Shanghai is a tea town—there’s a reason the saying is “not for all the tea in China”—but coffee is making inroads here in the country’s capital of cosmopolitan. Eschew the multitudes of chain coffee shops slinging burnt, tepid brews. Head instead for one of Shanghai’s specialty coffee shops. Besides pouring much better coffee, these seven spots make good spaces for quick meetings or a little downtime with colleagues. Here’s where to go for the best coffee in Shanghai.
Sumerian
Ask American owner Dave Seminsky about single origin Kenyan coffee and he’ll tell you where it was grown, by whom, and at what altitude. Come summer, there’s nothing better than the Nitro cold brew—which looks surprisingly like a Guinness—with its smooth, heady taste. This place is at 415 Shaanxi Bei Lu, in the heart of the Jing’an District.
Café del Volcan
Volcan is an anomaly on Shanghai’s Yongkang Road, which night and weekend becomes a magnet for hard-partying expats. The tiny cafe is an intimate space in which to sip cups of coffee fruity, robust, smoky, and full-bodied. It’s at 80 Yongkang Lu, near Xiangyang Nan Lu in the Xuhui District.
Rumors Coffee
Looking more like a gallery dedicated to the art of coffee than a cafe, the light-filled Xingguo Road branch of Rumors is filled with the smell of roasting beans and the sound of sweet jazz. Owner Keiichi Nakayama prepares impeccable coffee, served in handmade ceramic cups from Japan. It’s at 372 Xingguo Lu, near Tai’an Lu.
Lanna Coffee
What this wee wood-paneled cafe lacks in space it makes up for in flavor. Working with local farmers, Lanna sources all beans from southern Yunnan province. The result is truly made in China coffee that’s just as good as the imports. Look for it at 8 Yuyuan Dong Lu, near Tonggren Lu.
SeeSaw Café
SeeSaw’s self-proclaimed “coffee geeks” know what they’re doing: from a single cult favorite shop they’ve expanded to four, all serving lovingly pulled espresso and creamy lattes. With its light-flooded atrium and snug interior, the original Yuyuan Road branch is our favorite. Go to 443 Yuyuan Lu, near Wulumuqi Nan Lu.
AUNN
There’s enough seating here for the whole office to settle into 3D printed chairs for coffee and brainstorming. Using glass-and-copper siphons and pour-over kettles, baristas here prepare velvety cappuccinos into cork takeaway cups while prepping drip coffee made from Yirgacheffe beans. It’s at 1728 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huashan Lu.
Uncle No Name Espresso
This Australian-owned cafe in the Jing’an District serves a mean flat white as well as a warming chai latte. (There’s always one tea drinker in the group.) The best seats for people watching are the window stools, but the side room tables are quieter. Head to 227 Fengxian Lu near Nanhui Lu.
Photo: Zach Inglis/Flickr