Relax in the Relax Cafe
By Aggie Zou
Photos by Zheng Xiaodong

Walking along the Xia Da Street, none of us would miss a coffee-colored light box inscribed with a bright yellow "Relax Cafe", which would direct us into a secluded quiet paradise keeping out all the noise and heat of the outside world. Right beside it on the wall are photos of the Beatles and other musicians with free spirits. The flight of wood stairs behind the wood-framed glass door appeared to be inviting us to explore the heaven above.

Then at the top of the stairs, we were welcomed into a spacious U-shaped room with pleasant greetings. The cafe was designed and decorated out of special care for the customers: On the left-hand side was the smoking area; while on the right was the non-smoking one. We could choose wherever we wanted to sit and whatever we wanted to do: we could either read alone or chat with friends, we could either play cards or just sit without doing anything but letting our mind wander.

There, almost all the furniture was made of wood, or that of rattan, making us feel that we were back in nature again. In my discovery, the uniqueness lay in the washing basins. They were truly the wood basins used in the countryside. And I could even see the joint of the wood. Washing my hands while inside created the feeling that I was washing my hands by the running brook in the flourishing woods.

Relax Cafe is like its name: a perfect place for relaxation. None would miss any opportunity to relax there if they knew how to enjoy life.

Where it's at

Restaurants/food
Pizza 比萨小屋鹭江店
11 Xincheng Lujiang Lianhua
莲花鹭江新城11号
Tel: 5595175

BBQ Street 烧烤一条街
Jin Bang Lu
金榜路

Venezzia 维尼西亚
3 Nan Hua Road
南华路3号
Tel: 2199503

Jiahua Restaurant 佳华酒家
Dongyu, Haicang
海沧东屿
Tel: 6055777

Singapore Crab Restaurant 新加坡螃蟹馆
28 He Xiang Dong Lu Jin Xiang Da Sha
禾祥东路28号金祥大厦
Tel: 5806448

Pinjia Canliao 品佳餐料
18-8Hexiangdong Road
禾翔东路18号之8
Tel:5177599

Consulates领事馆
United Kingdom
2F Guangdong International Hotel 339 Huan Shi Dong Lu Guangzhou
Tel: 020 83336520

United States
Sha Mian Nan Jie Guangzhou
Tel: 020 81888911-208

Italy
Room 5206-5208 GITIC Plaza 233 Tian He Bei Lu Guangzhou
Tel: 020 38770556-9

Germany
19F Main Tower Guangdong International Hotel Guangzhou 399 Huan Shi Dong Lu
Tel: 020 83306533

France
Room 801 Main Tower Guangdong International Hotel 399 Huan Shi Dong Lu
Tel: 020 83303302

Canada
Suite 801 China Hotel Office Tower 120 Liu Hua Lu
Tel: 020 86660569

Australia
Room 1509 Main Tower GITIC Plaza 339 Huan Shi Dong Lu
Tel: 020 83350909

The Philippines
2 Lian Xiang Li, Xiamen
Tel: 5130355

Bar/club
Sky Word Pub 天籁吧
128-6 Houdixi Road
Tel: 5851458

Amigo 韩友咖啡
18-11 Hexiangdong Road
Tel: 5178910

Oriene Anderea bar 东方安德瑞-·酒吧
8 Guanren Road
Tel: 5311221

Medical Emergencies
Lifeline Medical System 来福诊所
1-123 Xi Di Bie Shu, Hu Bin Bei Lu
Tel: 5323168

Art Gallerys
Chinese European Art Center 中国欧洲艺术中心
Xia Da Art College
Tel: 2180850

Tattoo 九纹龙艺术文身
248 Zhongshan Road
Tel:13515963356