Manner started in 2015 as a single two-square-metre walk-up window on Nanyang Lu, serving competition-grade espresso for less than half what Starbucks charged. It exploded — there are now hundreds of branches across the country, but the original is still on Nanyang Lu and the Shanghai branches retain the small-shop personality. Bring your own cup for a 5-RMB discount.
A cleaner symbol of how Shanghai changes than almost anything else. The French Concession is full of small Manner branches and the slightly more design-y Seesaw and % Arabica are everywhere too.