Guangzhou Specialty Coffee Map | Must-Visit Specialty Coffee Shops for National Day Holiday

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The Third Wave of Coffee

Like the industrial revolution, the coffee industry has passed through several waves, from instant coffee to specialty coffee drinks. The wave currently in ascendance is — specialty coffee. How well you understand it has become one of the marks of a sophisticated coffee drinker.

What is Specialty Coffee?

Most people's love of coffee stops at "specialty coffee drinks" of the Starbucks kind — espresso-based, mixed with other ingredients, flashy in appearance and rich in flavor. "Specialty coffee" advocates purity: the entire journey from one coffee seed to one cup of coffee. Cultivation, picking, roasting, and brewing all matter in creating it. Extracted by immersion and consumed plain, with nothing added, it lets you indulge solely in the pure aroma and flavor of the beans.

Worth-Visiting Specialty Coffee Shops in Guangzhou

Today let's introduce some niche specialty coffee shops in Guangzhou worth visiting, starting from Yuexiu District.

Rose Coffee Garden

Rose Coffee Garden has been operating in Guangzhou for over 10 years, in a leafy alley on Zhongshan Road. At Rose there is no menu, because they serve only coffee. That serious, focused spirit has made Rose a regular gathering place for enthusiasts. The shop's self-developed grinder is exceptionally impressive, and everyone here is a coffee fanatic — sit at the bar and you will absorb new information every time, and purchasing beans even comes with free coffee. True coffee lovers will definitely fall for this place.

Business Hours: 12:00~20:30 (Closed on Mondays)

Address: 1st Floor, 29 Huiji West, Zhongshan Sixth Road, Yuexiu District

FrontStreet Coffee

Heading from Dongshankou toward Wuyang New City, you will find FrontStreet Coffee, a relatively long-established self-roasting shop. Yandun Road is lined with countless old European-style villas, but FrontStreet Coffee keeps a low profile as a ground-floor shop in a residential building. With 5 years of history, it has become one of Guangzhou's most popular professional self-roasting coffee shops, drawing enthusiasts who come to buy beans.

It is, without exaggeration, a must-visit specialty coffee shop in Old Dongshan. It offers one of the largest selections of specialty coffee beans in Guangzhou — Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mandheling, Natural Yirgacheffe... even Geisha and Blue Mountain can be tasted at affordable prices. Highly recommended!

Business Hours: 9:30~21:00

Address: 10 Bao'an Front Street, Yandun Road, Yuexiu District

Liang Zhazha Coffee Shop

Liang Zhazha is the owner himself. When I mentioned I had been there, I found many people in my social circle know him and call him a literary youth. Well, this tattooed handsome man's appearance misled me — but it must be said that he is deeply focused and serious when making coffee, and the shop houses several cats, all plump and healthy, showing the owner's gentle heart.

Liang Zhazha must be a cat lover too. To create more space and let customers see the three cats, he placed the three feline bosses on a three-tier cat shelf — so cute! It caused quite a stir among the shop's female customers.

Address: 554 Donghua East Road (opposite Junyi Building)

Espresso Club

No flashy decoration here, only excellent equipment. No simple meals or milk tea, only focused coffee. The owner is a genuine coffee enthusiast — order a cup and chat with him at the bar, and you will often rediscover coffee. Better still, they make coffee accessible to more people.

Business Hours: 14:00-01:00

Address: 90 Yile Street, Nanzhou Garden, Nanzhou Road, Haizhu District

Contact: 020-81003093

Dream House Self-Roasting Coffee Shop

True to its name, Dream House embraces coffee dreams. As the owner says: "I hope those who drink coffee here can feel the sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy of our dream journey — that's why we insist on roasting our beans fresh in-house." It is perfect for work talk by day and casual chat by night — very warm and welcoming.

Business Hours: 12:00~23:00

Address: 101, No. 1 Zilong Street, Jiangnan West Road, Haizhu District

APF.KAFE

Considered one of Guangzhou's first "internet-famous" shops. Riding the minimalist trend, APF's interior is predominantly white, with simple decoration and careful attention to detail. The look is stunning enough to make you feel you are in Australia: raw wood, gray, and brass against a white base, in a simple, bright style. The details are well handled too, from product displays to how bean information is presented.

On the coffee side, APF.KAFE uses a Slayer Espresso 3-Group machine, a Mazzer Rubor grinder, and a Compak R120 for single-origin grinding — truly luxurious!

