Lusting after a proper cup of joe in Chengdu? The Chengdu-Expat team spills the beans on where best to get your daily caffeine hit in the ‘Du.
Long gone are the days in South West China where the only coffee drinks available are canned Nescafé from your local HongQi Chain Store. Whilst there is now a Starbucks on every corner, it’s still more difficult than you’d think to get a great cup of coffee that isn’t freeze dried with powdered creamer or costs more than you’d pay back at home.
That being said, coffee in Chengdu is becoming more than just a status symbol. The growing number of Chinese people starting to drink coffee regularly is helping to make the Chinese coffee market the fastest growing in the world. Whilst historically China was a nation of tea drinkers, Coffee was in fact introduced to Yunnan as early as 1892 when a French missionary brought the crop to the region -but it’s only since 2008 that it has been grown on a large scale as a commodity. Almost half the coffee produced in Yunnan now comes from Pu’er, an area traditionally associated with tea production.
Lucky for us, this growing coffee culture is slowly ebbing its way from the East coast of China to further reaching provinces, especially Sichuan’s capital Chengdu. Here are some of our favourite coffee joints in Chengdu:
The Sense 醒食
This new venture, by Jeremy Zhang – winner of the 2014 & 2016 China Barista Championship is becoming by far Chengdu’s worst kept secret.
They serve a range of baked-in-house breads and French style pastries, the fougasse is really something special. Most importantly, the coffee. The coffee is exceptional; they offer different blends, ranging from light to dark with full tasting profiles, and showcase different producers from around the world monthly.
If that sounds all a little much for you, it is still a wonderfully calm place to catch up on your emails over some proper coffee and a pain raisin. They also offer salads, pastas and sandwiches with hunks of freshly baked bread on the side.
Chengdu-Expat The Sense
The Sense醒食(MixC City)
Address:
No.J106, Hall C, MixC City, No.98, Shuangcheng Second Road, Chenghua District
成华区双成二路98号万象城C馆J106号
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 22:00pm
The Sense醒食(JiuYanQiao)
Address:
No.194, Hongji Middle Road, Jinjiang District
锦江区宏济中路194号
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 22:00pm
Rand By The Sense醒食(Taikooli)
Address:
No.M049, Floor M, Taiguridong Plaza, No.8 Zhongshamao Street, Jinjiang District (near Palace Cinema)
锦江区中纱帽街8号太古里东广场M层M049号(近百丽宫影城)
Opening Hours:
10:00am – 22:00pm
Website: www.thesense.com.cn
WeChat: thesense_cn
Jason’s Coffee & Bar
This independent roaster and cafe is located across from Wanda Department Store on the East Second Ring. It is a really beautiful space with coffee to match. The menu lists a total of 14 single origin coffees from Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, and other far reaching parts of the world. The well informed staff can make recommendations to find a flavour and roast to suit you. We are also happy to have a decent caffeine alternative to the Green Siren in Wanda, where there is stiff competition for seats during peak hours. Jason’s also promotes coffee culture in Chengdu visa consulting; providing fresh roasted beans, coffee-ware and training to other coffee shops and restaurants in the neighbourhood.
Chengdu-Expat Jason Coffee & Bar
Business Hours:
9:00am-19:00pm
Address:
No.130-5 2nd Ring Road 5th East Sec Jinjinag District
锦江区二环路东五段130号附5号
Tel.:
028-84553189
Let’s Grind
This little venture at Tongzilin is owned by Gan Shilin (who also has represented China in the World Barista Championships) and is the jewel in the Chengdu coffee scene’s crown. He offers really wonderful single origin espresso from Guatemala and a lovely house blend with other Central American beans thrown in. The pour over coffee is served two ways; over ice and steaming hot. The beans are roasted locally and ground in store with each cup you order – you can also buy the beans to take away. The menu features cakes and pastries too, but the coffee is definitely the main attraction. Gan holds tastings most evenings at around 6pm and coffee paraphernalia is available to buy on site.
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 19:00pm
Address:
No.8-12, Zhonglin Road, Tongzi, Wuhou District
From Titie Line 1 Tongzilin Station Exit B walk 1.0km taxi
武侯区桐梓林中路8号附12号
距地铁1号线桐梓林站B口步行1.0km 打车
WeChat ID: letsgrind
Common Sense
To all the coffee addicts, PY Common sense coffee is here to bring you a warm greeting everyday. From Americano to flavored latte, soda drinks to hot tea, they also have pound cake and Cannelés in store.
Common Sense (Tongzilin)
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 16:30pm
Address:
Block E1, Fengde International Plaza, No.6 Aviation Road, Wuhou District
武侯区航空路6号丰德国际广场E1座
Common Sense (Chunxi Road)
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 20:30pm
Address:
No.4, Huaxing East Street, Jinjiang District
锦江区华兴东街4号
Common Sense (Yulin)
Opening Hours:
09:00am – 20:00pm
Address:
No.18, Lancao Road, Wuhou District
武侯区蓝草路18号
Common Sense (City 2nd Hospital)
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 17:30pm
Address:
No. 2-2 Qingyun North Street, Jinjiang District
锦江区庆云北街2号附2号
Common Sense (Mofun)
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 17:30pm
Address:
Wuhou District Wanxiang Nan Road Huanfeng Yujian Block A 106
武侯区万象南路誉峰遇见A座106号
WeChat:17764987807
Pause Coffee
Rooted near Evergrande Plaza, Pause coffee now has 5 stores in Chengdu. With its unique storefront, Pause Coffee offers guests a time for a cup of coffee down the hectic areas. What attracts more is their affordable price with multiple flavors to choose from.
