Happy New Year everyone! Today, we bring you a hard-hitting article! It’s something we’ve spent an entire year putting together.
The author, Xiyou Jun, is a blogger based in Hangzhou and has lived there for over 30 years. Each year, we create two lists: one for the “Best Restaurants in Hangzhou” and the other, naturally, for the “Best Coffee Shops in Hangzhou.” The motivation for these lists is purely personal preference; dining and drinking are significant aspects of life. We have no plans to write about other cities because our understanding of them is not as deep.
This article is lengthy, listing dozens of coffee shops in Hangzhou, all personally sourced. Every year we spend considerable time organizing it. We firmly believe that doing one thing diligently to perfection is enough.
This article has no commercial sponsorship; recommendations are based purely on personal preference, so feel free to indulge. The main recommendations come from the Xiyou editorial team, who are passionate about coffee and wine (except for me; I don’t love wine). Additionally, seasoned coffee enthusiasts Yu Zong and Su Zong provided many honest suggestions.
First, here’s our top 10 coffee shops in Hangzhou (ranking is not in a particular order):
Zi Dong Wo Xi Coffee
📍 Address: No. 601, Qingtai Street
A boutique shop specializing in Geisha coffee.
Zi Dong Wo Xi is a well-known name in Hangzhou’s coffee scene. The phrase “Zi Dong Wo Xi” comes from a dialect in JianDe, meaning “not able to unscrew it clearly” in standard Hangzhou dialect. The shop is very understated, so much so that it has no sign. If you’re visiting for the first time, it might be hard to find.
However, once you step inside, you can instantly sense the strength of the shop, with an entire wall displaying the honors received by owner Zhou Le.
At Zi Dong Wo Xi, you can find many top-tier coffee beans from around the world. If I had to recommend, it would definitely be their Geisha coffee, as they claim to be a Geisha specialty shop.
Due to its limited seating, I recommend sitting at the bar, where Zhou Le is happy to chat with customers.
Parking Coffee (Hai’er Lane Branch)
📍 Address: No. 51, Hai’er Lane
A store owned by a World Coffee Championship winner.
I personally admire this shop. The owner, Pan Wei, is a World Barista Champion and insists on focusing on Yunnan coffee beans, believing they are on par with international options. I completely agree! Recently, we visited a national poverty-stricken county in Pu’er, Lancang County, where they produce excellent coffee beans. However, lack of awareness prevents people from using them. If there were more coffee shop owners like Pan Wei, Lancang’s poverty issue would surely be alleviated.
The design of Parking Coffee is quite retro, and the shop itself is small but very popular. They also opened a branch in Binjiang’s Rainbow City.
I recommend trying the Champion Set (Small Latte + Small Americano + Hydrolyzed Milk), which is limited daily, so you’ll need to go early to enjoy it.
Wisdom Coffee
📍 Address: No. 27, Xingzhou Street
Wisdom Coffee embodies the ideal community coffee shop in my view. The owner is personable, the decor is laid-back, and there’s an adorable cat in the shop. From the decor, it’s clear the owner loves cats.
I absolutely enjoy the inviting atmosphere of Wisdom Coffee; it’s chaotic yet warm, akin to my vision of an ideal community store.
For your first cup at Wisdom Coffee, I recommend the Old Hangzhou Dirty, a combination of “Zhi Guang Shi” wild strawberries and homemade ice bock. You can’t go wrong with that. The base milk goes through a dehydration process, resulting in a sweeter dirty coffee, creating a blissful experience with every sip.
The Little Hangzhou Dirty offers a different yet smooth taste, perfect for short, small servings.
Nan Bo Shan (Lan Jia Wan Branch)
📍 Address: No. 33, Yugu Road, Lan Jia Wan
Nan Bo Shan has been upgraded to a coffee bean factory. It handles every step from sourcing raw coffee beans, sorting, roasting, to serving them at the bar. This creates a ritualistic experience around coffee production, allowing customers to immerse themselves in the entire coffee-making process.
