Looking for cinnamon rolls, crispy scones, pumpkin pie, or some really good cookies? Then you might want to seek out Choc-A-Lot, a well-kept Beijing secret that editor Julie Wolf uncovered in the Liangmaqiao neighborhood earlier this year.
Tucked away inside the narrow Yudong Business Building Shop behind the US Embassy and across the street from the Hyundai Motor Mansion along Xiaoyun road, Choc-A-Lot is easy to pass by without giving a second glance to. Its taste for minimalism is clear from the front of the shop – which states the main categories of its menu in bold lettering: “Coffee. Big Cookies. Cinnamon Rolls. Chocolate Drinks.” There’s more to what they offer of course, but they know what their selling points are.
Once you step inside the industrial looking granite walls of the cafe, you’ll be greeted with a three-tiered shelf of goodies. The pastries of the day vary according to available ingredients and what’s trendy at the time, but you’ll almost always find a Cinnamon Roll Scone among other savory flavored ones like my personal favorite Parmesan, Tomato & Spiced Scone, one or two cakes, brownies, and more flavors of cookies than you could hope to eat. If you’re in luck, you’ll see the Ultimate Sticky Bun, which I must say lives up to its name. So far, everything we’ve tried has been excellent, and we cannot wait to try more!
The cosy cafe is perfect for an afternoon tea and has an inviting atmosphere. While we were there, we saw a cyclist bring her foldable bike right up to her table, and pet owners will be happy to spy the giant water bowl set up in a corner of the cafe just for furry companions. While they don’t offer delivery services officially, they have been happy to accommodate delivery requests on WeChat, so if you’re jonesing for one of their pastries but unwilling to leave the house, go ahead and add them to see if they’ll deliver to you!
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Images: Pexels, Vivienne Tseng-Rush
