Books and Coffee
Shenzhen has no shortage of coffee shops; in fact, they are on every corner. But the sad fact is most of them are soulless mash chains such as Starbucks or Luckin coffee, which while satisfying customer demand have very little character. However, hidden in the depths of Oct loft lies Book Haven cafe. A coffee shop for coffee shop lovers. Oct loft is known for its quirky coffeehouses, and it can be very difficult to stand out here. Most of them have become ‘concept’ cafes where they choose style over substance. Anything to get the masses in. However, in ‘Old Haven’ there is hope for old fashioned coffee connoisseurs.
More coffee in shenzhen!!
So, what differentiates this coffeeshop from the plethora of others in the city? Nothing new about a bookstore cafe, right? Well in my opinion the answer to that is silence. This is a quiet place, a throwback to when cafes were places people went to relax and not have photoshoots.
You’re greeted by an old-style bookstore. With hundreds of tomes dotted around you can peruse literature while you sip a latte. Numerous records and other music are also available to buy if you so choose. The cafe itself is very large with ample seating of all kinds from sofas to stools to large wooden chairs. The seating is very comfortable with cushions and soft seats everywhere. There is a beautiful little courtyard that you can sit in on a sunny day too. Keep your eyes peeled for the resident cat who likes to say hello. The serene nature of this coffee shop makes it the perfect place to work, its quiet, comfortable and has ample work space. With Wi-Fi speed of 11Mbps it is perfectly adequate to conduct business or work online. It’s also a great place to meet friends, relax with a book or you can sit out front and people watch. The options are yours.
There’s an extensive drinks menu with numerous types of teas and coffees. The coffee itself is pretty good and at 33 RMB for a large is a competitive price for the OCT LOFT area. One negative is it needs to be ordered through scanning a QR code, which eliminates the human touch. Sadly, there is very limited food here with a couple of croissants on the counter. The teas range from standard Chinese teas to numerous fruit teas such as strawberry or peach. Smoothies and fresh fruit juices also complete the quite varied and extensive menu. With prices ranging from 28-35 RMB this is one place that won’t break the bank
Details
For peace and quiet seekers, workspace hunters, bibliophiles.
Cost 28-35 RMB
Shop 120, Bldg A5, OCT-Loft, Xiangshan Dongjie; 香山东街华侨城创意园北区A5栋120铺
oldheavenbooks@gmail.com
Hours11am-10pm
Wanderust Welshman 
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