I must say, Nan Bo Shan is ahead of many coffee shops in Hangzhou. They are not just a coffee shop; they invest heavily in the supply chain and focus on sourcing and cultivating beans.
Nan Bo Shan frequently hosts events, including regular cupping sessions and international blind tasting events. They hold various coffee competitions and salons to inspire creative intersections of coffee and events across industries.
Nan Bo Shan has two adorable cats, Hua Hua and Da Tou, who are definite visual delights.
Kwai Coffee
📍 Address: No. 306, Yangmei Mountain Road (opposite the Hejia Garden No. 5 Gate)
This coffee shop was opened by a former member of the Xiyou editorial team, who goes by the pen name Jiuyuan Limai. Readers who have followed Xiyou for over a year might recognize her. She left her job to open this coffee shop.
The name “Kwai Coffee” comes from a cute dog named Xiao Kui (who is sometimes seen working at the shop), making it a particularly pet-friendly place.
Kwai Coffee is very thoughtful in its operations. Firstly, it’s pet-friendly; bringing your pet along means a 3 RMB discount on your coffee. Secondly, it promotes reading—if you visit on a Tuesday with an old book, you can swap it for a free cup of coffee. For cyclists, the owner has prepared bike racks; visiting the shop by bike also means saving 3 RMB.
The offerings at Kwai Coffee mainly include Australian White, Americano, Dirty, Cappuccino, and Cinnamon-infused drinks, with Australian White and Americano available in different beans. Given the many children in Yangmei Mountain Road, there are special drinks for kids as well. Additionally, they offer a wide range of desserts like scones, puddings, and cake rolls.
1% Coffee
📍 Address: No. 1105, Dongxin Road, Pu Yan Street
A self-roasting shop, representing deep roasting in Hangzhou and a shining light in Binjiang Coffee.
1% primarily offers deeply roasted coffee, but there are also medium roast beans available. It has a lower acidity and a fuller body, featuring roasting and spice flavors. The quantity of beans needed for deep roasting is significantly higher than for medium roasting, resulting in higher caffeine content in each cup of deep-roasted coffee.
The coffee shop has an old machine, declared as the main contributor to the shop’s success, considered a “treasure of the store,” hence it is retained. It’s a rather punk piece of machinery.
Overall, the coffee prices here are very reasonable: a milk coffee for 22 RMB, hand-drip for 25 RMB, and Americano for 20 RMB. You can enjoy hand-dripped coffee made by skilled baristas for under 30 RMB—what more can you ask for?
Shaxian Coffee
📍 Address: No. 44, Midu Bridge Road (street-side shop opposite Xinjing Century Building)
It doesn’t sell steamed dumplings or mixed noodles, but it offers affordable and delicious daily coffee.
Iced Americano for 18 RMB, Australian White for 22 RMB, Dirty for 25 RMB, and Cinnamon Latte for 28 RMB, with some hand-dripped options at 30 RMB… Shaxian Coffee’s pricing is as friendly as Shaxian snacks. Initially, it occupied only 6 square meters, later expanding to 20 square meters, selling around 400 cups daily… In its first year, it became the sales champion in coffee cups.
The lightly roasted Australian White is incredibly delicious, and the hand-dripped offerings are consistently good, making it worth visiting repeatedly.
GOOD ESPRESSO Monster Coffee
📍 Address: No. 32, Xianlin Bridge Street
A coffee shop that made its way through Zhongshan North Road, proving itself formidable.
This shop was previously located in the north of the city but moved last year to the coffee hub along Zhongshan North Road. The shop features street graffiti-style walls filled with monsters, and the shelves hold various monster toys. It’s a uniquely independent coffee shop, with trendy staff.
Inside the not-so-big shop, there is a huge bean roasting machine. Self-roasted beans help ensure quality control. Our recommendations always give bonus points for self-roasted beans since it maintains quality assurance.
Highly recommended is the Ice Cucumber Americano, a particularly refreshing drink that is neither bitter nor sour.
35mm Coffee
📍 Address: No. 21, Tongpu Road (near Wenzhou West Road)
This café has been around for 13 years and has facilitated projects valued at least in the hundreds of billions.
