3 excellent cafés to check out this winter in Shanghai

Photograph: courtesy Akimbo

Had enough of Shanghai café exploring? Of course you haven't. For frothy cappuccinos, friendly neighbourhood vibes or something unexpected (seaweed latte, anyone?), these three new(-ish) spots are special enough to be worth a visit, even in our city's already-saturated café scene.

Akimbo

Photograph: courtesy Akimbo

Super hot Shenzhen café brand Akimbo has ventured into Shanghai with a flagship spot in a beautiful 90-year-old renovated heritage building. Design details and photo appeal are dialled up to 11 here, with similar impulses from the menu – stick to classics with a single-origin, washed pour-over or get funky with an iced grapefruit coffee or unexpectedly good seaweed latte.

📍 Akimbo, 1018 Yuyuan Lu, near Jiangsu Lu.

Tequila Espresso

Photograph: Courtesy Tequila Espresso

With seating for just over a dozen, the neighbourhood vibes in this button of a café, complete with a shop corgi, are strong. The focus is on quality over quantity – with simplicity reigning king in design and on the menu. Choose from two different espresso bean blends for your caffeine fix or from three different drip coffees.

📍 Tequila Espresso, 55 Jiashan Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu.

Metal Hands

Photograph: Cat Nelson

Who knew Beijing had nice things? We jest. But nice they do, and this café born and bred in the capital is that and more. Strikingly designed, the shop’s glass-tiled façade juts out onto Nanchang Lu. Inside, sip on a ‘dirty’ coffee – a collision of piping hot espresso and icy cold milk at a copper-topped table under the slit of a skylight.

📍 Metal Hands, 234 Nanchang Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu.

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