Walden's coffee exterior with three men seated under an orange awning and a motor scooter passing in the foreground.
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Mr. Walden Coffee, Coco Park

Bythirstyguide.com

The first Walden Coffee I ever visited was the one in the high-tech park area, about 5 years ago. This first Walden’s, for me at least, was in the Nanshan area of Shenzhen. It was packed full of cool people, working and chatting. The interior was stylish and comfortable. For me this was a new kind of coffee shop, it was new, commercial and yet damn cool. Everyone in stylish clothes, nice furniture that wouldn’t have been out of place in a boutique furniture showroom. It wasn’t till much later that I came across the one in Coco Park, when I was visiting a nearby pub.

Finding the place

There are two phases of Coco Park. There’s the one everybody knows, the one that’s teeming with shoppers and famous brands, and there is a smaller one. The Coco Park shop is just behind the main shopping mall, across the street. The smaller one, which is just behind across the small street, has residential buildings towering above it, so it gives the location the feeling of not being a mall. The place contains a few bars, another Starbucks, and Walden’s Coffee, so it’s not hard to find.

Two women and a person in a cap sit inside Walden's coffee near windows.
I could not read the signage.

Vibe

I’ve mentioned the fancy, almost high-end vibe it gives, and it tends to be local people who live around that go to the place, as well as a few vocal visitors that take the time to look beyond Starbucks.

Yes, it’s well decorated, colours are warm and seating is comfortable. But it does have a functional value too. Walden’s Coffee has seating for almost every case. Larger tables for groups, sofa for those who want to chill. Smaller tables for those who want to work, or have a coffee alone or with a friend. There are also two outside areas, for those who want to watch life go by.

The overall vibe is professional and comfortable.

Walden's coffee patio with wooden chairs, round woven tables, and potted plants.
Two people inside Walden’s coffee, one of them looking at a phone.
Walden's coffee exterior has red brick columns, red awnings, a yellow COFFEE sign, and three people on a bench.
At Walden’s coffee, three people occupy the bench while wooden chairs and woven stools stand empty.

What’s to drink?

Walden’s has anything you want in the non-alcoholic range, from sodas to SOE coffee beans, hot coffee, lattes, cappuccino, whatever you would like. So in this regard it’s much the same as many coffee shops. I have to say, for a commercial chain I do find the coffee quality, taste and presentation really good. Personally I’m nuts about lattes and the presentation was the best yet, with a cool dragon looking thing.

Dark ceramic cup of coffee with bird latte art at Walden's coffee.
Bird latte art in a dark ceramic cup.

What’s tasty?

I have had several types of coffee here and several cakes and pastries. Are the food and cakes mind-blowing amazing? Not really, just as tasty as any other good coffee shop.

Two workers in aprons behind the counter at Walden's coffee with baked goods.
Behind the counter at Walden’s coffee.
Glass display case at Walden's coffee holds whole cakes, sliced pastries, and dark bottles under warm light.
The signs were unreadable.
Cinnamon rolls, corn and cheese buns and croissants behind glass at Walden's coffee, with bilingual price signs.
Everything in the case is ¥12.00.

What’s the service like?

The service is pretty damn good. The staff are very professional, they know how to make coffee, they know how to serve food, all in a timely efficient manner.

I have noticed a growing trend for staff to wear face masks in food and beverage service these days here in Guangdong. It makes the service a little bit too impersonal for me, but that’s just me.

Interior of Walden's coffee with exposed brick walls, green seating, and a server carrying a tray near the counter.
Walden’s coffee. No signage or prices are clearly readable.

What are the prices like?

They are not expensive for sure, but I would say they are one tiny step above Starbucks. The price is not gonna break the bank, but you won’t save any money either. That said this is a central location, and Shenzhen’s tallest building is nearby.

The Americano starts at 18 RMB, which is surprisingly good, and on par with smaller independent coffee shops. Other coffees like dirty or a latte start at around 32, with cakes being around 40.

Assorted coffee and tea drinks with latte art and beverages.
A variety of coffee and tea drinks including espresso, cappuccino, and iced beverages from ThirstyGuide.
Variety of drinks including tea, juice, and coffee with snacks at ThirstyGuide.
A selection of beverages and snacks available at ThirstyGuide, including tea, juice, coffee, and chocolate.
Variety of colorful cakes and pastries displayed on a menu at ThirstyGuide.
Selection of delicious cakes and pastries available at ThirstyGuide, perfect for dessert lovers.
Assorted pastries and snacks including croissants, bread, and sausage rolls at ThirstyGuide.
A variety of tasty pastries and snacks available at ThirstyGuide, perfect for breakfast or a snack.

Worth dropping by?

I always knock the other major brands, but it is really good news for us, the consumer: we have more choice as a customer now than ever before in China. Whether you’re shopping at the mall or nipping out to do some work on your iPad and you’re in the area, I would highly recommend Mr Waldens Coffee. It’s definitely my first choice if I’m in the area.

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