The founder of 35mm Coffee is a programmer, and the name originates from photography, indicating the focal length of a lens. A 35mm lens closely resembles the natural viewing angle of the human eye. Therefore, the shop intends to create a coffee space related to photography.
However, because it’s located on Tongpu Road, near Alibaba’s startup building, Aliyun’s West Lake International, and Alipay’s Huanglong Times, many (former) Alibaba employees frequent it. During the thriving internet era, significant projects were often brokered over coffee in this shop. I used to go often and loved the atmosphere. Now seeing 35mm Coffee thrive is a delightful outcome.
Pinfei Ke
📍 Address: No. 174, Zhongshan Middle Road
A classic example of an established coffee shop.
Opening over a decade ago, this café is genuinely one of the few that focus solely on coffee rather than being sidetracked by serving light meals. There are no gimmicky decorations; it’s a cozy, old-school coffee shop, living up to its name that emphasizes “taste.”
The store has a white poodle responsible for greeting customers.
New Store Highlights
There are countless newly opened coffee shops in Hangzhou, opening daily. We’ve visited many, some a hit and others misses. Opening a shop isn’t easy; thus, in this edition, new store recommendations are given higher priority.
The following are coffee shops we believe are worth recommending from this year’s crop in Hangzhou.
L.H Café
📍 Address: No. 249, Jingfang Tanhua’an Road
The most “stylish” café in Hangzhou, with the most expensive décor (it probably houses millions in Hasselblad and Leica equipment, alongside the latest camera gear). L stands for Leica and H for Hasselblad.
I frequently visit this place, often buying Leica and Hasselblad gear from the owner. L.H Café features predominantly sleek black and red decor, familiar to Coca-Cola branding. It is more than just a coffee shop; it functions as a photography-themed exhibition space with numerous photography books, antique cameras, and artworks. It’s worth visiting for enthusiasts, and reportedly, bringing your Leica or Hasselblad can earn you a discount.
L.H Café regularly organizes sharing sessions for photography enthusiasts and allows trials of the latest Hasselblad and Leica gear, such as the high-demand 907x100c. Their events use only Hasselblad and Leica.
The offerings are equally engaging, with cakes styled after Coca-Cola branding and latte art featuring Leica themes. While there’s plenty of Leica aesthetic, the carryout cold drink coffee cups sport Hasselblad branding.
Coffee and Ideals – Hand Drip Coffee
📍 Address: No. 1, Chengtou Lane Street
Home to the most diverse selection of Geisha coffee beans in Hangzhou.
If you want to experience Geisha coffee freedom, this is the place. It offers a vast selection of Geisha beans, mostly sourced from various estates in Panama. You probably won’t find another store with more Geisha in Hangzhou.
There’s also a stray cat named Benben in the shop, a rescue cat that has lost a leg. It’s an endearing little feline.
Recommended is the hand-pour coffee; the cookies are also delicious.
FROMHER COFFEE (Shifan Branch)
📍 Address: No. 8, Shitan Scenic Area
The coffee shop with the best view by West Lake has changed ownership.
Once the most beautiful Starbucks in Hangzhou, it has now transformed into FROMHER COFFEE. The view remains excellent, and the quality of coffee has significantly improved, although the average spending per customer is higher than the previous Starbucks.
Flavor Lab
📍 Address: No. 214, Jianguo Middle Road
This shop emphasize hand-dripped coffee made from excellent roasters worldwide.
Flavor Lab offers a variety of beans from renowned overseas roasters, making it a suitable choice for hand-drip coffee lovers. However, one downside is the inconsistency of quality; the skills of the baristas vary widely.
Live Together
📍 Address: No. 8, Hai’er Lane
A retro-styled coffee shop with entirely self-roasted beans.
Hai’er Lane claims to be a coffee street with a high density of coffee shops, and it’s no easy feat to open and thrive here. Live Together has a retro vibe, allowing you to watch the bustling street from its windows. Every bean used is roasted in-house, ensuring quality.
