In traditional Cantonese “Yum Cha” (morning tea) culture, people usually order a cup of tea and two dishes of dim sum. Other than drinking tea in a traditional dim sum restaurant, there are many trendy coffee shops that provide more options for coffee lovers in Liwan District, Guangzhou. 
Compared to Yongqing Fang, Duobao Road and Baoyuan Road are so low-profile that they are seldom noticed, making them ideal for going out for coffee with friends and relaxing. In the final episode of Liwan Coffee Map, we will head to these places and search for coffee shops that we can spend a whole afternoon.
Duobao Road and Baoyuan Road are locations in Xiguan, the core area of Liwan District. Traces of prosperity can still be felt from the details, such as the window decorations on the traditional Cantonese residential buildings, namely the Bamboo Tube House (Zhutong Wu), flagstone alleys, and the cafes along the road.
Yau Lik Trading Co.——A city living room with coffee, photography, music, and vintage.
Add.: Unit 1, 2 Baoyuan Road, Liwan District (荔湾区宝源路三号之一)
Time: 12:00-21:00
At the intersection of Duobao Road and Baoyuan Road, there is an abandoned Xiguan house. Its doors are closed, and no one seems to have lived there for quite some time. From the imposing facade, it can be surmised that a well-off merchant lived there many years ago.
Not far from the Xiguan house, there is a coffee shop that resembles an old trading house, and it is called Yau Lik Trading Co. One gets the impression that a trading house from the Republic of China period, typically only seen in movies, has been transported to this current time and space.
As you enter this amazing shop, you are instantly attracted to the incredible variety of vintage ornaments, all of which come from the owner’s private collection he amassed over the years. Photos of old streets, taken by the owner during his regular street excursions, are showcased on the walls. Vinyl music that continuously plays gives you a keen sense of the shop’s charm and charisma.
Bric-a-brac of the most interesting types is on display. Amongst all the energy and ambience are customers who come together to relax with good conversation and wonderful beverages. Conversational vibes continue to flow, as do the hot and delicious drinks.
The shop is decorated with unique features, and its coffee specials simply add to the decor.
Coffee made with Honduran sherry is very common, yet Yau Lik’s signature special Lolita is quite different. The amazing fragrance features a distinct vanilla scent mixed with the smell of fermented wine, and the distinctive sherry flavour highlights a hint of subtle sweetness and richness.
Cream on the top is the masterful finishing touch. Remember to drink this coffee before it loses its fizz.
You can order an indulgent cup of coffee and elegantly sit in a smooth, comfortable leather chair, shaking your cup like a businessman from the old times in a movie. Or you can step out into the street, lean on a bar made of wood planks and chat with your new friends.
SSAW—— A cup of coffee can capture the changing of four seasons in Guangzhou.
Add.:9 Duobao South Cross Street, Liwan District (荔湾区多宝南楼9号)
Time:Monday to Friday 08:30-20:30, Saturday to Sunday 10:00-20:30
If Yau Lik is like an old trading house, then the SSAW, tucked away on Duobao Road, is like a private study.
Despite the hustle and bustle on Duobao Road, SSAW maintains its peace in a quiet corner.
A lot of people have coffee as they work and read during weekdays. Comfortable seats, an open space, and the natural white noise of coffee machines have made SSAW Cafe a private studyfor many residents in the neighbourhood.
SSAW stands for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and the menu of house specials and cakes is regularly updated according to seasonal ingredients. The four seasons of Guangzhou, which are hard to feel on a regular basis, are perfectly captured at SSAW.
We indulged ourselves with a glass of Verbena by the Apricot Grove with a fruity aroma, which is a limited-edition drink that isn’t always available.
The verbena sprinkled on top is a delicate spice with refreshing lemon notes. From the first sip, you feel the aroma of early spring brought on by the combination of verbena and Earl Grey tea. Suddenly, wonderful fruit flavours dance on your tongue.
Wait a moment, and a nutty chocolate flavour enters. The artful layer of cream on top is decadent, but not too sweet. Its fresh and creamy taste is addictive.
Yaodu Coffee（Yaodu Coffee PRO, Liwan）——The childhood tastes that Guangzhou people most remember.
Add.:154 Longjin West Road, Liwan District (荔湾区龙津西路154号)
Time: 8:30-18:00
When there were few coffee shops in Guangzhou, Yaodu Coffee set up its first shop in Tianhe South. With a silky buffalo milk latte, Yaodu Coffee successfully won its fans and made it to Liwan District with its branch Yaodu Coffee PRO.
Baifulu buffalo milk, the milk used for coffee, is a childhood memory for people in Guangzhou. The milk is sweet, but not cloyingly so. And the lattes, made from a blend of coffee beans and buffalo milk, are subtly unique from each other.
When blended with “Lizhi Bay” SOE, this coffee drink expresses a fresh fragrance of white peach oolong tea. When matched with the light-medium roast Tianhe Nan, this coffee has a citrus-like acidity. When mixed with the dark-medium roast Guangzhou Nong, this coffee conveys a slight caramel sweetness. Yaodu Coffee can satisfy the taste buds of virtually any coffee preference.
Coffee shop owners don’t try very hard to sell their coffee concepts or values.
Most coffee drinkers have given up on the ceremonyof drinking coffee. Strolling to a familiar coffee shop in their slippers, they usually just spend the afternoon having coffee. They even finish their orders with the words as usual, but they are also willing to try new flavours recommended by a knowledgeable barista.
It seems that having a coffee in Liwan does not come with all those complex flavours nor requirements. Coffee is more like a daily drink.
If you enjoy this kind of casual style, come and enjoy the fun while spring is still here. Bring the Liwan Coffee Map with you, explore the stores while you explore, and discover limited-time spring surprises in the district that you are familiar with.