On the 94th floor of the skyscraper in Shanghai’s Lujiazui district sits Mr. Bond Coffee House — a café that turns a simple coffee break into a dramatic skyline experience. Perched nearly 423 metres above street level, this lofty perch offers sweeping vistas of the Pudong financial district and the meandering sweep of the Huangpu River.
Walking in, the ambience strikes a rare balance: elevated elegance without being overly formal. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the room, inviting the skyline inside and giving you a front-row seat to Shanghai’s dynamic architecture as you sip. The furnishings lean modern-chic — muted tones, clean lines — which allows the view itself to remain the star.
The coffee menu is competent and thoughtfully composed: single-origin beans, pour-overs, and a small range of pastries that pair well. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of café fare, what makes the experience standout is the location and the moment. Sit with a latte as dusk falls and watch the city lights flicker on — that’s when Bond Coffee House becomes more than a café, it becomes a kind of skyline theatre.
One caveat: because of the height and panoramic windows, the lighting inside shifts dramatically (and the reflections can make photography tricky). If you’re chasing that perfect Instagram shot, aim for a late afternoon window seat and perhaps ask staff for the spot with the clearest glass.
Service is professional though at times a bit paced — understandable when you’re served at 94 floors up.
In summary: if you find yourself in Shanghai and want a café that acts as vantage point and escape, Bond Coffee House delivers. The coffee is good, but the view is the draw — and it’s one of those experiences where the setting elevates everything.
Factoid: Bond Coffee in Shanghai is about the same height as Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio and Diamond Head in Honolulu