Yu He Ling Feather Bell
📍 Address: No. 6, Dajing Lane, Huancui Tower
With a beautiful environment and periodic classical music appreciation events, the coffee produced is consistently delicious.
This café is located on a hillside, offering a serene atmosphere that is ideal for spending a leisurely half-day.
Da Shu at the Village Entrance
📍 Address: No. 176-1, Zhongshan North Road
Shanghai’s top-tier specialty drinks have finally arrived in Hangzhou.
Da Shu at the Village Entrance originated in Shanghai, which we previously featured in our Shanghai coffee list. It has finally opened in Hangzhou and specializes in unique blends.
Guan Zi Sauce Cake & Coffee
📍 Address: No. 31, Ailian Street
A six-year-old community shop that has recently reopened after renovation, with delicious cakes.
This shop is tucked away in the community, featuring a Japanese-style café aesthetic. Its recent revamp has enhanced its appeal, and both its coffee and desserts are excellent.
Hexi Bean Shop
📍 Address: No. 81-1, Daomao Lane
A warm community café.
Community cafés thrive on the quality of coffee and the owners; this shop excels in both.
Fu San
📍 Address: No. 180, No. 182, Zhongshan Middle Road
A bright and rich shade of Forbidden City red.
Fu San originates from the Forbidden City and has flourished in the capital for many years. The name derives from the Tang poem “Ye Dian San Bei Shi Dong Chun, Su Ru Fu Yuan Xiao Bu Jin.” Its spacious interior is suitable for working or studying. The coffee is also good, featuring Geisha!
Although not in the Top 10, the following coffee shops are highly recommended:
NOWHERE COFFEE
📍 Address: No. 22, Changsou Road, Jiuyuanli
Australian White and Dirty are superb with a price of only 10 RMB for an Americano on weekdays.
The shop is small, with limited seating. The design is industrial, with exposed walls and elements complemented by an orange touch, creating a nostalgic feel. I have some knowledge about coffee machines, and this Mama Coffee Machine isn’t cheap.
The Australian White and Dirty are good values, and the weekday Americano is cheap. We often visit NOWHERE, and their quality is consistently reliable.
Birds Gather
📍 Address: No. 1, Yangjia Mountain, Manjue Long Road
An old internet celebrity coffee shop in Hangzhou.
Situated halfway up Manjue Long, this café has a great view on the second floor, providing ample opportunities for photographs. Having been popular for over ten years, I have visited many times, consistently enjoying their stable output.
Parking Coffee (Binjiang Branch)
📍 Address: No. 660, Weiye Road
A branch of a world champion coffee shop.
Big Binjiang finally has a good coffee shop, and this branch is much more aesthetically pleasing than the one in Hai’er Lane. I’ll share some photos.
It focuses on Geisha coffee; if it’s your first visit, I recommend trying one bean brewed two ways.
Bamboo Coffee
📍 Address: No. 28-30, Donghe Road, fighting bridge
A café nestled in an alley that has a unique flavor.
Bamboo Coffee is regarded as the original internet celebrity coffee shop from Wuliuxiang, characterized by a Chinese-style grocery store atmosphere.
The shop has a Jiangnan local flavor; with a high sloped roof, sitting and soaking up the sun while gazing at the river is quite nice. I often enjoy a meal at Fuyuanju and then a flat white at Bamboo Coffee.
WoobyCafe
📍 Address: Shop 16, Xujian Huating
A coffee bean museum in Hangzhou.
Claiming to be Hangzhou’s coffee bean museum, you can see this from the menu, which showcases a dazzling variety of self-roasted beans, along with various awards and certificates.
Their offerings are consistently good; I recommend a flat white or selecting beans for an iced latte.
Wooby’s espresso is also commendable, with each visit reflecting new flavor developments, ranging from floral and wine notes to caramel and berry over time, currently featuring rum ice cream, all quite delightful.
Dajing Coffee Shop
📍 Address: No. 52, Dajing Lane
A hidden gem café.
