customers.
The shop is decorated with plants, oil paintings, movie posters, lovely chairs and beautiful lamps. Just like the name indicates, the place is bathed in sunshine.
Stepping into the coffee house, two walls filled with photos immediately catch the eye. Wu Lingyun, owner of the shop, works in the film industry, giving him access to many popular screen stars seen posing with him.
Wu said he enjoys serving customers when he is free. He brews coffee, makes sandwiches and chats with patrons. The shop opened five years ago.
"I highlight the process of brewing coffee when I make it, Wu said. "That's what distinguished our shop from the fast-food-style coffee places."
Wu recommended an Irish coffee made with chocolate and tip of whisky.
Opening hours: 9am-10pm
Address: 99 Gumei Rd
Tel: 1391-6181-305
Recommendation: Irish coffee, tuna fish sandwich
Small, locally run coffee shops are popping up in Minhang, offering a homely atmosphere, a good brew, soft background music, books to read and games to play. Their relaxing ambience is reminiscent of the original coffee houses of Europe centuries ago, where people met to socialize and to leisurely discuss the events of the day in politics and the arts.
Like its name implies, this cafe is more like a living room than a shop. An interior red brick wall is decorated with paintings, photos and exquisite small vases and other art pieces.
Artificial flowers and a floral curtain give the room the air of a garden. There is a piano and a book shelf, and cute toys placed randomly. The menu is hand written and accompanied by beautiful drawings.
Every Wednesday night is movie night, when classic old films are screened.
Zhang Zhanei, owner of the shop, has been an art aficionado since childhood and her major at university was English. Born in 1984, she sits in the shop reading books in English, doing cross-stitching, painting and playing the piano as she keeps an eye on business.
"I hope to create a family feel; customers can do whatever they want in the shop," said Zhang, with a smile.
The shop is 60 square meters. People can browse through magazines, surf the Internet with wireless access and play games.
Zhang brought her art flair into full play when decorating the shop, which opened in March 2010.
"The wall was made of glass, and I painted it myself to save cost," she said.
She also brews coffee and makes cookies and chocolate truffles for customers. Her cheesecake is especially popular with patrons.
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
Address: 1/F, 2915 Hongmei Rd
Tel: 3422-2128, 1391-7157-229
Recommendations: Chocolate cheese, latte, mocha, cheese cake, milk tea
Corner Coffee took its name from its location on a corner of Xinjian Rd E. The shop is easy to miss, but more's the pity because it's a hidden gem.
The two-story shop is a warm and tranquil place, filled with more than 20,000 books, 1,000 DVDs and exquisite souvenirs.
The shop was previously a book store. Corner Coffee owner Casper Lei, said she bought all the books from the previous owner. The 34-year-old said she's an avid reader and figures books and coffee go well together.
The air is permeated with the fragrance of coffee, accompanied by gentle music.
"Most of the customers are white collar workers who work nearby, and they like reading books by Murakami Haruki, a noted Japanese novelist, and Martin Heidegger, a German philosopher," she said.
Some customers even contribute their own books and other objects to the shop, Lei said. One patron, after traveling to Tibet, brought back indigenous dolls for the shop. The walls also hold photos of overseas trips taken by customers.
Corner Coffee opened in 2004. Visitors can play table games and even practice their English and Japanese here.
Rice and noodle dishes are also available on a short menu.
Opening hours: 10am-11pm
Address: No. 54, Sub-Lane 26, Lane 399, Xinjian Rd E.
Tel: 6414-4191
Recommendation: Latte, braised pork rice
Sunny Coffee offers more than a cup of coffee. It aims to replicate a stylish "bourgeoisie" atmosphere.
It's a tiny place, only 40 square meters, but it is always packed with customers.
The shop is decorated with plants, oil paintings, movie posters, lovely chairs and beautiful lamps. Just like the name indicates, the place is bathed in sunshine.
Stepping into the coffee house, two walls filled with photos immediately catch the eye. Wu Lingyun, owner of the shop, works in the film industry, giving him access to many popular screen stars seen posing with him.
Wu said he enjoys serving customers when he is free. He brews coffee, makes sandwiches and chats with patrons. The shop opened five years ago.
"I highlight the process of brewing coffee when I make it, Wu said. "That's what distinguished our shop from the fast-food-style coffee places."
Wu recommended an Irish coffee made with chocolate and tip of whisky.
Opening hours: 9am-10pm
Address: 99 Gumei Rd
Tel: 1391-6181-305
Recommendation: Irish coffee, tuna fish sandwich
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