Nanjing has a host of foreign chain restaurants that provide tasty sweets throughout the city, but did you really come all the way to China just for Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Dairy Queen? Try these local shops that offer many standard Western style desserts, but also offer Chinese inspired treats that make them great places to relax with all of your friends.

1) Skyways BakeryView In Map
Skyways Bakery is perhaps the best known place on this list, and with good reason. They offer a variety of cheesecakes, cookies, chocolates, pies and ice cream at very reasonable prices, along with some very nice coffee and tea options. Nowhere else in the city can you get real ice cream for less than 5 RMB. It is located close to Nanjing University, and is almost always bustling with students.

Their food is authentic and delicious, with the exception of their mint flavored ice-cream, which seems to have borrowed its taste from toothpaste. However, this is more than made up for with exceptional cheesecake. This is a great place to stop in for a summer snack, but is a little too small for an evening of cozy conversation.

Add: 160 Shanghai Lu, Gulou District, Nanjing
地址: 南京市鼓楼区上海路160号
Tel: 025 8331 7103
Opening hours: 09:00-21:30

2) Finnegan’s Wake / Bloom’sView In Map
This Irish themed bar and restaurant serves up wonderful meals and delicious desserts. Bloom’s is located on the second floor and has a slightly nicer décor, and pricier menu, than Finnegan’s but both have the same owner and great food. Their homemade apple pie has a wonderfully buttery crust, and comes with a scoop of homemade, vanilla ice cream.
While the dessert menu isn’t as big as some of these other choices, the atmosphere is what earned Finnegan’s Wake a spot on this list. The interior is classy and clean, with just the right touch of kitsch; from the moment you walk through the door you forget you are in China. The live Irish music on Friday and Saturday nights, along with their imported beer or coffee makes for a wonderful experience beyond the pudding.

Add:  Near the intersection of Zhongshan Nan Lu and Shengzhou Lu, 6 Xinanli, Baixia District, Nanjing
地址: 南京市白下区 中山南路升洲路, 西南里6号
Tel: 025 5220 7362

3) Donut TimeView In Map
Getting a decent donut in China takes work, luckily Nanjing has Donut Time. They offer a selection of slightly chewy donuts in a few dozen flavours. They also offer OK coffee at reasonable prices. Make sure to try their Oreo donuts, which would be popular even in the US.

With one shop located in Wanda plaza, it is a great place to rest while shopping. It also seems to be quite popular with the other Chinese shoppers, so this might be the place to introduce your new friends to one of America’s best sweets. Several more Donut Time’s are popping up around the city so keep your eyes peeled.

Add: 1F, Shop 135, 98 Jiangdong Zhong Lu, Wanda Plaza, Nanjing
地址: 南京市键邺区江东中路98号万达广场1-135   
Tel: 025 8477 3191
Website: www.donuttime.cn

4) Sculpting in TimeView In Map
Sculpting in Time has to be one of my favourite places in Nanjing to relax and chat with friends over a slice of pie. Unfortunately, its location at Nanjing University’s southern gate makes it difficult to access by public transportation. Its location though helps maintain a quiet and comfortable atmosphere, as many patrons are too busy studying to make much noise.

The only downside to this café is that the waiters could generally care less about helping you, and it can be a struggle at times to get their attention. While this is a little bit of a hassle, I usually forget about it after my first bite.

Add: 2F, 47 Hankou Lu, Gulou District, Nanjing
地址: 南京市鼓楼区汉口路二楼
Tel: 025 8359 7180
Opening hours: 09:00-24:00

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Keywords: desserts in Nanjing sweets in Nanjing local restaurants in Nanjing