A French Bistro and Café to Visit for Some Coffee, Peace, and Quiet during Midterm Week

May 6 2013

Need a new place to study? It’s the middle of the semester, which probably means too many of your fellow classmates at NYU Shanghai have discovered and taken over the wonders of Wagas. And while I’ll never say no to a plate of Waga’s fusilli, I’ve scoped out some of the new cafés in town. Check out below for the places you can go to grab a cup of joe and cram for those midterms in peace and quiet.

Vis-à-Vis

If you’re looking to grab a meal before you begin studying, look no further than Vis-à-Vis, located on Fuxing Xi Lu in the former French Concession. This recently opened French bistro has been renovated with a skylight, which will hopefully breathe some life into this stressful time in your life. The interior of the restaurant has a warm, cozy feel to it, complete with leather couches you can kick back in.

But let’s talk food. Vis-à-Vis’ menu consists of salads, sandwiches, and a brunch section, including croques, quiches, tortillas and eggs Benedict—better than anything you could cook up in those off-campus apartments, that’s for sure. I also hear their croque madame and grilled chicken is to die for. Check out the menu on Vis-à-Vis’ website.

AROOM Vintage Café

The hidden gem of Tai’an Lu, AROOM Vintage Café is a secret spot, located inside a small garden house, perfect for writing that contemporary art essay or winding down after a long day of reading.

Two Shanghainese couples opened this café upon returning from their travels around the world. Vintage lovers will be delighted to find that the owners have filled the space with mementos and trinkets they’ve acquired over the years. While customers can enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or even homemade sangria, many of the items on display, ranging from 10-yuan clothes pins to a 7 thousand-yuan lounge chair, are also for sale. Take a break from your studies for some much-needed yet modest retail therapy

(Source: City WeekendiDEALShanghai)


Susan Cheng is currently a junior at NYU, studying Journalism and East Asian Studies. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and documenting her experiences through writing, taking photographs and sketching.