Creamy Dreamy is a black and white cafe located in a plaza on the outside of Xi’an’s wall and on Gaoxin 4th Ring Road. You’ve probably seen places like this and similar to the South Korea Cafe Yeonnam 239-20 black and white cafe, which is completely out of this world. Where everything is painted white and outlined in black to make it look like you are part of a sketched comic and you’re the pop of color.
I don’t know why I am fascinated with places like this but apparently have joined the many people around the globe who are interested in it as well. The last time I visited a place remotely like this location was at the Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was one small room in the large interactive adventure I went on there.
I’ve lived in Xi’an for just a few weeks, but walk past this little black and white cafe every day when I leave for and come home from work. Creamy Dreamy has taken the inside of the cafe outside with white tables and their black outlines with hopes of enticing people to pop in for a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Hot Drinks and Sweet Treats
This cute little corner cafe is called Creamy Dreamy or 漫糖 Man Tang in Chinese if you need help finding it on a map. Their menu is a variety of fruit drinks, teas, and cakes that can perk you up on lazy afternoons.
Some drinks include dragon fruit, milk tea, and afternoon tea should you feel so inclined to visit.
I opted for the little cake that was shaped like a chicken. Inside was mango heaven and I had to control myself from eating it too quickly. I also chose a pot of tea with chrysanthemum, goji berries, dates, and apple slices. They placed everything on a neat tray with sugar cubes and dried mango slices to sweeten my tea.
I got this all for 87 RMB or about $12.50 USD.
A Quiet Place to Go
Creamy Dreamy is two floors of tranquility, a place where you can sit down and chat with friends or strangers. Upstairs you’ll find seats for one, two, or four. Black outlines of books and bookcases are in each and every corner. Windows, doorframes, light fixtures, and pipes are outlined to perfection with black paint for the full effect.
If you choose to go during the week, you’ll have a chance to relax upstairs on the second floor with hopes of very few people bothering you, except for the waiters who are quick to give you more hot water if you need it.
Chinese Fortunes
So this little place has ruined fortune cookies for me and reminded me just how much I needed to be here and living in China. After I finished eating my little sweet chicken, there was a saying on a little car just beneath it.
人生，
就是一边拥有，
一边失去，
一边选择，
一边放弃。
Roughly translated:
Life,
it’s possessing,
it’s losing,
it’s choosing,
it’s abandoning.
Where It’s Located
Have you cab driver or your taxi driver take you to Glorious Plaza or 西安高薪大都会. They’ll drop you off at a rather large plaza. From there, when you wander around, you’ll find a variety of places to eat, shops to visit, and more. In the plaza, look for the Adidas store and caddy-corner to that, you’ll see the white and black outlines of umbrellas and chairs outside where Creamy Dreamy will be.
Across from the Creamy Dreamy black and white cafe will be a place called UMBEER. You can spend some time in the plaza walking around, visiting the shops, and enjoying the displays they put up during the holidays before going back to your hotel.
Glorious Plaza has a lot to offer and is perfect for leisurely days should you be looking for something a little more modern in China.
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