Beyond the bustling commercial districts and towering skyscrapers, Shenzhen is also home to a thriving coffee scene, with each new cafe offering a unique conceptual twist.
From desert-themed oasis making you feel like you’re in the Sahara Desert to cliffside cafes with breathtaking sea views, the range of captivating cafes in Shenzhen is a true delight for the senses. As a Hong Konger who aims to explore more of Shenzhen in the coming year, I am excited to share the city’s most unique coffee havens in this ongoing list! These are truly unique spots that capture the city’s innovative spirit. This guide combines my absolute favorite cafes that I’ve personally visited in Shenzhen, so read along if you’re looking for new places to discover.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot to enjoy your morning coffee amid some greenery, a charming place to indulge in desserts reminiscent of a Wes Anderson movie, or a comfy corner to spend an afternoon with your laptop, this guide to Shenzhen’s best specialty cafes has something for you. Grab your reusable tumbler and get ready to explore the city’s growing cafe scene!
漠上花开 Desert Cafe
A Desert-themed Cafe in Shenzhen, where you can experience the desert vibes without taking a flight.
As soon as you walk in, you will see sand-covered floors, cave-like ceilings, textured wooden furniture, oil lamps, and desert plants.
The exterior is also impressive, featuring beautiful decor such as a faux camel, springs, cacti, rustic bonfires, and dead trees that perfectly mimic the magnificent landscape unique to the desert.
As someone who hasn’t been to a desert yet, it was quite exciting! The cafe does a really good job with the theme and makes you feel like you’ve transported to the Arabian desert in Dubai or Sahara Desert in Africa!
Cafe Name: 漠上花开.咖啡.商拍 (no official English name)
Opening Hours：10:00 – 21:00
Address: 深圳市寶安區石巖街道環石巖湖綠道睿尚智谷4樓天台 (Shiyan Subdistrict, Bao’an District, Shenzhen)
Directions
- By DiDi: Enter Cafe Name “漠上花开.咖啡.商拍” as drop-off location. (about 60 RMB from Lo Wu Port/City Center; ~1 hour)
- By Metered Taxi: Show the full address to the driver (around 100 RMB+ from Lo Wu Port/City Center; ~1 hour)
- Public transport: Take Line 6 to Shangwu Station “上屋站”, then a short taxi/Didi ride (about 10 minutes; budget-friendly option)
** When you arrive, go to the 4th floor of the building, it’s on the rooftop! There are both stairs and elevators available.
Prices (as of september 2025)
98 RMB per person(including admission, coffee, and cake). RMB with 1-hour dress rental for photos; ask staff for any ongoing promotions, such as sets for two. Dress rentals are available for 78 RMB. There are many options and most of them look great with the desert theme, matching with the camel. However, many of them are revealing so you may need to wear something underneath if you prefer a more modest look. They are also worn by many in one day, I would recommend wearing your own dress if you are worried about that! Professional photographers are also available for an additional fee.
Tips for your visit
- Wear a long, flowy dress or linen outfit for the best photos!
- Visit between 4 PM and sunset for that magical golden hour glow.
- It can get quite crowded, so allow extra time (you can take photos while you wait for your seat!). Weekdays are generally less crowded.
- I recommend having 2-3 hours here to fully enjoy your time.
Bamboo House 悬崖店 Cliffside Cafe
Located halfway up a mountain in Xichong, Shenzhen, Bamboo House is a breathtaking Cliffside Cafe with 270° sea views. The location is quite secluded and far from Shenzhen’s city center. However, it’s totally worth the visit especially when combined with other beautiful attractions in the Dapeng Peninsula such as Yunhai Angel Bay and Shell Bay. The cafe opened only recently, but quickly became a hotspot because of its unbeatable ocean views of the South China Sea and the white sands of Xichong Beach.
Cafe Name: Bamboo house 悬崖店
Opening Hours：10:00 – 19:30
Address: Near Xichong Community Health Service Center, Nan’ao Subdistrict, Dapeng New District
Directions
- By DiDi or Metered Taxi navigate to “Xichong Community Health Service Center (西涌社区健康服务中心)” as drop-off location. It is around $130 RMB and takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
- By Public Transport: From the city center, take bus E11 to Nan’ao Street and transfer to bus M232 to Xichong No. 3 or No. 4 Beach. It is around a 5-min walk from the bus stop to the Xichong Community Health Service Center. Total time may be 2 hours or more.