Business Hours: 10:00-21:00 (Monday to Sunday)

Address: Shop 42, Huakang Street, Tianhe District

HAY Coffee

HAY Coffee sits near APF — low-key yet stylish. The smoking area at the entrance has floor-to-ceiling glass doors, plus a usable bay window; both are perfect photo walls. The long L-shaped bar displays various brewing equipment, and the Beatles figurines on the wall cabinet catch every eye, brought back by the owner from his studies in the UK — definitely a trendsetter. The shop's beans are self-roasted.

Business Hours: 10:00~23:00 (Opens at 13:00 on Mondays)

Address: 43 Qiaoyi First Street, Tianhe District (opposite Huayang Primary School)

Contact: 020-29847242

Laihui Coffee

Laihui Coffee operates on the philosophy of "integrating specialty coffee into daily life," giving enthusiasts a place to understand coffee deeply. The interior is a unified cement gray — simple yet sophisticated, as if everything had been returned to its origins. With "sharing" as its attitude, it stays focused on coffee itself.

Business Hours: 10:00~23:00 (Opens at 13:00 on Mondays)

Address: 101, 84 Tiannan South First Road, Tianhe District

Laihui Coffee 2.0

Address: Panyu Zhongcun Metro Station, Tianhe District

A rare "coffee takeout window" in Guangzhou, it became a popular check-in spot early on, its white photo wall filling social media feeds.

Rather than a coffee shop, it is really a coffee window.

Viewed from the side, you see only a circle of "window edge" set into the wall, flowing with colorful light — very psychedelic.

Business Hours: Monday to Friday 07:30-19:30; Weekends 7:00-19:00

Address: Inside Liuyun Community, 48 Tiyu West Road, Tianhe District (500 meters from Metro Station Exit H)

Sigma Coffee

The shop is very small, with simple, clean decoration — a tiny place that sells only coffee.

Espresso / 10 yuan — surprisingly made with single-origin Kenyan beans, truly unexpected. The balance of sour, sweet, and bitter is good; the flavor leans black chocolate, with berry aromas emerging as it cools and a texture like strong tea. The only drawback might be the slightly mixed aftertaste.

WANTOK

In this small shop, word is the barista is from Papua New Guinea. It is fun to watch him work — he even tosses the tamper before compressing the grounds. Flat White / 22 yuan — a qualified Flat White. The milk foam is well made, though the texture has not yet reached fine and smooth. The coffee flavor is on the light side, mainly chocolate and nut, with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Alex is a Papua New Guinean overseas Chinese born in Brisbane, so most of WANTOK's beans come from that island nation in the western South Pacific. High-quality Papua New Guinea coffee is balanced and elegant, with higher sweetness and fruity aromas.

Address: 102-2, 48 Tiannan South First Road (next to the Tiannan South Pedestrian Street archway, in the alley beside Ziyu Ren)

Wuguan Coffee

This may be the hardest coffee shop to find in all of Guangzhou, on Tuanjie Road in Yuexiu District. When I went that day, the navigation pointed straight ahead to the destination — but straight ahead was Tuanjie Road No. 4. Where was No. 14? It turned out No. 14 hides behind No. 4, and you have to pass through a door that looks like it requires card access...

Wuguan is built from a shipping container, with bare concrete floors and simple interior decoration. The vintage pieces collected by the goldfish-keeping owner are part of the display. The quiet space, regularly rotated beans, and warm, chatty baristas make a wonderful atmosphere.

Address: 14 Tuanjie Road, Overseas Chinese New Village, Yuexiu District

Fang Suo Coffee

Fang Suo Bookstore, with its excellent location, is a space I really like, full of cultural and aesthetic expression — and Fang Suo Coffee, hidden inside, inherits that DNA.

Except that the menu cannot be photographed, everything else is perfect: comfortable, polite baristas; a warm, calm space; exquisite yet unpretentious cupware; and very consistent coffee. It is one of my must-visit coffee shops in Guangzhou!

Metro: B1 Level, Taikoo Hui, 383 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District

Fei Zhi Lian Caffe Amore

Hidden in a quiet residential area of Liwan District, the Caffe Amore coffee and cake house sits behind a pavilion in a residential community — small but very warm and comfortable. Owner Michael is enthusiastic, and most beans come from Taiwan, selected by Taiwanese roasting master LuLu and the highly respected teacher Hu Yuanzheng.

A husband-and-wife shop run by the owners themselves, it also serves homemade desserts where you can taste the care behind them.

