Café restaurants in China
-
A
Lord Stow’s Café
Though the celebrated English baker Andrew Stow passed away, his cafe and Lord Stow’s Bakery (1 Rua da Tassara) keep his memory well alive by serving his renowned pastéis de nata, a warm egg-custard tart (MOP$6) and cheesecake (MOP$14) in unusual flavours, including black sesame and green tea. The Lord Stow’s Garden Café (105 Rua da Cordoaria) near the Coloane bus stop has a very relaxed atmosphere on its patio.
reviewed
-
B
Element Fresh
Perennially popular, Element Fresh hits the spot with its tempting selection of healthy salads, pasta dishes (Western and Asian) and hefty sandwiches. Vegetarians may well faint with excitement at the roasted eggplant on ciabatta bread or the Italian tofu sandwich smothered in pesto. Then there are the imaginative smoothies (from Y22), big breakfasts (Y38–68), coffee and after-work cocktails.
reviewed
-
C
Ou Mun Café
This much-loved Macanese cafe closed down for a while, but it has come back with a modern facelift, decorated with colourful stained glass. The freshly made Portuguese pastries and chocolates are still here.
reviewed
-
D
Always Café
What draws the regulars here are the excellent value set-lunch specials with coffee (11am to 5pm), and the buy-one-get-one-free happy hour (5pm to 8pm). The food is a mix of Asian and Western, from Indonesian nasi goreng (fried rice) and Shànghǎi-style eel to bacon cheeseburgers and pasta. It’s a friendly place with chequered tablecloths and an old parquet floor which, along with the wi-fi access, makes it an easy place to while away an afternoon or evening. Fans of afternoon tea can find it here (Y48 for two).
reviewed
-
E
Waiting for Godot
Cool and charming cafe that takes it name from Samuel Beckett’s best-known play. Local bohemians and Westerners who live in the area are drawn in by the moody lighting and the arthouse movies that play on the big screen TV, as much as they are by the coffee, tea and good selection of foreign beers. The friendly staff can rustle up basic pasta dishes and salads, too. It’s an easy place to wile away a few hours. A few doors down the road, its equally chilled sister establishment, the Sea, is tucked behind a flower shop.
reviewed
-
360° Café
Macau Tower, at 338m, is the 10th-tallest freestanding structure in the world; it stands on the narrow isthmus of land southeast of Avenida da República. The squat building at its base is the Macau Convention & Entertainment Centre. The tower houses observation decks (adult/child 3-12 & senior over 85 MOP$90/45) on the 58th and 61st floors, and restaurants and bars such as the revolving 360° Café on the 60th floor, and the 180° Lounge (minimum charge MOP$60;noon-1am) one floor below it.
reviewed
-
F
Lord Stow’s Garden Café
Though the celebrated English baker Andrew Stow passed away, his cafe (9 Largo do Matadouro) and Lord Stow’s Bakery (1 Rua da Tassara) keep his memory well alive by serving his renowned pastéis de nata, a warm egg-custard tart (MOP$6) and cheesecake (MOP$14) in unusual flavours, including black sesame and green tea. The Lord Stow’s Garden Café near the Coloane bus stop has a very relaxed atmosphere on its patio.
reviewed
-
G
Origin
Serving Shànghaǐ’s locavores, Origin is an upbeat Italian-run cafe that uses seasonal ingredients to create a clever menu of salads (crispy goose and mango), sandwiches (sweet potato and chèvre on focaccia), and, of course, pasta and homemade gelato. Not everything on the menu appears to come from within a 160km radius, but hey, they’re trying. Arrive early to stake out seats on the upstairs terrace.
reviewed
-
Element Fresh
Perennially popular, Element Fresh hits the spot with its tempting selection of healthy salads, pasta dishes (Western and Asian) and hefty sandwiches. Vegetarians may well faint with excitement at the roasted eggplant on ciabatta bread or the Italian tofu sandwich smothered in pesto. Then there are the imaginative smoothies (from Y22), big breakfasts (Y38–68), coffee and after-work cocktails.
reviewed
-
Element Fresh
Perennially popular, Element Fresh hits the spot with its tempting selection of healthy salads, pasta dishes (Western and Asian) and hefty sandwiches. Vegetarians may well faint with excitement at the roasted eggplant on ciabatta bread or the Italian tofu sandwich smothered in pesto. Then there are the imaginative smoothies (from Y22), big breakfasts (Y38–68), coffee and after-work cocktails.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Vincent Café
A cornucopia of crêpes is available at this French-run, country-style cafe in the 798 Art District. The ‘fisherman’, made with shrimps, leeks and white wine (Y45), has an authentic Breton flavour. Steaks, salads, pizzas, French onion soup, coffee and juices are also on the menu. Good chips, and an outside area in summer.
