China may no longer be the kingdom of the bicycle, but the thrill and fun of these two-wheel conveyances remains eternal. Here in Shanghai, several cafes have been done up with nods to pedal-powered culture.

Griffin Coffee

Griffin Coffee advertises its presence with a logo-bearing bicycle parked outside.

Since opening in June, this tiny cafe has become a hit with commuters and other grab-and-go coffee drinkers. In the cafe’s small but cozy indoor seating area, an array of bicycle wrenches and tools decorates the walls, a testament to the owner’s own passion for cycling.

Griffin might not have the most extensive menu in town, but a relative lack of selection is compensated for by competitive prices and free extras like syrup, ice and an extra shot of espresso.

Most drinks — including its cappuccino, flat white and flavored lattes — are priced at 26 yuan (US$4) per cup, while the Americano and espresso are 18 yuan.

Griffin uses self-roasted beans, a house blend of Colombian and Guatemalan beans sourced directly by the owner. The latte has a well-balanced smooth flavor that is neither strong nor watery. The steamed milk is just sweet enough to balance out acidity and bitterness.

If you’re lucky, you might get a one-of-a-kind graffiti design on your takeaway cut, scribbled by the barista on duty that day.

Griffin Coffee

Address: 84 Yongkong Rd

Opening hours: 8am-8pm

Yongjiu Café

Yongjiu, or Forever, is a very local bike maker in Shanghai, a key ingredient to many locals’ memories about the past times. With its long-establishing history, the old brand opened a bike-themed café, making an effort to nurture a new generation of cyclers, or maybe foodies and coffee lovers.

Launched in May 2014, Yongjiu Café is a place where everything you see is about bikes. You may be attracted by its Greek blue window frames and a row of bikes in front of the café. However, as soon as you push the door open, you will be drawn to its décor and displays. The light shades are composed of three bike wheels. A wall of animal head decoration is actually made with saddle seats and handlebars.

The most intriguing feature in-store is that every table has a bike bell working as a service bell. Ding-ling-ling! A separate section on the right side of the café displays many of Forever’s in-season products, from decent bikes to trendy transporter electric scooters and derivatives. Interestingly, autographed photos of Michael Schumacher, Jessica Alba, Steve Jobs and even Sir Alex Ferguson are beautifully framed and displayed in store.

No menu! Yes, there is no so-called printed menu here but a blackboard with all the food and drinks on offer behind the counter. You won’t have a wide choice on coffee here unless you try the coffee shop next door. However, its latte (24 yuan) still tastes quite nice, smooth and creamy. You can get a shot of flavored syrup, choosing from hazelnut, almond and vanilla, at an extra charge for only one yuan. It’s worth mentioning that the ceramic mug looks very old-fashioned, resembling the popular enamel tableware in the late last century in China.

The café only provides three kinds of desserts — tiramisu, cheesecake and chocolate cake. The cheesecake is highly recommended. The biscuits base is topped with a thin layer of heavy cheese then a thicker layer of light cheese.

The combination gives a strong contrast in texture, which will surely excite your tasting bud.

Panini named Yongjiu No.1 to No.5 (32 yuan each) are the café’s signature. All are freshly prepared and made onsite upon the order. Yongjiu No.3 features bacon, avocado, scrambled eggs and mozzarella cheese wrapped with two pieces of crispy Panini bread. The content is in a generous amount, much more than I expected. Surprisingly, Yongjiu Café eve provides a few traditional Chinese dishes such as Beef Curry with Steamed Rice.

The café offers an all-day deal — 30 yuan for an Americano plus a cake. However, it is not just a café but a bike repair shop too. You can have your bikes repaired and serviced right at the café as well.

Yongjiu Café

Address: 235 Lanhua Road

Tel: 3378-0032

Opening hours: 10am-9pm

Aunn Café

Aunn Café is a new comer to Nanjing Road W., at a stone’s throw from the Jing’an Temple. Its outdoor seating area is a few steps above the pedestrian path along the road, which also offers a good shelter from sun and rain while you enjoy late autumn breezes.

The first impression of the café is simplicity due to its black-and-white décor theme. And it indeed is. Its L-shaped counter is around a corner of the spacious shop. It also has a cool black-painted stairway to one end, leading to the second floor. Its bike décor remains the same style, displaying futuristic bikes, not parts this time though.

The café only has printed menus by the counter. The not-so-long menu is in both English and Chinese, which is a good touch. Its espresso-based drinks use blended beans of Ethiopia and Brazil. Iced Americano (30 yuan for a large cup) has a bright lovely taste with a detectable low acidity. It is surprising to know that the single-origin coffee it offers is Ethiopian beans from Ninety Plus, a prestigious specialty coffee producer famous for its high-scored single-origin beans. Aunn offers four different beans such as Yirgacheffe, Sidamo and Lomi Tasha available for hand drip.

If you like cold brew, you might be drawn to its huge cold brew maker right standing by the cashier. Each 150ml bottle is charged at 30 yuan with an option of 80 yuan for three. It is a nice experience to pour coffee over ice cubes from a cough-syrup-like bottle, which is also a typical method to drink cold brew as it is concentrated just like espresso. Aunn’s cold brew tastes very chocolaty with barely noticed acidity.

Aunn has only one kind of desserts — tart, but in three different flavors: one chocolate and another two fruity ones. The chocolate tart (35 yuan) filling is soft enough though a little bit too sweet. By the way, its takeaway cup (for hot drinks) looks so cool, very much like being made in “wood.”

Aunn Café

Address: 1728 Nanjing Road W.

Opening hours: 8:30am-10pm