Shanghai’s Most Photogenic Vintage Café

If you’ve scrolled through Instagram and wondered where photographers find those moody, lived-in cafés in Shanghai—here’s your answer. Tucked away in a quiet lane off Taoyang Road, just a short walk from Hengshan Road, lies one of the city’s most atmospheric coffee spots. But it’s not just the lighting or angle that makes this place stand out. This is a café built almost entirely from salvaged materials, each piece telling a story of old Shanghai and global wandering.

Old Man Mai Coffee is housed in a 1927 German-style garden villa, originally the garage of the main house. The entire three-floor space—including the basement shop—is crafted from reclaimed wood, vintage furnishings, and curated antiques collected over decades by its owner. It’s part café, part museum, and entirely immersive.

The Story Behind the Café

Old Man Mai, the founder, is not your average coffee shop owner. Having lived and traveled across 40 countries—including Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands—he developed a deep appreciation for the shabby chic aesthetic. That eye for repurposed beauty, combined with years of collecting discarded wood and architectural fragments from Shanghai’s many demolition sites, led him to create this unique space. He even scavenged items from his own international travels. “I couldn’t remember how many years I’d been picking up ‘junk,’” he says. But that junk became the soul of this café.

A Space Curated Over Decades

The café spans three floors, including a compact basement shop selling curated global finds—all priced and available for purchase. Every surface, from the floorboards to the wall finishes, uses reclaimed wood treated with matte varnish. The look is intentionally distressed—think European countryside cottage meets Shanghai history. When workers didn’t understand the vision, Mai personally demonstrated by painting a wall himself. He tested the shabby chic style at home first, refining the technique before committing to the full build-out. Much of the décor, including the bookshelves (still not fully stocked post-renovation), comes from the original demolition sites and his personal archives.

The Name and the Signature Drink

The café is named after its founder, affectionately called “Old Man Mai” by regulars. His own backstory mirrors the café’s theme of displacement and rediscovery. Speaking of his self-described “wanderer” and “weathered” identity, he created a cocktail-like coffee drink infused with vodka—named, naturally, the “Old Man Mai Coffee.” It’s an acquired taste: bland on the first sip, but emotionally intense by the second. “You might just get drunk,” he says. That drink encapsulates the bittersweet nostalgia that defines both the man and his café.

Why This Café Stands Out

Unlike modern cafés chasing minimalism or industrial trends, Old Man Mai Coffee leans hard into character. It doesn’t announce itself with a sign—just a name locals and insiders use. The main building, at 25A Taoyang Road, was originally the garage of a 1927 German-style garden villa, once home to the German consulate in Shanghai, then later allocated to a vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This spot, like much of the area, is steeped in history yet tucked away from the bustling streets. Mai wanted to create a space where “the beauty that was abandoned can live again.” And live it does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Old Man Mai Coffee located?

Old Man Mai Coffee is at 25A Taoyang Road, near Hengshan Road, in Shanghai’s former French Concession. The building is a 1927 German-style garden villa, originally a garage for the main residence.

What is the vibe of the café like?

The café has a shabby chic, vintage aesthetic with reclaimed wood floors and walls, antique furnishings, and a curated, lived-in feel. It’s dim, atmospheric, and perfect for photography.

Does the café sell any vintage items?

Yes, the basement functions as a small shop selling global vintage finds—most of which are priced and available for purchase. Everything in the café, including furniture and decor, has a price tag if you ask.

What is the “Old Man Mai Coffee” drink?

It’s a signature cocktail-like coffee drink made with vodka. The first sip is mild, but the second reveals a strong emotional flavor. It reflects the café’s themes of nostalgia and complexity.

Is the café easy to find?

The café doesn’t have a visible sign, but locals know it as Old Man Mai Coffee at 25A Taoyang Road. It’s best to look for the historic German villa with charming, old-world décor.

Who is Old Man Mai?

The owner, nicknamed Old Man Mai, is a world traveler who has lived in over 40 countries. He designed the café using decades of collected antiques and reclaimed materials, focusing on a shabby chic aesthetic.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Vintage Cafés

For a café like Old Man Mai—with its layered history and moody ambiance—try FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright citrus and floral tones, or Colombia Huila for a balanced nutty profile with caramel sweetness. Both shine in pour-over or espresso and complement the nostalgic yet refined mood. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.