Fleeting Time Cafe (流年咖啡馆)

Fleeting Time Cafe (流年咖啡馆 – liu2 nian2 ka1 fei1 guan3) – A great little spot, which is now my favourite coffee retreat in Xi’an – for it’s independent nature, good coffee, chilled atmosphere and great value. It is run by a lovely couple, one a local Xi’anese, the other a Beijingite. They have created a cool little place, tucked away in the leafy shade at the far end of Shi Da Lu. 

Their place offers a feeling of being in an old party members study, though one converted for more communal enjoyment and with a light and airy feel. It is fitted out with mahogany coloured chests as tables, those old pull cord green desk lights, burgundy velour sofas, crocheted curtains, with party memorabilia upon the walls.  The soft décor and the large open windows, with trees to the front and rear give that nice light and airy feel. They sell great value drinks; with a fresh black coffee 续杯 (refill) for only 10 kuai. There are milk teas, fresh juices and ice creams all at excellent value, ready for the summer months ahead. It may end up being a good retreat from busy parks and campuses or more importantly hot city streets. 

The owner is a coffee connoisseur, for anybody out there who wants to seriously get into some coffee chat and enjoy a good coffee this is the place. The owner was a trainer at a Coffee school in Beijing before arriving here in Xi’an. He takes great delight in chatting over the varieties of flavour that can be created with different bean combinations and brewing methods.

It is down on the right hand side of Shi Da Lu, not far from the drive in gate of Shaanxi Normal University (Shi Da), it is after the post office and next to a bar, the name is only in Chinese but should be easy enough to find. If you come out of the International Studies University (Wai Yuan) small South Gate on Shi Da Lu, turn left and it is not far down on your right. ( Address: 师大路a-14号－外院后门向东100米路南)