From the outside, it looks like a charming local cafe nestled sweetly in a row house. There’s a small porch and three floors of wooden tables full of couples sipping various foamy drinks and reading books. But don’t be fooled by this laid-back, boho exterior. The new Sculpting in Time (SIT) is part of a 25-strong chain that started in Beijing in 1997, and has expanded to Xi’an, Nanjing and Shanghai. The founder of the cafe, with its quirky exterior and uneven flooring, is a business couple itching to cover the country with their logo. In this case, we’d be eyeing a lot of rather confused-looking green cats. SIT (geddit? Their motto is ‘Sit down and stay awhile’) has already found fans by Fudan University and on the fifth floor of the Joy City building on Xizang Bei Lu. It is now trying hard to fit in with the other ramshackle cafes cluttered along the six-block Nanchang Lu.
In fact, drinking a cup of coffee here will in no way be akin to your experience at other chains. Whereas the flashy new Lavazza flagship store on Nanjing Xi Lu dazzles danger-red corporate culture from every surface, SIT markets itself in a more subtle, less in-your-face manner; the only inkling you get that you’re sitting in a chain comes from the SIT notebooks available for sale on the bookshelves. Drinks are also a pleasure. Espressos (RMB20) were decent, if occasionally a little burnt-tasting. More fun were the well-composed cappuccinos (RMB35). The baristas take great joy in creating elaborate decorations, and the drink never failed to elicit coos of delight when presented with a flourish by a glowing waitress. For the non-caffeine drinkers, smoothies are a tasty treat. Kiwi (RMB30) came chock full of fruit and was a refreshing way to enjoy an hour on the front porch, people watching and whiling away the autumn hours. If this is what it means to be immersed in corporate culture, we’re ready to join the crowd.
See listing here
