Community-minded Café Zarah is something of a Gulou (Drum & Bell Tower) area institution, having been in the same spot since the mid 2000s – no mean feat in this ever-changing neighbourhood. In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot on Gulou East Street, the street-side café opens out into a rather grand courtyard in the back, full of coffee-drinking freelancers during the day and a wine-drinkers after dark. Brushed concrete floors, traditional wood-beam ceilings and a terrace overlooking the rooftops make it a favourite of the area’s cool crowd, and the café/bar serves a range of European food (one of the owners is German) and hosts DJs on evenings and weekends. 

Address:

No.46 Gulou East Street, Dongcheng District