- From the entrance of this center, you can either take a shuttle bus (departs daily from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM). The shuttle bus will get you up to the cafe within minutes.
- You can also choose to hike up, which takes around 15-20 minutes. The route is pretty straight-forward as it’s the same road as the one the bus takes.
Prices (as of March 2026)
Drinks around 40–50 RMB; snacks (such as wings and fries) 50–60 RMB; shuttle bus 15 RMB one-way, 25 RMB round trip. All can be paid for by digital payment such as wechat pay!
Tips for your visit
- The cafe operates on a first-come-first-serve basis and can get quite crowded on weekends. For unobstructed seats, you may have to wait longer, but fret not, you can get a seat somewhere else (bean bags further back) and walk around while you wait. The staff was very friendly and tried their best to help us secure seats that we wanted!
- The restaurant serves coffee, sodas and western food, however if you’re a vegetarian or have specific dietary needs, the options are very limited. So I recommend eating somewhere else before coming up here! I personally orded chicken wings and fries, and they were quite decent.
- I recommend spending 2-3 hours here to fully enjoy your time. Combine it with other attractions in the area such as the xichong beaches or these beautiful coastal areas to fully maximize your day as the travel is quite long.
- There are two cafes on the mountain, “Cliff theatre” (below) is another one adjecent to Bamboo House! If you have enough time to spare, visit both as they have different yet equally stunning views.
- Go on weekdays or mornings to avoid the crowds!
Cliff Theatre Seaview Cafe & Restaurant
Located up a mountain in Xichong, Shenzhen, Cliff Theater is a breathtaking Cliffside Cafe with 270° sea views. The location is quite secluded and far from Shenzhen’s city center. However, it’s totally worth the visit especially when combined with other beautiful attractions in the Dapeng Peninsula such as Yunhai Angel Bay and Shell Bay. The cafe opened only recently, is right next to Bamboo House Cliff Cafe, and can be visited together. bIt is qutie popular because of its unbeatable ocean views of the South China Sea and the white sands of Xichong Beach.
Cafe Name: Cliff Theatre Seaview Cafe & Restaurant
Opening Hours：10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Address: Near Xichong Community Health Service Center, Nan’ao Subdistrict, Dapeng New District
Directions
- By DiDi or Metered Taxi navigate to “Xichong Community Health Service Center (西涌社区健康服务中心)” as drop-off location. It is around $130 RMB and takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
- By Public Transport: From the city center, take bus E11 to Nan’ao Street and transfer to bus M232 to Xichong No. 3 or No. 4 Beach. It is around a 5-min walk from the bus stop to the Xichong Community Health Service Center. Total time may be 2 hours or more.
- From the entrance of this center, you can either take a shuttle bus (departs daily from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM). The shuttle bus will get you up to the cafe within minutes.
- You can also choose to hike up, which takes around 15-20 minutes. The route is pretty straight-forward as it’s the same road as the one the bus takes.
Prices (as of March 2026)
Minimum spend of 50-80 RMB per person, a cup of coffee here costs about 40-60 RMB, but for a view like this, it’s an absolute steal; shuttle bus 15 RMB one-way, 25 RMB round trip. All can be paid for by digital payment such as WeChat pay!
Tips for your visit
- I recommend spending 2-3 hours here to fully enjoy your time. Combine it with other attractions in the area such as the xichong beaches or these beautiful coastal areas to fully maximize your day as the travel is quite long.
- There are two cafes on the mountain, “Bamboo House” (photos above) is another one adjecent to Cliff Theatre! If you have enough time to spare, visit both as they have different yet equally stunning views.
- Go on weekdays or mornings to avoid the crowds!
SeaOne Beach Club Seaside Cafe
Located right next to the Seaone Beach in Shell Bay Resort Area, you’ll find Seaone Beach Club. It is a charming beachside cafe/bar offering unparalleled ocean views and immediately transporting to you to Bali! Perfect for relaxing with a drink while soaking in the sun, this cafe’s menu includes a variety of options, from coffee and fruit tea to cocktails, beer, and western-style meals. The seats directly face the ocean provide stunning panoramic views. They are fortunately not exposed to direct afternoon sun, and there is proper shade for hot days. The cafe itself has a beautifully aesthetic design, creating a wonderful atmosphere for a relaxing day.