A treasure café located in Dajing Lane, it has street-facing window seating that’s quite cozy. It’s ideal for meeting two or three friends to chat.
Both the Australian White and Dirty coffee are well-made, and their tiramisu is tasty.
Sign Language Coffee
📍 Address: No. 12, Xingzhou Street
A heartwarming coffee shop.
This café consistently offers fair pricing, with Americano at 18 RMB and Latte at 22 RMB, plus an additional discount of 3 RMB for using your cup, making it a reasonable daily drink.
You can order in person or directly scan a QR code. The owner has thoughtfully written out questions you might need to ask about your coffee order on a paper in the store, so you can simply point to indicate.
The stickers on the cups even taught me a sign language: thank you.
The shop is naturally quiet, with patrons immersed in their own activities. This atmosphere is ideal for focusing on work. A coffee shop that sincerely crafts coffee tends to attract sincere customers. The shop’s chalkboard is filled with complimenting notes, making it another detail that reinforces my belief in the law of attraction.
Many hearing-impaired regulars frequent the shop, and it’s likely well-known in their circles. At the door, I noticed a blue sign from Alipay, part of a bluebell project that includes 34 deaf-individual operated shops across the nation, hoping to bring visibility to these quiet spots in the city.
Sign Language Coffee has also opened a rice ball shop next door, where you can enjoy hand-made rice balls. At 13 RMB per portion, they offer a seaweed grilled sausage rice ball, showcasing a delightful, crisp taste with clear rice grains; satisfying to finish a whole one.
Suitcase Workshop
📍 Address: Nos. 39-41, Chaoming Temple Lane
An ordinary yet daily café.
I used to frequent the Suitcase Workshop before it moved since I worked in Binjiang’s Kerry Center. Previously, it was located on the 23rd floor of Kerry Center. After relocating to Chaoming Temple Lane, I visit less often but still drop by occasionally. A good coffee shop should feel like home, drawing people back regularly.
This shop is exceptionally consistent in beans and offerings, with a beautifully balanced aromatic coffee. I recommend visiting often.
What the Hell
📍 Address: No. 15, Donghe Xia
The rose waterfall at the entrance is beautiful.
What the Hell is one of the older coffee shops in Hangzhou, situated in the historical Wuliuxiang area. The name is whimsical, but the quality of both the products and environment makes it worth visiting.
The space inside is limited, accommodating just four or five tables, but it’s warmly decorated with a vibe reminiscent of a Japanese tea house. The tableware and decor feel comfortably vintage rather than trendy, bringing a sense of reassurance.
The staff are warm and eager to suggest drinks based on personal preferences, and I was recommended a delightful short flute, highlighting the depth of the coffee bean crafted with perfect milk integration.
Half Day
📍 Address: No. 369, Zhongshan South Road
A café opposite Youbu Soy Milk, where I indulge in coffee with youtiao (deep-fried dough).
Half Day is conveniently located on Zhongshan South Road, opposite the renowned Ju Ying Noodle Shop. Nearby are bustling tourist spots like Gulou, Hefang Street, and Nansong Imperial Street, creating a blend of tranquility amid the clamor.
I often buy coffee from Half Day and enjoy youtiao from across the street. As for Ju Ying, I’d rather skip since the taste has completely changed with recent management.
I recommend trying the quality Americano; although it’s non-alcoholic, the taste bears some resemblance to a dark ale.
MeBeforeU Coffee
📍 Address: No. 83, Yile Road
A treasure coffee shop in West Hangzhou.
Tucked along a street lined with sycamores, the shop combines vintage and daily necessities aesthetics. It provides fantastic photo opportunities, with both coffee and cake well-prepared. Good coffee shops in West Hangzhou are relatively sparse, and this one fits the bill.
Origami Café
📍 Address: No. 382-6, Zhongshan Middle Road
An independent coffee shop using a Black Eagle coffee machine.
A relatively new café, with Morandi color tones, the minimalist space design is indeed appealing.
What’s remarkable is that they use a Black Eagle coffee machine, a rare find even among Hangzhou’s Starbucks.
