Joyman Café & Restaurant

A Private and Peaceful Retreat

Nestled in a tranquil and green side drive off the busy Zhongshan Road downtown, there is a homey café and restaurant in an old redecorated house called "Joyman", an ideal hideaway lounge for friends and lovers.

Its ambience is its biggest attraction, offering a peaceful and warm environment to relax in privacy, comfort and elegance.

The small four-floor house was once a traditional Cantonese residence that incorporated a Western architectural style. It greets you with a small landscaped courtyard containing three tables.

Inside the building you will find a small but cozy and well-shaded interior. The European décor is vernal and dainty; the ceilings are high and the partitioned rooms are occupied by large sofas and bookshelves. The lighting is kept low, providing peace and privacy.

If you go up the narrow stairs you will reach the upper floor. There, parlors are enclosed for even more privacy.

As you relax on a plush sofa in an upstairs parlor, you might feel as if you are sitting in the drawing room at a good friend’s house. You can walk out on the small balcony overlooking the tranquil Dongping Street for a breath of air or to smoke. The tables close to the balcony and the on the ground floor are preferred for their spaciousness.

There are no large tables at the café for more than six. The environment is more suitable for private get-togethers and romantic rendezvous'.

The beverages here are above-average and recommended by local girls. I tried the specialty bitter melon juice, which had an interesting and refreshing marriage of bitterness and sweetness.

The food, mainly Western style cuisine, is just so-so, compared to the drinks.

Prices are acceptable. The trademark steak costs less than 100 Yuan. The dinner for two cost us 221 Yuan and included stewed rice with seafood, diced beef, a T-bone steak with jumbo shrimp, ice cream and two glasses of bitter melon juice.

The service is adequate, if a bit slow. There is a service-calling button on each table, giving you the convenience of calling attendants with little effort and disturbance to others.

The waitresses are also considerate of guest privacy. One girl did not usher me to the second floor where there were still vacant tables, but instead to the third floor where there were no other guests. I had an exclusive parlor! Servers intentionally stay away from guests when they feel they are not needed, and around 21:15 they dim the main lights to create a more romantic ambience.

Joyman Café is an "oasis retreat" with a convenient location, where customers can take it easy and escape from the busy and hectic world outside.

Main shop:
Add: 3 Dongping Street east to the Martyrs' Park on Zhongshan San Road, at the back of the Exit D of the Metro Station of Martyrs' Park and near the China Plaza. 
         烈士陵园东侧东平大马路3号
Tel: 8384 2093
Opening hours: 11:00 am -- 2:00 am

Shop 2:
Add: 134, Taojin Road
         淘金路134号
Tel: 8359 3498
Opening hours: 3:00 pm -- 3:00 am

(By Ronald Li and Stephen Roach)

Source: Lifeofguangzhou.com

Editor: Ronald Li