Cafe Name: Seaone Beach Club (Seaone海壹·海景长廊餐厅)
Opening Hours：11:00-20:00
Address: Shell Bay Resort, Nan’ao Subdistrict, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen (深圳市大鵬新區濱海度假區)
Directions
- By DiDi: navigate to “Seaone Beach Club” or “Shell Bay Resort Hotel” as drop-off location. It will close around 110 RMB and take around 80 minutes.
- By Metered Taxi: Show the chinese address to a metered taxi driver as they may not know English name of the place.
- By Public Transport: Take the subway to Xiaomeisha Station, then transfer to bus or taxi. A taxi ride will cost approximately 60 RMB. This option avoids city center traffic and can be faster.
Prices (as of March 2026)
- Drinks were around 40-50 RMB at the cafe.
Tips for your visit
- The restaurant serves coffee, fruit tea, cocktails, beer, and western-style meals, however if you’re a vegetarian or have specific dietary needs, the options are limited. So I recommend eating somewhere else (like this cafe at the Shell Bay Resort Area) before going there for drinks!
- Spending 2-3 hours here to fully enjoy your time, and also walk around the resort area and nearby beaches to maximize your time!
- Go on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
Old Heaven Books
Located in OCT-LOFT in Shenzhen, Old Heaven Books is a beloved bookstore, cafe, vinyl shop, and live music venue! The whole space gives off vintage, bohemian, nostalgic, and artistic vibes. For me, this place felt like someone had crawled inside my head and made my ultimate “bookstore cafe” fantasy come to life.
What I love most is how the space unfolds like a hidden maze. The front room welcomes you with warm, moody lighting, floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves, and that comforting aroma of old paper and indie literature. But as I wandered deeper, the environment seamlessly transformed into a retro music shop, stacked with vintage cassettes, CDs, and crates of rare vinyl records.
Passing through door to the back, I discovered a cozy, wooden cafe that spills out into a lush, green patio.
You will also see a cat manager, A-Fei, lounging about on one of the tables peacefully. Old Heaven Books functions as a quiet bookstore cafe by day, and a bustling hangout spot for creatives by night! It feels completely detached from Shenzhen’s fast-paced, high-tech corporate culture.
Cafe Name: Old Heaven Books (旧天堂书店)
Opening Hours：11:00-22:00
Address: Building A5, North District, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District, Shenzhen. (香山东街华侨城创意园北区A5栋120铺)
Directions
- By DiDi: navigate to “A5, North District, OCT-LOFT” as drop-off location. It will be closer by Futian Port or Shenzhen Bay Port. However, I used the Lo Wu Port. From Luohu / Shenzhen Station (罗湖), it takes about 30 minutes and costs roughly ¥55–¥70 RMB.
- By Metered Taxi: Show the chinese address to a metered taxi driver as they may not know English name of the place.
- By Public Transport: Take the the Shenzhen Metro Line 1 or Line 2.
Metro Line 1: Get off at Qiaocheng East Station (Exit A) and walk west for about 10 minutes.
Metro Line 2: Get off at Qiaocheng North Station (Exit B) and walk south for 10-15 minutes.
Prices (as of July 2026)
- Food (cakes, pastries) and drinks (coffee and tea) were around 30-40 RMB per item at the cafe. For reference, we ordered 3 drinks and one cheesecake, which cost us 149 RMB total.
Tips for your visit
- The restaurant serves coffees, teas and cakes. They had English speaking staff at the store during my visit, but orders are usually placed digitally by scanning the QR code on the table with your WeChat or Alipay app!
- Walk around OCT-LOFT, there’s a lot to see and do in this area! Spending 2-3 hours (or more!) here to fully enjoy your time.
Final Thoughts
Shenzhen’s cafe scene is a surprising blend of otherworldly themes and oceanfront calm, a perfect counterpoint to the city’s fast pace. From the sand-and-desert ambiance of the 漠上花开 Desert Cafe to the dramatic, 270-degree views at Bamboo House, each spot offers its own mood, vibe, and instagram-worthy moments. As I continue to explore more cafes this year, I’m excited to add even more hidden gems to this growing guide. If you’ve discovered a favorite cafe or have tips for visiting these spots, drop them in the comments. Here’s to many more caffeine-fueled days, coastal breezes, and unforgettable views along Shenzhen’s evolving cafe trail!
