Brilliant Times Lianqiaodi 曦禾時年 蓮橋第店 (Ningbo, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Brilliant Times (曦禾时年) was supposed to be the last item on our agenda tonight. However, since we finished our tour of Ningbo Prefecture City God Temple (寧波府城隍廟) and the pedestrian street of the temple (城隍庙步行街) well ahead of schedule, we ended up shuffling our plans a bit.

Hidden in the labyrinth of narrow streets in historic Lianqiaodi (莲桥第) district, Brilliant Times combines the best of a tea house, coffee shop and dessert café, all within a serene and peaceful setting.

We decided to step into this tranquil space for an hour of mindful retreat.

     

The setting here is designed to evoke a sense of calm and peace, with minimalist décor, soft lighting and natural elements like greenery, wood and stone in play.

For added privacy, private rooms are available on the upper level.

This room will provide the soothing ambience for a welcome escape from the bustling city life for the next hour.

While there was an enticing selection of tea-infused and flower-infused beverages available, we opted to try their Chinese tea instead.



Rock Tea (岩茶) (¥108) – A type of oolong tea grown in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian province, China. It's highly prized for its unique flavor profile, which is influenced by the rocky terrain in which it grows.

This is a type of Da Hong Pao, (or Big Red Robe tea 大红袍) arguably the most famous and expensive type of rock tea. I thought the tea leaves have been roasted but there was no smoky note found. Instead, I found the tone a bit woody, with lingering aftertaste that combines minerality, sweetness, and a unique "rocky" sensation.

Mountain Stroll (山行) (¥58) – Brilliant Times is renowned for its tea-infused and flower-infused desserts, but as it was well past afternoon tea time, only a handful of desserts remained available including this one.

Here we have an almond sponge cake topped by some chantilly cream and a creme brulee stuck in the middle. Interesting combo.

No, we're not somewhere in Kyoto sitting in front of a zen garden.

    

I just think every city needs a place like Brilliant Times for people to unwind. The serene setting and peaceful vibe combine for a nice retreat from urban life, providing a sanctuary where people can slow down, recharge and reconnect with themselves.

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: 15 Maoya Street, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China 

浙江省宁波市海曙区毛衙街15号

Closest Metro Station: Chenghuangmiao (城隍庙)

Tel: +86 15968979478

Opening Hour: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/af/Jxik