The Place
Like Hay Coffee, Apf. Kafe, Antidote and the other chic storefronts cradled between Tiyu Dong and Tianhe Bei roads, So Acai on Huakang Jie takes a good 15 minutes of meandering through dusty residential lanes to find. Rounding a bend – or passing a car maintenance shop, depending on which direction you come from – you’ll spot the jungle-green siding first, followed by a striking checkered patio.
This must be the place, you’ll think (mostly because those exact words have been stenciled on the pavement before the entrance).
Head inside, grab a menu and let the colorful descriptions of homemade smoothie bowls speak for themselves.
The Food
A superfood rivaling kale in popularity, acai berries (pronounced ah-sah-EE) are famous for their potent antioxidants and are often the ‘secret’ ingredient in photogenic smoothie bowls.
Seeing as So Acai is named after the celebrated fruit, we recommend trying its signature So Ah-Sigh-E bowl (RMB68), made with a base of acai, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, banana, coconut water and dates and topped with berries, bananas, chia seeds, nuts, homemade granola and shredded coconut. Though small, the Ah-Sigh-E bowl is deceivingly filling – as is every flavor – so order an average of one per person if you come with a large party.
The Paradise Island (RMB58) is an agreeably tangy, tropical medley of coconut, mango, passionfruit, banana, flax seeds and honey. We also tried the Green Elixir (RMB58), set on a silky base of avocado, banana, pea protein, kale and house-made almond milk. Maybe it was the pea powder, or the fact that kiwi was substituted for kale (which wasn’t available when we visited), but we found the aftertaste of the Green Elixir very odd – a starchy zing reminiscent of eating a spoonful of plain, white flour. Stick with the starred signature bowls for a guaranteed amazing first experience.
Six different smoothies (RMB38-42) on offer combine everything from almond butter, bananas, almond milk, dates, Himalayan pink salt and vanilla (Mr. Almond) to kale, pear, lemon, chia seeds, dates and almond milk (Harvest Alive). There are also juices (RMB32-36) if you’re on a cleanse or loaded toast (RMB42), a pesto-avocado baguette sandwich (RMB48) and a quinoa energy bowl salad (RMB52) for a more robust meal.
Owner and founder Maggie Peng tells us the menu will be updated soon, so don't be suprised if it looks a bit different when you visit.
The Vibe
From a design standpoint, So Acai ranks up there with the very best in Guangzhou, thanks to its exotic centerpieces and lush palette of viridian green, black and white.
The escapist vibe, coupled with fantastically vibrant smoothie bowls, beckons guests into a world where the experience itself trumps any resulting photograph.
Slip in solo for an energizing lunch or call your friends in Shenzhen to boast about how progressive Guangzhou just got (because we all know they jump at any opportunity to say the same)…
Price: RMB60
Who’s going: newly converted vegans, Instagram stars
Good for: smoothie bowls, a healthy dose of acai, photo-ops
Nearest metro: Tianhe Sports Center (Exit B), 15 minutes
Open daily, 10am-8.30pm; see listing for So Acai.
[Photos by Jocelyn Richards]
0 User Comments