Vienna Cafe

This darling café feels so European to me that I hide away here when I need a break from China. The renovated lane house always feels particularly warm and cosy with dark wood paneling and rich striped wallpaper. The back of the restaurant is a historic atrium, which allows for plentiful natural light in an otherwise windowless space. The menu is small but appealing, with traditional Austrian dishes like Kaesespaetzle for 60 RMB (FYI: this dish is kind of like a grown-up macaroni and cheese, I’d call it the most amazing comfort food I’ve had in years). The breakfast menu is equally small, but offers eggs in every style conceivable, fruit and cereal. The indulgent dessert menu is includes temptations such as banana cake, cheesecake, and Sacher Cake (a famous Viennese chocolate cake). To make matters worse for you dieters out there, Vienna Cafe lures you in by baking cakes during the day, so it smells wonderful inside. The Viennese coffee, at 30RMB for a latte, is prepared by a gorgeous Gaggia espresso machine.

How to get there: Shaoxing Lu is close to the busy Huaihai Lu, but it still feels miles away. It’s on one of the quietest streets I’ve seen in the middle of the French Concession. Take Metro Line 1 to Shanxi Lu station. Exit onto Shanxi Lu, and head south for 4 blocks. Take a left on Shaoxing, Vienna Café is half way down the block on the right. (Edited by Xiaoqing)