Shanghai, a city renowned for its coffee culture, boasts an array of cafes that transport you back in time.
Among the countless coffee shops scattered throughout the city, retro cafes stand out with their timeless charm, like a classic love song that never goes out of style.
In this article, we will explore 6 of the most popular retro cafes in Shanghai that have recently gained immense popularity.
Fumei Coffee
Located on Yuyuan Road, Fumei Coffee has made a comeback alongside the renowned Fumei Xiaolongbao. With its vintage tables and chairs, quintessentially British checkered tablecloths, and an elegant piano, the cafe effortlessly evokes an old-fashioned romance that tugs at the heartstrings of both elderly Shanghainese and younger generations alike.
At Fumei Coffee, you can enjoy coffee paired with classic desserts and light meals, as well as the shop’s signature dish – Shanghai xiaolongbao.
This unique combination of refined local cuisine and petite bourgeois ambiance creates a third kind of romantic encounter that, while unconventional, is a bold and intriguing breakthrough.
Address: 590 Yuyuan Road
Transportation: Exit 3 of Jiangsu Road Station on Line 2, walk 500m
Phone: 021-62107566 Business Hours: 9:30-21:30
AISLE NO.300 Drama Cafe
A Coffee Shop in the Grand Theater
Retro cafes have reached the next level with the arrival of the Grand Theater Coffee Shop.
With its odd and even-numbered theater seats, slanted skylights, and velvet curtains, the cafe’s design and layout precisely capture the hearts of Shanghai’s trendsetters, cleverly creating a dreamlike illusion that transports you into the scene.
The cafe’s slanted skylights, used to bring in natural light, act as a divine assist, “delivering” the changing colors of the sky to the already retro interior, adding another filter to the space. Sinking into the “theater seats” and enjoying your coffee moment is a truly delightful experience.
Address: Left side of Entrance C1, Shanghai Grand Theater, Renmin Avenue
Transportation: Exit 11 of People’s Square Station on Lines 1/2/8, walk 440m
Phone: 19121615618 Business Hours: 11:00-22:00
Donghai Coffee Shop
The Coffee Shop from the Novel “Blossoms”
Founded in 1934, Donghai Coffee Shop is said to be the first coffee and Western food restaurant in Shanghai, leaving a lasting impression on the city’s culinary evolution.
Originally located near Nanjing East Road, it was the go-to spot for young couples in the last century. In the novel “Blossoms,” the character Xiao Maoniang mentions, “When introducing a girlfriend, you should do it openly and properly, go to a fashionable place like Donghai Coffee Shop and have a cup of coffee.”
(A lemon pie served in the shop was also an unforgettable taste for many old Shanghainese.)
In 2007, Donghai Coffee Shop underwent a period of closure and adjustment, leaving countless old Shanghainese bewildered. However, in 2019, it reopened on Dianchi Road, not far from its original location, allowing the old-fashioned romantic sentiment to continue. The new shop is integrated into a row of brick-red Western historical buildings, complementing its vintage atmosphere.
Today, Donghai Coffee Shop remains a haven for old Shanghainese coffee lovers. The once young customers have now become the elderly patrons, but the romantic story of a cup of coffee and a piece of cake remains unchanged, with its charm undiminished.
Address: 100-110 Dianchi Road, Huangpu District
Transportation: Exit 6 of Nanjing East Road Station on Lines 2/10, walk 380m
Phone: 021-63333816 Business Hours: 8:00-21:00
manner:
The Coffee Shop Next to Meiki Grand Theater
In Shanghai, the petite bourgeois coffee representative manner can be found almost everywhere, but the manner located right next to the Meiki Grand Theater is the most Old School among its numerous branches.
The retro-colored store exudes a timeless beauty, seemingly blending seamlessly with the Meiki Grand Theater, resulting in a high success rate for photographs.
The menu design is also quite fitting, offering both coffee and alcohol (specialty cocktails), keeping up with the trends while maintaining the elegant tone of the Shanghai style.
Address: 272 Fengxian Road
Transportation: Exit 1 of Nanjing West Station on Lines 2/12/13, walk 380m
Phone: 15800466598 Business Hours: 7:30-19:30
White Horse Cafe
A Coffee Shop with a Piece of Shanghai History
With an 85-year history, White Horse Cafe stands across the street from the “Jewish Refugees Museum,” documenting a story of affection between the people of Shanghai and the Jewish people.
Originally located at 180 Changyang Road, it moved to 67 Changyang Road in 2015 due to the demolition of Changyang Road in 2009. The new location faithfully reproduces the old appearance, and the two-story old Western-style house carries a strong sense of legend.
Old radios, gramophones, and English tea sets carry the memories of more than half a century. The silent environmental language replaces all redundant descriptions, exuding a charming vintage atmosphere from the inside out.
Fragrant freshly ground coffee and elegant cream cubes, along with a series of classic dishes paying homage to the past, serve as keys to unlocking bygone stories, deeply evoking the coffee sentiments of generations of old Shanghainese. As you take a seat, the unfinished romance continues here, cup after cup!
Address: 67 Changyang Road (Jewish Refugees Museum)
Transportation: Exit 1 of Tilanqiao Station on Line 12, walk 210m
Phone: 021-65671191 Business Hours: 9:00-18:00
shala Cafe
The Coffee Shop in the Cathay Cinema
The coffee shop in the Cathay Cinema draws its name inspiration from the catchy old song “Sha La La.” As soon as you say “shala Cafe,” it’s as if you’re transported back to the 70s and 80s.
The shop’s location is a major bonus point, situated on Huaihai Middle Road, where you can see the parasol trees through the windows.
The modern and stylish interior design complements the renovated Cathay Cinema perfectly. With just a casual snap, you can capture the full essence of a cinematic filter.
The coffee offerings are also meticulously crafted, featuring a Black Eagle three-group espresso machine, the up-and-coming domestic coffee grinder FM Grinder (sewing machine), siphon, cold drip, flannel pour-over, and even the cups used for pour-over coffee are from the century-old Japanese brand Hario, revealing a pursuit of quality life in every detail.
The coffee beans mainly come from Shanghai’s independent specialty coffee roasting brand “Alley,” with more than 10 varieties of coffee beans available for diners to choose from.
Address: 870 Huaihai Middle Road
Transportation: Exit 4 of Shaanxi South Road Station on Lines 1/10/12, walk 110m
Phone: 18801880178 Business Hours: 9:00-22:00
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