Business Hours: 09:00~20:00 (Closed on Mondays)

Address: Room 1603, 16th Floor, Fubang Center, Zhongshan Seventh Road, Liwan District

Together Coffee

Together Coffee occupies the old alleys of Guangzhou's old city. Barista Ah Yong says that however good the coffee, drinking it alone means it is only ever one person's pleasure — good coffee needs to be shared. That belief gave the shop its name, and the team loves sharing the joy of latte art.

Address: 4 Kanggong Straight Street, Dongshen Temple, Longjin East Road, Liwan District (next to Longjin Police Station)

GET LAB

GET LAB is a coffee shop in Yongqing Fang on Enning Street. Coffee shops among these old arcade buildings are always a delight.

GET LAB is one of the cafes in Yongqing Fang converted from a Xiguan grand house, preserving the signature high ceilings. A narrow, long staircase leads to the second floor, and the shop's palette of white and mint green gives the house a modern, Japanese-minimalist transformation.

There are actually three floors: the second has a pour-over station, plus a small room with coffee roasting equipment.

The third-floor balcony deserves a special recommendation — on sunny days, it is the best seat in the house!

Address: 12 Yongqing Street, Yongqing Fang, Enning Road, Liwan District

MATE MATE

Guangzhou's MATE MATE, an interesting coffee shop.

The stainless steel bar on the left and the small beach on the right create a striking contrast — perfect for a "sipping coffee in the Maldives" photo series. People photographed it all afternoon. As the young owners say, that impact proves fun is the primary productive force.

Imagine what it feels like to move a beach into a coffee shop?

D.O.G

D.O.G, brought to me by "Crab Boss," is known as the most lavishly equipped coffee shop in Guangzhou of late.

All the restaurants on Xingsheng Road look impressive, but passing D.O.G you still marvel at the storefront — it has the full Instagram-famous vibe.

D.O.G also sells beer: the taps greet you at the door. The machine is an ultra-luxurious three-group Synesso, the grinder a Compak 140 that costs more than an EK, and the bar counter is custom terrazzo.

Address: Shop 102, 8 Xingsheng Road, Zhujiang New Town

Press Room Coffee (Hao Ye Coffee)

The story of Hao Ye, a returnee from abroad who started selling coffee from a street stall, has been told 123,456 times. This time, let's talk about Press Room Coffee itself. "Pressroom" refers to the printing room — a crucial step in the print media industry — and this news-flavored coffee shop sits in "289 Art PARK," formerly a newspaper printing plant. The two complement each other perfectly.

The yellow facade is easy to recognize. Bulletin board, newspaper-style menu, and spotlight accents collide into an innovative atmosphere — much like the drinks: Hao Ye salt coffee, soufflé coffee. Imaginative, fun, and delicious; the key point is that the flavor in the cup is presented just for you.

Address: Under the big tree in the central courtyard of 289 Art PARK, 289 Middle Avenue, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou

Business Hours: Monday to Sunday "11:00-02:00"

COVITA COFFEE

Unlike many retro-styled shops, COVITA COFFEE takes a minimalist route built on "Klein Blue," the color created by French artist Yves Klein. The blue-and-white scheme is refreshing, with a large character illustration on the wall — at first glance you might mistake it for an art gallery.

COVITA COFFEE not only runs an independent roasting factory but also a unique barista artisan system — you can view each barista's profile on your phone. Its standout feature is the wide variety of beans; if you want to explore many different flavor profiles, COVITA COFFEE will keep your taste buds busy.

COVITA COFFEE Wuyang Store

Area: Yuexiu District, Guangzhou

Address: Wuyang Store / 93 Siyou Xinma Road (Self-numbered 114, Meihao Plaza)

Business Hours: Monday to Sunday "09:00-22:00"

7-inn Yuyuan Coffee

Founded in 2005 by a Taiwanese owner, Yuyuan Coffee is one of the foundations of specialty coffee's early development in Guangzhou. From Muzi to the current Jeff, many excellent baristas and roasters have come out of Yuyuan. In today's Tianhe District, crowded with internet-famous cafes, this established shop seems barely affected.

Address: 156 Tiyu West Horizontal Street (near Grandview Mall)

Wupai Coffee

"Hidden in plain sight" is the perfect description for Wupai Coffee. Tucked into the bustling Beijing Road area, it features classic architecture, a minimalist facade, and a high-ceiling loft layout, with raw wood and cement used extensively — a textured modern industrial style.

