The Press

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I have some good news, I found a new coffee shop

Intro

Tuesday was a day filled with celebrations. Not only was it my Mother’s birthday (though we were more than 12 000 km apart from one another), but Lalie and I had just moved into our own apartment in Shanghai the week before and we had just received our first paycheques!

We started the day with a fine dining ice-cream experience at Haagen-Dazs (but more about that later) and later travelled to East Nanjing as I was on a mission to find the Shanghai Foreign Language Bookstore.

After several hours of wondering the streets in East Nanjing (and finding the bookstore and buying stationery and postcards and books), it was time for a cuppa Joe. Not knowing the area well, we luckily stumbled across The Press, a coffee shop I have been longing to go to ever since I spotted it on Instagram a few months back while I was still in South Africa.

I have been searching for this book for ages in South Africa and finally found it at the Shnaghai Foreign Language Bookstore. — How to be a Parisian wherever you are

The wooden door of the building opened up to a spacious café with a high ceiling. And with its New York city charm, the place indeed did not fail to impress. Astonished, not only by the decor and elegance of the place, but also by its history, I can confidently say that it instantly became a new favourite hangout place in Shanghai.

Background

The Press is located in the Shun Pao building, which was built in 1872 and it housed China’s longest running newspaper, Shen Bao (known as Shanghai News in English) - hence the name of the café. This paper played a vital role in China’s journalism, which eventually resulted in the phrase Shun Pao Zhi to become a generic term for newspaper.

It is wonderful to see how much effort went into the café to restore the building to its former glory. The walls, for instance, are lined with photographs from old newspapers. Even the uniforms of the waiters represented the central theme of the café. The waiters were dressed in shirts that all had something media-related written on them: ranging from paperboy to editor. I believe it embraces and honours the newspaper.

Upstairs you will find more seats and a door that leads to the bar and lounge area. Just follow the sign that reads ‘archives'.

Indicated by a sign that reads 'Archives' — The Bar & Lounge Area

Lalie and I sat down on a comfortable sofa that lined the focus wall of the café and ordered drinks. While sipping on my hazelnut sea salt latte, I became aware of the fine detail that lingered around every corner. The interior design is visually stimulating and appealing. I especially loved the remarkable black and white tiles.

Though the cosy café is both modern and elegant, my inner journalist was still transported back to the late 1800s when editors and reporters hustled to provide the Chinese people with their daily local news. Fascinated by the history of media, I will most definitely be back. With my laptop. Also to write.

It was already dawn when we paid the bill and as we walked out of the café, we were greeted by the lights of the Pearl Tower. What a splendid day indeed!

So, I hope you take time today to sit back, drink coffee and read the newspaper. For me, it’s one of life’s greatest joys.