reviewed
-
I
Mima
If you're visiting the Old Summer Palace (Yuánmíng Yuán), then be sure to check out this great, eccentric café. From the bar made up of books, to the most memorable toilet in Běijīng, this place is all about creative design. It's particularly nice in the summer, when you can sit outside surrounded by a small army of cats.
reviewed
-
J
Old Film Café
With the golden age of Shànghǎi cinema as its theme, this place makes for a pleasant pit stop if you’re touring the Duolun Rd area. Movie buffs will enjoy the photos of the vintage Chinese movie stars and the screenings of classic films from the ’30s. There’s a wide range of teas available and they serve alcohol, too.
reviewed
-
K
Café Pause
Artfully designed, hip café in the heart of the 798 Art District which attracts a mixed bag of trendy locals and passing tourists. The central European-inspired menu features Vienna schnitzel and Hungarian goulash, as well as an all-day breakfast. In the evening, it's a pleasant spot for a glass of wine. They mix decent cocktails here too.
reviewed
-
L
Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse
Next to the entrance to the Yuyuan Gardens is the Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse, once part of the gardens and now one of the most famous teahouses in China, visited by Queen Elizabeth II and Bill Clinton among others. The zigzag causeway is designed to thwart spirits (and trap tourists), who can only travel in straight lines.
reviewed
-
Wagas
Breakfasts are 50% off before 10am, the pasta is Y33 after 6pm, and you can hang out here for hours with your laptop and no one will shoo you away – need we say more? Wagas is the best and most dependable of the local cafes, with tantalising wraps, salads and sandwiches, perfect for a quick bite at any time of the day. Locations abound.
reviewed
-
Wagas
Breakfasts are 50% off before 10am, the pasta is Y33 after 6pm, and you can hang out here for hours with your laptop and no one will shoo you away – need we say more? Wagas is the best and most dependable of the local cafes, with tantalising wraps, salads and sandwiches, perfect for a quick bite at any time of the day. Locations abound.
reviewed
-
M
Wagas
Breakfasts are 50% off before 10am, the pasta is Y33 after 6pm, and you can hang out here for hours with your laptop and no one will shoo you away – need we say more? Wagas is the best and most dependable of the local cafes, with tantalising wraps, salads and sandwiches, perfect for a quick bite at any time of the day. Locations abound.
reviewed
-
N
Lóngchāoshǒu Cāntīng
This big, bustling cafeteria style eatery can be overwhelming, but it's a long-time favourite for sampling Chéngdū snacks. The cheapest option gives you a range of sweet and savoury items, with each price bracket giving you the same deal on a grander and more filling scale. Unfortunately, it hasn't much to offer vegetarians.
reviewed
-
Café 85°C
This Taiwanese chain serves the cheapest coffee and tea in Shànghǎi – and it’s decent quality too. There are some truly bizarre pastries (from Y4) sold in the bakery section, if you want to experience a modern-day Chinese breakfast on the go. The only sore point here is that seating is limited. There are over 20 branches in the city.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
O
Rosemary Café
For honest and homely charms, this popular café is a warm beacon to disorientated visitors, with an extensive, heart-warming menu of travellers' favourites and a nightly flock of expat regulars. The Western menu runs dependably to tasty tomato soup, shepherd's pie, pizza, fish and chips and beyond. Recommended by travellers.
reviewed
-
P
Sculpting in Time
Taking its name from a book by the late Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky, this is a fashionable hang-out for the Wǔdàokǒu laptop crowd, as well as for lunch, or coffee (Y20) at any time. There are books and magazines to browse through, as well as sandwiches and pasta for when you get peckish.
reviewed
-
Q
Café Transat
With a big outdoor terrace at the front, a smaller garden area out back and a nice range of Asian and Western food, including great sandwiches served with chips (from around Y53), this is a popular place for breakfast and lunch or an afternoon coffee. They have Wi-fi access and also sell real coffee.
reviewed
-
R
Le Pain Grillé
Ideal for a light lunch and afternoon tea, this calm little spot with dark wood tables and tiled floors makes for an ideal pre- or post-shopping pit stop. The menu is stuffed with French classics, including onion soup, snails, confit de canard (preserved duck) and slow-cooked spring chicken.
reviewed
-
S
Dōnghǎi Kāfēiguǎn
A place with cheap food within reach of the Bund! If you're trekking up and down East Nanjing Rd on a budget, the Dōnghǎi is a real lifesaver. Downstairs serves decent coffee (and beer), while the set meals include soup, one main dish and rice. There are also Chinese pastries.
reviewed
