“We just saw this super-long line … should be good in some way, right?” This is what many people in the queue in front of Taikooli’s Butterful & Creamorous bakery cafe told me yesterday afternoon. I was shocked that many standing outside in the 34-degree heat  had no prior information regarding this fragrant bakery: they just figured if everyone else wants in, they want in too.

So I did too.

With its Iconic interior design reminiscent of an antique British café with fancy brick tiles, Butterful & Creamorous gives Beijingers time to fly off from their daily lives and have teatime with friends or loved ones as if they were in London.

I tried their three most popular baked goods: The Chocolate Pretzel (¥25), Blueberry Cream Bagel (¥12), and Fruit Jam Cream Choux (¥23). For tea, I tried the very signature beverage of the café: Gaoxiang tea (¥19).

Both the Blueberry Cream Bagel and the Fruit Jam Cream Choux featured ultra-sweet fruit fillings moderated by soft and fluffy cream. The Chocolate Pretzel, on the other hand, had a hint of dark chocolate bitterness.

Their signature Gaoxiang tea is made of dried pine needles blended with lemony iced tea, creating a whole new genre of fragrance and color. The sourness of the lemon lingers around the mouth, moderating the strong sweetness of the pastries, making a perfect combination.

For those who visit here alone: Try chatting with those in front and back of the line! Ask which item they’re planning to get, or which kind of tea coffee do they like. Who knows? You might find your soulmate as you wait to be one of the chosen few who braved the half-hour wait in the heat.

For those who visit with friends and lovers: Waiting in line is a perfect time to chat. Most people nowadays don’t talk a lot face to face; put the phone away and talk with your companions. Ask how they are doing, or what’s bothering them recently. If anything seems stressful, you are in the right place. Have some sweet pastries and tea, and kiss your worries goodbye!

Find it:
Unit S3-15, 1/F, Bldg 3, Taikoo Li South District, Sanlitun, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区3号楼1楼S3-15单元

Hanyu Cho is a Grade 10 student from Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) currently interning at True Run Media (the parent company of jingkids) through WAB’s World of Work program. 

Images: Hanyu Cho

It’s summer, and 798 is hopping – but traipsing around in the heat can leave you needing a place to chill out.

The Nice Beach Club by Nice Cream is just what you’re looking for – an iconic ice cream café complete with a sandy beach, parasols, beach chairs – and an awesome selection of cool treats.

Nice Cream was born in Beijing in 2019 with the mission of making delicious ice cream but with less fat and sugar. They create their recipes using erythritol, a sugar substitute, and imported skim milk, and the combo is dynamite.

You can get your ice cream in a cup or a cone, and there are nine flavors: Mint Chocolate, Choc Choc Chip, Sea Salt Caramel, Rum Raisin, Very Berry, French Vanilla, Red Velvet Cheesecake … and two limited edition local flavors, Beijing Tanghulu and Fermented Rice Wine. Two scoops set you back RMB 39, while three is RMB 52.

I tried the Beijing Tanghulu and Fermented Rice Wine, both inspired by traditional Beijing flavors. The Tanghulu had the nice tart flavor of hawthorn, the fruit used to make tanghulu, that classic candied fruit-on-a-stick you find all over the place during the winter.

The Fermented Rice Wine had a very special flavor; it tasted like sweet rice, with crunchy bits of crispy purple rice in it. The crunch of the crispy rice compliments the creamy texture of the ice cream base giving this flavor a whole different level of enjoyment. Fermented rice wine typically contains alcohol and Nice Cream’s ice cream does have a slight hint of booze, so avoid this concoction if that turns you off.

No matter what flavor you choose, The Nice Beach Club makes a hot spot for cool treats and sizzling selfies this summer at 798.

Learn more about Nice Cream and where you can find their tasty treats by following them on WeChat.

Find it:
798 Art Center Plaza, Chaoyang District
朝阳区798艺术中心广场

Hanyu Cho is an 10th grade student from Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) currently interning at True Run Media (the parent company of Jingkids) through WAB’s World of Work program. 

Images: Hanyu Cho, Pexels