Ningbo City has a sea of coffee options, in particular Starbucks, these can be found on almost every corner. But if like me, you prefer the independent coffee shop style then Ningbo has endless options.
In China, we have a huge holiday for Spring Festival, especially as a Teacher. As COVID restrictions are still in place, Ningbo was my only destination for this 4 week holiday. I opted to see the smaller Ningbo treats, such as, trying out these quaint and unusual coffee options.
Cafe 1 - Ancient Coffee
This coffee shop is located more central to others I visited. Tucked away behind the ATOUR Hotel in Downtown Ningbo. The location for Ancient Coffee can be found on Apple Maps as 'Ancient Coffee Love Cafe' and a DiDi will drop you near the Atour so you have a quick walk around to the riiver front side of the hotel.
Ancient Coffee is a really quiet cafe, open until 6pm each day and has a creative menu of Coffee and cake. Matcha plays a vital ingredient in many of the options here but regular drinks are also available. This cafe has 2 floors, one which has a more open and social feel, while the upstairs has a more studious atmosphere.
The cafe leads into the attached Atour hotel where open study spaces lie as well as a small gym area.
<-- Caramel Latte and a Cappucino from Ancient Coffee
Cafe 2 – TreeCity Cafe
<-- Entrance beside Yuehu
One of the seating options in Tree City Coffee -->
Tree City Cafe is my go to cafe when I want to get some work completed. They have a quiet and calm environment plus lots of different seating arrangements which make it more fun. Also I work better when I’m out in a cafe so its a win-win for me!
The options here are unusual, very much a Chinese cafe not westernised but besides the regular coffee options, they have tasty sodas and tea sets. Occasionally you can find alcohol on their menu as well. This cafe also offers food and their cakes are yummy.
The view over Moon Lake from Treecity
Cafe 3 – Volcano Coffee
<-- One area inside Volcano Coffee – this overlooks the counter
Volcano Coffee has more than one location. I visited the location besides Raffles City in Ningbo which is small and cosy. The cafe has some sofas and seating areas set back from the coffee counter which is ideal for sitting to work or just relaxing and catching up.
I have to admit, this cafe gave me the BEST black tea latte I’ve ever had! It was creamy and tasty and super hot, which is almost unimaginable from Starbucks.
It was fun to sit above the coffee counter as well and see everything that was going on. If you like making coffee at home, you could purchase Volcano Coffee’s coffee beans.
Best Black Tea latte – EVER!!
Cafe 4 – Bookcity Cafe
<-- Sitting in one of the nooks upstairs in Bookcity Cafe
Bookcity Cafe is first and foremost a bookshop with a small range of English books, covering classics to obscure independent authors. Walking around in the bookshop is amazing with lots of small nooks to take Instagrammable photos in.
While China has a number of amazing bookshops for photos, this one in Ningbo is much smaller but equally as creative for the photo opportunities.
Located across from Ningbo’s Raffle City, behind the Atour Hotel found there. The store has huge windows filled with literature quotes and the cafe area on the first floor, has a light and bright atmosphere while offering a standard choice of coffee and cakes.
The bookshop itself, similar to many of the larger ones around China. -->
Cafe 5 – Cafe & Design
Cafe and Design was an unexpected find for myself and my friends. While visiting Ningbo’s Ocean World, we took a detour to find coffee and found this place. With is very unusual exterior, it almost looks closed or abandoned.
Inside there are many separated areas that you can sit in, with many bookshelves as barriers between spaces.
The actual cafe offers a range of drinks and cakes as well as some snacks like fries etc.
We chose to sit in the furthest out area, which overlooked a small river and very natural scenes. The area we chose almost felt like a greenhouse, with so many plants covering the bookshelves around us.
Cafe 6 – Momicafe
Upstairs in Momicafe
<-- Tables set up with jourrnals and pens
Momicafe is a lovely small coffee shop located in Ningbo’s Nantang Old Street. The coffee shop itself sits on top of a book/stationary store where coffee related items can also be purchased.
This coffee shop has a welcoming feeling that makes you want to sit back and relax while reading or journalling. The upstairs coffee area also has a series of pens and journals on the tables for customers to use.
The bright and airy open space is inviting and the choices of coffee and cake is pretty extensive.
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