These days, is it enough to ‘simply serve coffee’ in Shanghai’s saturated coffee scene? Apparently not, as evidenced by the rise of retail cafes in Shanghai.
Some cafes are aiming for differentiation by catering to customers with an intersection of passions. Others are collaborating with brands that offer completely different products or services. Regardless, the ‘randomness’ of Shanghai is one reason we love this crazy, caffeinated city just the way it is.
As far as USPs (unique selling propositions) go, the following are our favourite ‘crossover cafés.’ Enjoy exploring them and exchanging knowledge with the staff, many of whom are enthusiasts in their respective niches, whether it’s gardening or interior design.
CONCEPT: CAFÉ + LAUNDROMAT
🧺
No prizes for guessing the unique ‘spin’ here. Get ready to ‘tumble’ at Bigger Wash, which makes waiting for your laundry a little less boring — or a little more caffeinated, at least.
The first thing that hits you upon entering is the smell of fresh laundry, which makes this writer positively scent-imental with memories of home. Meanwhile, the drone of washing machines in the background serves as comforting white noise, making the place as cosy as can be.
While there are more washing machines (eight in total) than chairs (seven seats) here, we’ve never seen the place packed, so whether or not it’s laundry day, order a coconut latte, claim a seat, and catch up on that book you’ve been neglecting.
TIME OUT TIP: Baristas are only on duty from 9:30am - 6pm daily, but the laundromat operates around-the-clock.
Bigger Wash, 735 Changde Lu, Jing’an, Shanghai.
CONCEPT: CAFÉ + PLANT SHOP
🪴
Young people might be shirking their ‘babymaking duties’ with the current economic downturn, but the houseplant industry has been booming since the pandemic and is here to stay. Coffea SHED, which marries Gen Z’s love of coffee and plants, is concrete proof of this.
Young people might be shirking their ‘babymaking duties’ with the current economic downturn, but the houseplant industry has been booming since the pandemic and is here to stay. Coffea SHED, which marries Gen Z’s love of coffee and plants, is concrete proof of this.
Parked right in front of Columbia Circle’s dry deck fountains, the café cum store sells plants and gardening tools as well as sustainable products that make for thoughtful gifts, like 100% cotton clothing and ceramics from Jingdezhen.
Order a hand-poured coffee from the dreadlocked barista and browse the amazing assortment of plants, which range from carnivorous, mosquito-catching pitcher plants to ferns with more frills than frocks.
Coffea SHED, Columbia Circle, 60 Panyu Lu, Changning, Shanghai.
21st century capitalism may have normalised replacing instead of repairing one’s belongings, but small businesses like GentleMaker Café give us hope for a more sustainable future. A passion project by a cobbler with an equal love of coffee, the café speaks to those with an appreciation of craftsmanship and a slower lifestyle.
Instead of binning your favourite pair of shoes, bring them here to get them fixed up. GM Shoecare, Gentlemaker’s sister business, will give your shoes the complete works. The ‘New Shoes Care’ package (180 rmb) includes dust removal, waxing, and a high shine polish while the ‘Smooth Leather Advanced Care’ package (280 rmb) encompasses comprehensive cleaning and sterilisation, waxing of the soles, colour repair of the edges, and a high shine polish.
As far as drinks go, we can confirm that the coffee beverages are well made, but also give their really robust Rooibos latte a go.
TIME OUT TIP: This lovely café has a pick-up window, so if there aren’t seats available, drop off your shoes for repair and get your coffee to go.
GentleMaker Café, 748-3 Huashan Lu, Jing’an, Shanghai.
CONCEPT: CAFÉ + FRUIT STORE
🍌
No one loves their shui guo (水果) or fruit more than Asians, so it isn’t surprising that Shanghai has fruit shops on almost every street. What is surprising is chancing upon a fruit shop that also serves speciality coffee. At Fruta Store, you’ll find an Avocado & Pear Latte, a Banana Latte, and a Vitamin C Americano in addition to the usual suspects.
Better still, said fruit shop is neighbours with a barbershop and a speakeasy that goes into full swing come sundown. All in all, we love the community feel of the space and its juicy concept.
TIME OUT TIP: Take advantage of the Dianping deal that lets you get a freshly blended juice and an espresso-based beverage for just 35 RMB.
Fruta Store, 555 Haiphong Lu, Jing’an, Shanghai.
CONCEPT: CAFÉ + ART GALLERY/STORE + BICYCLE REPAIR
🦦
One of the cutest marine mammals ever, the otter is the inspiration for this café, which is perhaps best known for its signature otter-shaped buns that are almost too cute to eat. But eat one we did, and it beat our expectations by being both buttery and a little salted.
One of the cutest marine mammals ever, the otter is the inspiration for this café, which is perhaps best known for its signature otter-shaped buns that are almost too cute to eat. But eat one we did, and it beat our expectations by being both buttery and a little salted.
Nibble your otter’s little face off — while trying not to anthropomorphise it or feel bad — and drink in the art works on display in Café Otter. Then browse the quirky gifts on sale: Phallic mushroom candles? Check. Posters, coasters and phone accessories? Check, check, check.
The studio-like space also houses a bike repair and spare parts shop in the back, because, why not?
Cafe Otter, 455-7 Fa Hua Zhen Lu, Changning, Shanghai.
CONCEPT: CAFÉ + FURNITURE STORE
🛋️
True to its name, the café really is something else. Impossible to miss, what with the Alice-in-Wonderland-esque living sculptures out front, Somthin’else is full of mismatched furniture and décor that might scream “Xiao Hong Shu fodder!” to cell-phone toting influencers while appealing to design fiends for different reasons: from American designer Alexander Girard’s decorative wooden dolls to Danish designer Verner Panton’s iconic stacking chairs, these are iconic pieces that have been displayed in museums and galleries at some point or other.
Nurse a coffee (or a cocktail) while testing out any item of furniture. If it speaks to you, inquire about prices before giving it a place in your home. This bit of news might comes in handy with IKEA closing down its Jing’an branch and all.
Somthin’else, 1208 Yuyuan Lu, Changning, Shanghai.
CONCEPT: CAFÉ + GIFT SHOP
🕯️
Parked on a small side street off Yuyuan Lu that’s immensely popular for selfies sits Common Rare, a self-described “café and select shop.” Its Mandarin name 凡几, which combines the characters for ‘ordinary’ and ‘scarce,’ might seem like an oxymoron, but makes sense once you take stock of the artisanal inventory.
Pair a lovingly-made pourover coffee with a slice of Oreo cheese pound cake and peruse the precious items on display, including candles and diffusers by Shanghai-born brand Aentos; handmade spectacle frames by Taiwanese brand Classico; tomato-shaped containers; melon-shaped rugs; peach- and persimmon-shaped jewellery trays… notice a pattern here?
Founders Vivian and Tiffany, who hail from Taiwan and studied in LA before setting up shop in Shanghai, are an important pair of movers and shakers in the local artisan market scene.
Common Rare, Room A107-2, 48 Lane 1088, Yuyuan Lu, Jing’an, Shanghai.
In order to keep our articles to a reasonable length and as indie as possible, we may exclude businesses and big brands. For those who are interested, however, here are a handful that offer coffee on their premises:
Chinese retail platform Doe Coffee for streetwear; Swedish modern-day market Arket and Japanese retailers Muji and Niko and... for a mélange of goods; and Parisian haute couture house Maison Margiela and American fashion brand Ralph Lauren for upmarket fashion.
