Caffeine Kick: Cafés around Guangzhou

Caffeine Kick: Cafés around Guangzhou

Do you need to perk yourself up with some caffeine before work, but don’t want any of that nasty instant coffee you find in Guangzhou’s supermarkets? Maybe you want to relax over a warm drink, but you’re not really a tea person. If so, you’ll have figured out that China still has a long way to go before it finally refines the art of coffee, and the replacements that you find in 7/11 are far from satisfactory. If you know your coffee, you’re probably depressed at the prospects of getting anything better than a cup of weak milky stuff at Starbucks. However, help is at hand. We’ve scoured Guangzhou for decent cafés, and have managed to find some that serve up a satisfying cup of joe.

For some good coffee in Guangzhou, and a taste of  Western food while you are at it, a nice place to check out is the Garden Café. This little coffee shop is a great place to sit back, relax, and drink some decent brews while taking in the eponymous garden. The décor of the Garden Café is almost as big a reason to visit as the coffee itself. Catering to Guangzhou’s (pretty small) American expat population, Garden offers good home-style cheeseburgers – probably the best in town. So if you like coffee, food, flowers, and relaxing, give Garden Café a try.

Garden Café 花艺咖啡View In Map
Add: Zhongfu Mall , Panyu District, Guangzhou
广州市番禺区钟福广场
Tel: 020 3463 7083
Open: 079:00-22:00
Price per cup: 45-60 RMB
Getting There: Metro Line 1, Kenkou Station

If you’re looking for something a bit more conventional, pay a visit to Boca Café. The self-proclaimed “first location in Guangzhou that stays true to the café concept”, this location sees itself as a place for people to gather and socialize as much as a café. They also take pride in their well-made food and gourmet coffee which, served at prices comparable to Starbucks, is pricey but worth it. Rather than specialising in American coffee like Garden Café, Boca focuses on Italian beans. Comfy sofas and well chosen music complete the traditional café environment.

Boca Café View In Map
Add: Unit 107, 75 Tianhe Donglu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
广州天河区天河东路75号首层107铺
Tel: 020 8759 1558
Open: 08:00-23:00
Price per cup: 30-50 RMB
Getting There: Metro Lines 1 and 3, Tiyu Xi Lu Station 

Another small but substantial café is FG Fine Foods. New to Guangzhou, FG is more of a restaurant than a café, but the coffee here really is some of the best in town. Like all of the food prepared here, the coffee is gourmet quality. FG’s menu is extensive, and the food is healthy, well priced, and a change from Chinese dishes. You can call ahead to place your order for delivery or pick up if you have a business lunch to cater, or are feeling too lazy to visit the branch.

FG Fine Foods 艾馥记View In Map
Jianshe Simalu Branch

Add: 1, 23 JianShe Simalu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
广州越秀区建设四马路23号之一
Tel: 020 835 1245
Open: 08:00-22:00
Price per cup: 20-50 RMB
Getting There: Metro Line 1, Martyrs’ Park Station

A place that feels a bit more like a franchise than the others is Le Vila. This café is located under the Citic Plaza in a mall setting. It suffers slightly from this, and you probably won’t want to spend too long here, but their coffee is good and decently priced. Nip in for a quick cup of joe, and skip out on the food. Coffee is where Le Vila excels.

Le Vila View In Map
Add: Basement, Citic Plaza, 233 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
广州天河区天河北路233号中信广场B1楼后街1号
Tel: 020 3877 0329; 3877 0337
Open: 08:00-22:00
Price per cup: 15-40 RMB
Getting There: Metro Line 1, Linhexi Station

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