Capital Caff: Oh the Odd Cafés You'll Find Around Baitasi

Vincent R. Vinci, Contributing Editor | Aug 30, 2022 10:28 am | Add a comment | 257 reads

Don't talk to me until I've read Capital Caff – your guide to the latest in coffee happenings around Beijing.

Continuing on our journey around Beijing through its many cafés and coffee options, we head West into Xicheng District to look at Baitasi.

This area, which is situated around the White Dagoba Temple, aka 白塔寺 Baitasi, has a number of coffee shops with their own distinct style that are worth a jaunt over to Xicheng to visit.

Polonio

Situated down a tiny hutong lane just west of the White Dagoba Temple lies this little gem, the second branch of Cabo, a popular café near the Temple of Heaven. Polonio is similar to Cabo in terms of style – a sort of mishmash of ocean and camping theme aesthetics – and they’ve got good coffee options as well.

Here they lean more towards Australian style coffees, with both the short and long black taking the place of the Americano on the menu along with the flat white and other Australian coffee drinks. They’ve also got an array of coffee cocktails, a terrace with a nice view of the dagoba, along with beans and merch to go.

Polonio Coffee
81 Gongmenkou Dongcha, Xicheng District
西城区宫门口东岔81号

Sth. Here Café

Walk West from Polonio and deeper into the Xicheng hutongs still and you’ll happen across the entranceway to this café: a long hallway encased in rusted sheet metal. Walk along it to find a small, yet bright sitting and café area with a surprisingly extensive menu.

Along with a mix of Australian and Italian coffees, there’s also a nice selection of pour-over drip options, including whiskey and brandy barrel washed beans and even beans processed with raisin honey – interesting flavors indeed.

Sth. Here Café 有术咖啡
14 Gongmenkou Ertiao, Xicheng District
西城区宫门口二条14号

Sugar Café

This small space, also hidden in an old hutong, not only boasts a loft seating area but a nice terrace as well. Along with classic Italian coffees, there’s also tea and bubble water options. As for pour-overs, they’ve got some interesting bean varieties, namely Yellow Bourbon and Colombia Huila.

Sugar Café 糖房咖啡厅
5 Xiaotangfang Hutong, Xicheng District
西城区小糖房胡同5号

1901 Café

Located inside a Qing-era European style building built in 1901, this café makes for a nice place to relax with an Americano or Latte while perusing from the shop’s extensive book collection or simply watching life go by on the streets below.

1901 Café
101 Xi’anmen Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区西安门大街101号

postpost

This last spot on our list is a bit hard to find, but well worth the search. Hidden within a small lane along a hutong close to Xisi Subway Station Exit D, once you find the door with “postpost” on it you’re gold.

Step inside and you’ll find not just a café, but a shop filled with art books of all kinds, locally designed clothing, trinkets and more. The coffee isn’t too bad either, with nice pour-over options served up in interesting drinkware.