Transmenu powered by JoomlArt.com - Mambo Joomla Professional Templates Club

Here are some cafes and other escapes for both Beijing residents and visitors to enjoy a coffee with a friend, have a rest from touring or shopping, or catch up on work or emails.  Among the qualities we value are: good coffee, friendly service, tasty snack options, comfort and quietude, and free wifi internet access.

Café Zarah
Excuse Coffee
Nanluoguxiang boom
The Rickshaw
Sculpting in Time
Stone Boat Cafe/Bar
 

Café Zarah

 东城区鼓楼东大街42号
42 Gulou Dongdajie
Dongcheng District, near the Drum Tower
Hours: Mon-Sun 10AM-11PM; Closed Tuesdays
Tel: 010-8403 9807
WiFi internet access
www.cafezarah.com

Directions:  East of the Drum Tower, on the south side of the street, between Nanluoguxiang alley and Andingmen Neidajie.

What we think 

Café Zarah could easily be in San Francisco. Exposed beams, ceiling fans, comfortable couches and adequately spaced tables and seating lend a breezy laid back feel to this little café. There are both savory and sweet snacks including home baked cakes and a brilliant affogato dessert which “drowns” ice cream with espresso or coffee. Café Zarah is a great place to recover from a morning of exploring the nearby hutongs, or just a good spot to roost.

Back to Top

What we think 

This place proves you can do a great deal with a little space. Excuse Café occupies a tiny spot with only half a dozen seats, but they make you feel immediately welcome, make a great latte and have not only free wifi but also a computer provided for internet access. If you grab a seat by the big picture window or on their porch in good weather, it’s a perfect spot to watch hutong life go by. 

Back to Top

Nanluoguxiang boom—南锣鼓巷

Nanluoguxiang is the poster child for the New-Old in China. A quiet local hutong neighborhood just a few years ago, this alley was tagged to become a model hutong for tourists. The entire stone street was repaved in record time in the fall of 2006, and the store fronts have been quickly transformed with the addition of traditional window and door details and some bright red paint. Where there used to be only a handful of little hutong shops and cafes hidden away in these alleys available space is now running out in the rush to open the next best café, restaurant or cute souvenir shop. Among the glitter, you can still catch glimmers of old Beijing hutong life: a few traditional food outlets still remain, the honeycomb charcoal gets pedaled in on bicycle carts, and old men play chess on the corners and walk their birds. 

In preparation for the 2008 Olympics, a facelift of an even grander scale is now being given to the Qianmen hutong area just south of Tiananmen Square.  In spite of the glossy Disneyland finish to these ‘restoration’ projects, and the displacement of long time residents with tea and trinket shops, it may be the only way to pay a small homage to these historic neighborhoods.

Back to Top

The Rickshaw

朝阳区三里屯南路
Sanlitun Nanlu, Chaoyang District
Hours: Open 24 hrs
Tel: 010-6500 4330
WiFi internet access

Directions:  50 yards south of Gongti Beilu just north of the parking lot entrance and the Bookworm.

What we think 

Opened early in 2007, Rickshaw immediately became a huge hit for a quiet place with free wifi by day, 10 kuai happy hour beer, and a hopping bar into the night. Oh, and don’t forget the buffalo wings, quesadillas and burritos transplanted from the Saddle. The space has suffered a bit from its own success, with the nicely designed decor and seating getting a bit shabby already.  There is also great music but be aware that the volume goes up through the evening as Rickshaw transforms itself from a quiet diner/café to packed bar scene.

Back to Top

Sculpting in Time
雕刻时光 – Diao ke shi guang

Wudaokou 五道口 location:  海淀区成府路五道口华清嘉园12号楼1号
Bldg 12, 1 Huaqing Jiayuan, Chengfu Lu, Wudaokou, Haidian District
Hours: 9.30AM-12.30AM
Tel:  010-8286 7026
WiFi internet access

Directions: not far from the Wudaokou light rail station

Lido 丽都 location:  朝阳区将台路乙2号海润国际公寓商业3A
2B Jiangtai Lu, Hairun International Apartments, Shop 3A
Chaoyang District, Lido area
Hours: 8AM-midnight
Tel: 010-5135 8108
WiFi internet access

Directions: In a small shopping area wrapping around the corner of Jiangtai Lu and Xiao Yun Lu, on block from the Lido Hotel, in the space next to Tom’s Video and DARA Home Décor (near the Jenny Lou’s).

What we think 

Sculpting in Time is the classic college town café.  The original Wudaokou location offers great space and seating to comfortably read a book or do your work.  In addition to good Illy coffee (beware that they charge a lot more for decaf) and there are also simple and unfussy food options.

Back to Top

Stone Boat Cafe/Bar
石舫 - Shi Fang

日坛公园内
Ri tan gong yuan nei
Near the Southwest corner inside Ritan Park. 
Hours:  10AM-11PM
Tel:  010-6501 9986/135 0121 6156 (English/Brother Xie)
Wifi internet access   

Directions:  Enter the park from West Gate and walk to your right. Or enter at South Gate and walk to your left.  When you see a large rock outcropping next to a small lake/pond on your inner side, look for the small red traditional Chinese structure abutting the lake.  It's easy to miss in winter and there is no English sign; in good weather look for the crowd sitting on the patio area out front.

What we think 

Coffee, drinks and simple Chinese and Western snacks (noodles, dumplings, fries, wings) are available at this quaint little lake side café in Ritan Park. Stone Boat is a quiet refuge with friendly service during off peak hours and in the off season, and is a very popular hangout in nice weather when Stone Boat also transforms into a live music venue.

Back to Top