All You Want – Best Commercial Coffee Shop in Shenzhen?
Location
I have a confession, I normally don’t review coffee shop chains and All You Want is just that. In its defence though it does not have that commercial vibe or feeling at all. I have been two of it’s stores in Shenzhen, and if nobody had told me, I would not have guessed that they were a growing company with more than one store.
There are three locations in Shenzhen, OCT area in Nanshan and Hongling, in Luohu district (close to Futian & Hong Kong). The third location I can’t recall off the top of my head.
The two locations I have visited have been ground level residential apartments that have an outside space which have subtly adapted to being a coffee shop. So the atmosphere I find is on the more pewceful side of things.
Today’s shop I’m reviewing is the one at Hongling Luohu. Both Tongxingling and Hongling South stations are close.
Ambience
Their location open from 9 to 6, which seems to be an unfortunate trend with boutique style coffee shops at the moment. Week days are quieter, holidays and weekends can be very busy. However there is limit to how many seats they have, so your never feel it’s overcrowded. Being partially outside, there is a littl nature around, give or take a few cats or trees. Overalll a relaxing experience.
Only negative, and this is another friend in Shenzhen, is the over use of camping style furniture in outside areas. I get why they and everyone seems to do this nowadays, I which there was a more original option, for this very original feeling coffee shop.
Food
This shop has a decent collection of cakes, pastries and more importantly their chocolate, which they are famous for and have one awards.
So it needless to say their chocolate is super delicious, and not that chesp. You know the old adage, you get what you pay for and that’s definitely true for chocolates.
So if you’ve got a sweet tooth and you’re looking to try something new, to go with your coffee or something to go with your chocolate, then come to all you want.
Chocolate and coffee are a match made in heaven so be sure to check it out with your mouth,
Drinks
I have had awesome iced lattes, and Americanos, as well as other good coffee drinks and they are very solid. When it comes to coffee I am the average consumer, and not a coffee expert and all I can say the taste and seclection is comparatively the same if not better than similar boutique coffee shops.
Service
Service is excellent. They only have full time staff,and this in my opinion ensures their staff are dedicated and very professional. Drinks are of course made well and fast, service is very attentive and polite. Definitely one of the best if not the best I have experienced at a coffee shop myself. In theory this should be the same at all their locations, so your mileage may vary.
Price
The chocolate is pricey, but very good. Coffee is similar to many places, Americanos 23 RMB of course your pay more SOE coffee beans and more fancy drinks. Prices are pretty good and comparable. Much better than any coffee bean at chains like Starbucks or Costs Coffee.
Final Thoughts
I promised to stay away from commercial chain stores or cafes but as I have already mentioned, All You Want does not have that commercial vibe at all, quite the opposite in fact. This place it’s the rare example of an establishment that has grown with the markets demand bu has maintained that cozy niche small friendly and boutique feeling. That’s rare anywhere.
So this is one of my favourite coffee shops in Shenzhen, but again with so many coffee shops to visit I don’t here enough. I would if I could though, if you have just come to China, you have no idea how lucky you are in coffee options back in the old days. It was basically it was just Starbucks or McDonald’s.
I’m so happy that the coffee culture has explode here and that we are lucky enough to experience it.
Would I recommend recommend this place, even though it’s on the verge of becoming commercial chain. The answer is perhaps not a surprise. Yes I recommend either this location or the one in OCT.
