In Cafetique, Shanghaiist reviews coffee shop and cafes around Shanghai that provide the two things our writers need most in life: caffeine and wireless internet. How does your neighborhood hangout spot stack up?
Cafetique: 2666 Library, an atheneum with sides of coffee & tea
Cafetique: Zest Express
In Cafetique, Shanghaiist reviews coffee shops and cafes around Shanghai that provide the two things our writers need most in life: caffeine and wireless internet. How does your neighborhood hangout spot stack up?
Wednesday WTF: Starf*cks, to go please
Circulating wildly now on Sina Weibo and the Taiwanese media -- Starfucks, a shanzhai cafe, located in Liuzhou, Guangxi Province. We dug around a little and found that Liuzhou Laowai discovered this gem in March. Maybe he can give us an update on how it's doing?
PAUL Shanghai Bakery crackling its last crust?
Woah! Who knew that PAUL bakery was having so many problems? I'll admit I usually passed them up for much cheaper taiwanese pastries at Croissants de France or 85C, but I thought it's expat following for overpriced baked goods was strong enough to weather it through any storm. Apparently not.
The One with the Shanzhai Cafe: Friends coffee shop opens in Beijing
You’ve seen the One with the Shark Porn and the bit when Rachel and Ross finally kiss - but how about the one where the chengguan hassle Gunther about his windows? No? Maybe you should check out Central Perk in Beijing’s Central Business District then, where local resident Du Xin (aka “Gunther”) has realized a long-held dream by lovingly recreating the famous Central Perk sitcom café virtually brick-for-brick.
Origin: Fresh fare on Taikang lu
We've all been there - all you want is a salad and just don't want to make one yourself. And then maybe you do, and it doesn't taste the way you want it to. Total bummer. Well, next time this situation arises, we've found at least one good place to get a fix. Origin, a small café and restaurant tucked around the back of Taikang Lu.
Cafes: Chill out near the Portman
It is hard to miss the new Chill café, located at the Ritz Carlton Plaza on Nanjing Xi Lu.
Shops: The Cottage at 25a Taojiang Lu
Anyone taking a stroll down Taojiang Lu towards Hengshan Lu is bound to spot the bright green shutters of 'The Cottage', a new coffee shop at number 25a.
Barbie megastore now open on Huai Hai Road
Pssst, guess what? The six story monolith to America's favorite representation of unattainable beauty standards has now been fully realized! Today, the 3400-square-foot Barbie flagship shop on 555 Huai Hai Zhong Road opened its doors officially and let in the public.
Starbucks' cup brimmeth under
Though never a fan of Starbucks, more because of their bland-ardization of the world's greatest drug rather than due to any kind of deeply held anti-corporate leanings, Shanghaiist nevertheless enjoys supping the occasional hot chocolate from a Medusa-emblazoned mug. With this Monday being particularly harrowing, we were looking forward to a dose of sickly sweet cream-topped womb regression, only to have our fragile psyche strained to within an inch of another long, expensive course of...

