Cup One Welcomes You With Food and Space in Hectic, Crowded Pacific Century Place
As we’ve been saying, the basement at Pacific Century Place is getting popular. Don’t believe us? Go and stand there for two minutes during the lunch rush, and watch how people line up in front of the small shops. We have to admit that our visit to Cup One was not our first choice; after failing to try their overcrowded neighbor Levante's (our first impression here), and being told that all the dishes were out of stock after a 20-minute wait, we looked around and saw Cup One. It looked to have plenty of space for us to dine or relax, with café tables and chairs spread throughout the room. It was like a shining beacon, calling out to us, "Let me feed you!"
Thanks to the minimalist decor (no tacky flowers or fake shabby-chic western furniture), the clean-cut light gray and white elements puts off the energy of a brand-new, spick-and-span, ultra-chic café. On the menu, there are wraps (RMB 50-55), rice bowls (RMB 48-65), salads (RMB 52-68), pastas (RMB 55-62), coffee (around RMB 30), specialty coffee (RMB 45), and juices.
We opted for the avocado & chicken wrap set (RMB 55), which included a carrot juice.The wrap featured chicken, avocado, lettuce, and tomato, and was quite flavorful. The side salad was sizable with boiled vegetables, cashews, cherry tomatoes, raisins, and olives, but it could have used more sauce due to the lack of flavor. The carrot juice was quite nice too, which tasted the same as the ones I make at home, meaning it's the real deal, not made from concentrate and containing no additives. Since we couldn't drink anything more during our visit, you'll need to judge their coffee for yourself.
Cup One seems empty and quiet, perhaps because of the food's high quality and consequently high prices (compared to their neighbor), but it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It’s a place that you sit and relax comfortably, hold your cup of coffee, and laugh at the people queuing up next door.
Cup One
Daily 11am-8pm
B1- 119, Pacific Century Place, A2 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (5642 2111)
朝阳区工人体育场北路甲2号盈科中心地下一层B1- 119
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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Tracy Wang, Dianping