Chengdu-Expat PAUSE
Pause Office
Opening Hours:
10:00am – 18:00pm
Address:
No.12, Tianya Shinan Street, Shuyuan Street, Jinjiang District
锦江区书院街街道天涯石南街12号
Pause Lab (WIFC)
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 18:00pm
Address:
No.11 and No.3, Hongbu Zheng Street, Jinjiang District
锦江区红布正街11号附3号
Pause Coffee Express (Taikooli)
Opening Hours:
09:30am – 20:00pm
Address:
No.14 – 6, Yucheng Street, Jinjiang District
锦江区玉成街14号附6号
Pause Coffee (Dongmen Bridge)
Opening Hours:
07:30am – 18:30pm
Address:
No.69, Jiaochangba East Street, Jinjiang District (next to Maya Agency)
锦江区较场坝东街69号(玛雅中介隔壁)
Pause Coffee (Eastern Suburb Memory)
Opening Hours:
09:00am – 19:00pm
Address:
Chenghua District Jianshe South Road, Wanke urban growth Museum, 1st Floor
成华区建设南支路万科城市生长馆1楼
Pause Coffee (Hengda Mall)
Opening Hours:
07:30am – 18:00pm
Address:
No.67, Sanguiqian Street, Qingyang District
青羊区三桂前街67号
WeChat: pausecoffee666
Little Travel
Address:
Little Travel (Kuanzai)
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 21:00pm
Address:
No. 24 Bin Sheng Street, Qingyang District
青羊区斌升街24号附1号
Little Travel (Mengzuiwan)
Opening Hours:
10:00am – 22:00pm
Address:
No.20, Binhe Road, Shuangqiaozi Street, Chenghua District
成华区双桥子街道滨河路20号
Wild Pigeons 野鸽子
Wild Pigeons is Chengdu’s new cafe. It provides good quality coffee, especially the single origin, also brings you some dessert including Croissant and Baguette.
Wild Pigeons (Aviation Road)
Opening Hours:
07:30am – 20:30pm
Address:
No.5, Aviation Road, Wuhou District, Annex 2
武侯区航空路5号附2号
Wild Pigeons (Wangu)
Opening Hours:
08:30am – 18:30pm
Address:
Building 3, Unit 2-101, CEC784, Wanguzhihui Industrial Park, No.168, Section 3, Jianshibei Road, Chenghua District
成华区建设北路三段168号CEC784万谷智慧产业园3栋2单元101
OMERTA CAFE BAR
Opening Time:
11am – 02:00am
Address:
61 Hongshun Street
宏顺街61号
Tel.: 18782964790
one Plate
one Plate (Wangfu Street)
Opening Hours:
10:00am – 20:30pm
Address:
No.16-17, Dong’an South Road, Jinjiang District
锦江区东安南路16-17号
one Plate (D10)
Opening Hours:
09:00am – 20:00pm
Address:
No.111, Building 1, 136 Hongji Lane, Jinjiang District
锦江区宏济巷136号1栋111号
one Plate (Aviation Road)
Opening Hours:
08:00am – 20:00pm
Address:
No.8-5, Zongshu South Street, Wuhou District
武侯区棕树南街8号附5号
wow! Coffee
Chengdu-Expat wow! coffee
Address:
7-3-1-2 Jinxiu Huayuan, No.3 Tongzilin East Rd,.
Opening Hours:
10am-7pm
Plankton Vintage
Address:
No. 98, 21, Qingheli Nanduan, Jinjiang District
成都市锦江区青和里南段98号附21号
Tel:
13880410337/ 13658019272
Time:
Tuesday to Sunday 11:00- 20:00
esc.coffee
The cafe is decorated in Japanese style. It is surrounded by residential compound. This cafe can make iced coffee which is very different. It’s a great place to go when you need to relax.
Address:
Beside the Outdoor Fountain, 2nd Floor, Raffles Plaza, Section 4, South Renmin Road, Wuhou District
武侯区人民南路四段成都莱佛士广场2楼户外喷泉旁
Time：
12:00-18:00
Tel：
19180751525
Urban Picnic Cafe
Chengdu-Expat Urban Picnic Cafe
Address:
No.6, 48 Jinquan Street
金泉街48号附6号
Opening Hours:
8:30am-19:00pm
Kaffa Town 咖啡镇咖啡
We bring the original l coffee beans from Ethiopia.
English language and culture exchange activities are held regularly.
Opening Time:
10am – 10pm
Address:
1F HongxingMei Kailong Mall, Section 1, 2nd Ring Road West, Wuhou District
成都市武侯区二环路西一段6号1F
Element Coffee圆树咖啡
Opening Hours:
11:00am-20:00pm
Address:
Wuhou District Fanghua Street No. 25 – 9 (Fangcaojieditie station D exit walk 430 meters)
武侯区芳华街25号附9号(芳草街地铁站D口步行430米)
Tel: 18615703932
Of course there are other Coffee shops in Chengdu worthy of a mention. Check out these places too…
Jinjiang District 锦江区
Wuhou District 武侯区
Qingyang District 青羊区
Chenghua District 成华区
Gaoxin District 高新区
tried to order from SWASOU Coffee, BUT THEY CAN NOT TAKE ORDER + VERY BAD ATTITUDE !!!
hi..
i am looking for mss Xiaoping, so only for the bussines…
please if you can give me the her e mail
i am from serbia, in europe, belgrade sity
thank you
risailovic
risailovic@yahoo.com
Got any more info?