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Why Shanghai Residents Love Coffee: The Rise of Outdoor and Camping-style Community Cafés

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style). When I was little, if I didn't study hard, my mother would say, "If you don't study well, you'll end up camping under the overpass in the future." During the recent pandemic, friends were forced to stay at home. Even a certain neighbor who wanted to keep their job had no choice but to isolate obediently.

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When I was little, if I didn't study well, my mother would say, "If you don't study hard, you'll end up camping under the overpass in the future."

Due to the pandemic some time ago, friends were forced to stay at home, and even a certain neighbor who wanted to keep their job had to obediently isolate.

As life begins to return to its pre-pandemic state, it seems more and more people want to experience camping life. Near Hongqiao in Shanghai, there is a coffee shop where you can experience outdoor camping, which is simply a blessing for friends who want both camping and coffee.

Neverland outdoor camping style coffee shop

This outdoor camping-style coffee shop, named Neverland, is located at 783 Golden City Road in Shanghai. According to data from Dianping, it is a new shop that was added to Dianping in May of this year.

From interviews with the owner of this coffee shop by some netizens, it can be learned that the owner herself is a camping enthusiast, and various camping equipment in the coffee shop are from her own collection. She is also a gold medal winner in international cake competitions.

The owner, Chen Wei, also shared on Xiaohongshu that she positions Neverland as a "natural lifestyle platform," wanting to provide a platform for nearby neighbors to get to know each other and make friends. She expressed concern about the possibility of Neverland becoming a popular internet check-in spot.

Neverland cafe interior with camping equipment

It's not difficult to see from online photos that Neverland is located on an open-air space in a residential area, originally positioned as a community-oriented coffee shop for nearby residents.

Some netizens also commented that since it's outdoors, there's no air conditioning, relying only on the natural breeze. And because the environment is similar to camping, there's the nuisance of mosquitoes. They advise brothers and sisters who want to visit to take mosquito prevention measures.

Considering Shanghai's extremely high consumption level, Neverland's pricing is very reasonable. Although there aren't many coffee choices and no single-origin beans, they do serve food. It's truly a great place for face-to-face conversations with friends.

Inside the coffee shop, two tents are set up, and behind the large tent, there are lush trees. Entering the tent really gives you the illusion of camping.

The other tent contains various camping equipment, and outside the tent sits a toy dog that looks incredibly realistic. Light strings hang around the tent, and when they light up after dark, the camping atmosphere becomes even stronger.

The bar counter is set up next to the tent. From reviews on Dianping, it's known that this coffee shop only has one type of espresso bean. The owner also revealed that they use Trio from White Whale Coffee Bean Store.

A classic Volkswagen VW T1 is parked at the entrance of the coffee shop. This bus was once a symbol of hippie culture in the last century, representing freedom.

The great Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi once wrote, "Life is dear, love is dearer, but for freedom, I would give up both." Unlike Petőfi, who pursued freedom for his country, what we pursue is individual freedom.

Wandering in this bustling metropolis, working hard until we lose ourselves. What's wrong with wanting to go to a quiet corner to camp and find ourselves?

Peaceful camping atmosphere at Neverland

"Mom, I studied hard, but I still really want to experience the camping life."

Mom might think this child has become foolish from studying, but people who have lived in the city for a long time truly want a bit of primitive life. Coincidentally, Neverland has created an environment with an extremely high degree of camping realism, satisfying both camping enthusiasts and coffee lovers, while also providing an opportunity for those who want to temporarily escape the city.

*Image source: Xiaohongshu, Internet*

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