Wupai Coffee focuses on pour-over: the handwritten menu lists over 30 freshly roasted beans, and the barista will recommend the best match for your preferences. A secret — the bar counter is the most popular spot in the shop, because you can watch the coffee made up close. As for how close, experience it yourself.

Area: Yuexiu District, Guangzhou

Address: 1st Floor, 5 Nanchao New Street, Qiyi Road

Business Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday "11:00-21:30"

Contact: 138-2224-6505

Yi Wai Coffee

When it comes to coffee crossovers, Yi Wai Coffee leads the industry. It is a crossover platform integrating coffee, gourmet food, exhibitions, and art derivatives; since opening in 2013 it has staged multiple exhibitions of works by international and domestic artists and special collectors.

Antique coffee machines and several art pieces are scattered through the shop. The free-form layout, relaxed atmosphere, and enchanting coffee aroma let you feel content even in the heart of the bustling city.

Area: Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Address: 2nd Floor, East Gate, Guangdong Museum, Xiancun Road, Zhujiang New Town

Business Hours:

Monday "11:00-24:00"

Tuesday to Sunday "09:00-24:00"

Contact: 020-3804 6386

Ingenuity Coffee

The Ingenuity Coffee brand takes its name from the English word "ingenuity" — unique, exquisite, clever, wise — combining the confident, unrestrained personality of the West with the ancient, simple spiritual wisdom of the East.

The young, vibrant people at Ingenuity strive for professionalism. Obsessed with perfecting coffee quality, they personally trace beans back to origin estates, import the freshest seasonal coffees, and roast them carefully, presenting each in its most perfect form — heart-fluttering encounters with every coffee lover. Their experience store is currently under renovation; stay tuned!

Contact Address: Ground Floor, 84 Macheng Straight Street, Haizhu District, Guangzhou

Kaffa Forest

The name KAFFA FOREST pays homage to Kaffa, the origin of coffee on the Ethiopian highlands. Kaffa Forest operates on a "coffee shop+" concept, rooted in American SCAA specialty coffee standards and culture, bringing guests a "Gold Cup" experience.

Here you can learn about coffee's magical journey from "seed" to "cup," taste the flavors popular in specialty shops, and join interactive open coffee classes or customize professional training courses — finding joy in the pursuit of quality coffee.

Area: Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Address: 51-1, Building B, Phase 1, Qiaolin Garden, Linle Road

ALL-IN Cafes

Located at the relatively remote scenic area of Huangpu Ancient Port — bustling yet tranquil. Without gorgeous decoration, the high-ceiling loft space opens a broad view, finished in minimalist black, white, and gray industrial style. That distinctive feeling makes it an internet-famous coffee shop with real substance.

Address: 534 Shiji Road, Huangpu Ancient Port, Pazhou

More Notable Coffee Shops

Yijian Coffee

Business Hours: 09:00-21:00 (Monday to Sunday)

Address: 2F-210, Kingold International Commercial Podium, 62 Jinsui Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District

Xingchen

Business Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-22:30; Weekends 10:00-23:00

Address: 17 Liuyun First Street, Tiannan South First Road, Tianhe District (near the South Gate of Teemall, Exit B of Tiyu West Road Station)

Congqi

Business Hours: 12:00-22:00 (Monday to Friday); 10:00-22:00 (Weekends, closed on Thursdays)

Address: Rear Building 103, 18 Huasheng Street, Tiyu East Road, Tianhe District

Of course, there are many, many more specialty coffee shops in Guangzhou.

The Guangzhou coffee shop list that can never be finished — to be continued...

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation: Recreate the Cafe Hopping at Home

After a weekend of cafe hopping, bring the experience back to your own kitchen. For the classic espresso-and-milk drinks you tasted across the city, the FrontStreet Coffee Classic Blend or Commercial Blend — built on a traditional Italian formula with a touch of Robusta — extracts aromas of butter, nuts, spice, dark chocolate, and toast, with a thick body and abundant golden crema that makes latte art easy even for beginners. If the nut-driven cups won you over, the Signature Blend and Black Cocoa Blend, both built on a large proportion of Brazilian coffee, deliver a comfortable sweet-bitter balance and creamy peanut aroma; FrontStreet Coffee's Black Cocoa Blend adds Yunnan small-bean's ripe plum acidity and a creamy chocolate fragrance. And for pour-over fans chasing single-origin character, the Natural Blossom SOE offers creamy strawberry, cacao, berries, and a black tea finish.