First Glance: C5café in Sanlitun

In the realm of Beijing cafe culture there feels like an endless battle brewing for the title of "cutest cafe," and entering the ring in Sanlitun is C5café.

An extension of C5 Art space, the cafe found at the back of the gallery follows with the exhibition vibe showing off sun-kissed white walls, grey concrete floor, and light but sturdy wood and metal furnishings. The entire space is broken into three main areas connected by floor-to-ceiling windows, and everything from the kitchen to the road outside can be seen from your table. A nice, but minuscule, outdoor area with a lily pad filled water feature is open for a select few to sit outside and chill in peace as the entire space is quite a silent haven, save for the intermittent iPhone camera clicks in the background from eager Instagramming patrons.

I’ll admit it, the space will definitely attract those who enjoy the romantic reverie of sitting down with their Moleskine notebook, a leaky fountain pen, and the next Balzac inspired short story tucked in their cerebral cortex. The pour-over coffee selection, while a few kuai more per cup than some other places in town, has enough choices there for the real coffee lover to think (drink?) over.

It was a stunning day when I visited, so to cool down I ordered an iced Cafe Latte (RMB 38) and for a little sugar perk I chose one of their homemade apple tart’s (RMB 15) that were displayed. The coffee arrived in its typical Mason jar serving, and while it was aesthetically pleasing the milk overrode the espresso shot during the first initial sips, but mellowed out towards the end. The tart was crumbly in all the right places, and the apple pieces nestled in the cup were just the right balance of crunchy and jell textures and not overbearingly sweet. The portion size was cute, perhaps a little too cute for the price. One more bite would have been nice.

Behind the counter you can wander into two interconnected spaces filled with designer ephemera like Dutch audio label B&O, terrariums, delicate pottery pieces, and more. Nearer the wild garden entrance was a sign exclaiming "Vintage Watch Workshop," but the main door to see what exactly that entailed was locked. A sneak peak behind an adjoining curtain did reveal a workshop filled with curious looking tools and yet-to-be-completed display areas, so we will keep an eye on this development as it ticks along.

A nice addition to the embassy area, and one that complements the edgy arts vibe already established by the gallery, this cafe is bound to become a hot-spot for the culture inclined persons needing a quiet cove to relax in.

C5café
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Building F, Sanlitun Xiwu Jie, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District (5844 3705)
朝阳区三里屯西五街5号F座

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Photos: Erin Strong