Tea or Coffee: A Few Cafés in the City of Teahouses

Tea or Coffee: A Few Cafés in the City of Teahouses
By Michael Webster , eChinacities.com

“Certainly our countrymen’s pallates are become as Fanatical
as their Brains; how else is’t possible they should
Apostatize from the good old primitive way of Ale-drinking,
to run a whoreing after such variety of destructive Foreign
Liquors, to trifle away their time, scald their Chops,
and spend their Money, all for a little base, black, thick,
nasty, bitter, stinking, nauseous Puddle-water.”

-The women's petition against coffee (1674)

Can you believe there was ever a time when people felt that strongly against coffee? Luckily, in Chengdu, coffee is becoming more and more commonplace. Cafes are becoming a regular hangout, especially when they have free WiFi so people can show off their new iPad. If you are lucky enough to have the need to show off your iPad, or just want to stare longingly at someone else's...here are a few of the best cafes in Chengdu for you to spend an afternoon.

The Bookworm View In Map
One of Chengdu's more popular hangouts for the foreign population. They feature a good-sized library with WiFi and plenty of comfortable seating. You can either pick up a book to peruse for an afternoon, or purchase a library card and take the books home with you. Be on the lookout for their many cultural events including literary festivals, guest authors and lecturers, trivia nights and local music performances. It's one of the best cafes in Chengdu to relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and curl up with a good book.

Add: 28 Renmin Nan Lu Sect. 4 (To the west of the Renmin Nan Lu/2nd Ring Road overpass, directly south of the Sunjoy Inn and Tandoor Indian Restaurant), Chengdu
地址: 成都市人民南路4段28号
Tel: 028 8552 0177
Opening hours: 09:00-01:00 (Last food order at 22:00)
Website: www.chengdubookworm.com 

L'EscargotView In Map
A new and welcomed addition to Chengdu. A French-owned and operated cafe and patisserie just around the corner from the Great World Carrefour. The cafe itself is very quaint and well-decorated, but with limited seating. They serve Lavazza coffee and make an amazing French cappuccino. However, what sets them apart and keeps them busy are their desserts. Eclairs, chocolate cake, apple pie, lemon tarts, crème brulee...I don't think it's possible to be disappointed no matter what you order. Aside from the divine taste of these delectable and very reasonably priced treats, the amount of care and design that the chef puts into the plating and presentation of each dish is singular and extraordinary in Chengdu. Just make sure you get there early because as their popularity has grown they’ve started selling out of their daily stock of pastries.

Add: 52 Zijing Beilu, Chengdu (From Great World Carrefour, go west until the street ends in a “T” intersection. Cross the street and L'escargot is just a few doors to the south.0)
地址: 成都市紫荆北路52号
Tel: 028 8514 9779
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 (Or until they sell-out)

Kaffestugan View In Map
Kaffestugan is also a relatively new cafe in Chengdu. As you might have inferred from the name, the owner hails from the northern land of Sweden. As such, they have a very tasty menu of Swedish dishes. They are so tasty, in fact, that I no longer have to make a mad dash through the Ikea maze when I'm craving gravlax. Yes, they do have free WiFi. Yes, they do have some books to read...if you read Swedish. Yes, they do have hand drip coffee and home baked bread. And yes, they have whisky. Real whisky...notice there's no “e”? Islay Whisky, the smokiest Scotch that you can currently have the pleasure of sniffing in Chengdu.

Add: 2F , 9 1st Ring Road South Section 1, Kaiyuexincheng, (Go east from the Sichuan University North Gate until you reach Hongwasi, Kaffestugan is across the street on the north side of 1st Ring Road.)
地址:成都市一环路南一段9号凯悦新城二楼
Tel: 028 8544 3365
Opening hours: 11:00-22:00

Q's CoffeeView In Map
If you like fresh brewed Yunnan coffee then Q's is the place for you. It's a nice little spot on Tongzilin Europe Street, with a good-sized window that provides an excellent view of the traffic calamities that plague that street constantly.

Add: Bldg. 5, 22 Tongzilin Dong Lu, Chengdu
地址: 成都市桐梓林东路22号附5号
Tel: 028 8519 9860

 

 Piazza D'OroView In Map
P d'O makes a decent espresso, but the best part of their café is the location, which is in complete juxtaposition with its surroundings. Every other restaurant on the south face of the Kehua SOHO is bustling and crowded, especially around noon. But, if you walk through that whole gauntlet and reach the end of the building, you'll notice that the corner terrace has a little fence, a few trees, and, best of all, quiet. If you're killing time and need quiet plus WiFi on Kehua Bei Lu, then that is your little corner of solitude.

Add: 109 S OHO Bldg., 58 Kehua Bei Lu, Chengdu
地址: 成都市科华北路58号SOHO109号
Tel: 028 8535 6619

“Alas! alas! Dear Hearts, the Coffee
house is the Citizens Academy, where he learns more
Wit than ever his Grannum taught him, the
Young-Gallants Stage where he displays the Wardrobe of his
excellent no parts; 'Tis the Non Cons Bull-baiting,
the News-mongers Exchange, the Fools business, the
Knaves Ambuscade, and the Wise mans Recreation:
Here it is where we have the sparkling Cyder, the
mighty Mum, and the back recruiting Chocolate; 'Tis
Coffee that both keeps us Sober, or can make us so;
And let our Wives that hereafter shall presume to
Petition against it, be confined to lie alone all Night,
and in the Day time drink nothing but Bonny Clabber.”

-Men's Response to the Women's Petition Against Coffee (1674)

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Keywords: Chengdu coffee Chengdu café bars WiFi Chengdu where to buy coffee Chengdu cafes Chengdu

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