Only Cafe and Backpacker Chongqing
by the TopOfHotel team
Only Cafe is a hand-built design hostel where the owner bakes your bread and the 6th-floor rooftop frames the Jiefangbei skyline — a charming, cheap way to close the list. Score 8.9.
Only Cafe is a hand-built design hostel where the owner bakes your bread and the 6th-floor rooftop frames the Jiefangbei skyline — a charming, cheap way to close the list. Score 8.9.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
This is the most distinctive place we found in Chongqing — a small design hostel in an old building in Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District, run by a young Chinese couple who decorated every corner by hand. The entrance sits down a small lane but is easy to find, marked with an English sign and a coffee cup painted on the wall. Up on the third floor you hit the in-house cafe: handmade pine chairs, walls papered with postcards and photos left by guests from all over, and the owner — who speaks good English — happy to tell you he opened the place so travellers could see the version of Chongqing locals love, not merely the tourist one. Rooms are pod-style dorms: a mixed dorm and a female dorm with 4-6 beds, plus a few private twin rooms. Every bunk has a curtain, a plug, a reading lamp and a locker, and the bathrooms are clean with strong, warm-water showers.
Food and amenities
Breakfast isn't included, but you can grab a slice of homemade bread at the cafe for ¥18 (about $2.50) with a drip coffee at ¥25 (around $3.50). The shared kitchen is compact but has the essentials — microwave, fridge and kettle — for self-caterers. The detail that sets the place apart is the free 12-page English trip guide the owner writes for every guest, covering quiet walking routes around Hongyadong, local restaurants and the Liziba train timetable. Wi-Fi is free throughout. A real-guest rating of 9.6 backs up the warmth.
Location and getting there
From the front door it's a 2-minute walk (100 m) to exit 4 of Jiaochangkou metro, where Lines 1 and 2 connect to everything — Liziba (the train through a building) is 5 stops away and Ciqikou old town is 8. The standout, though, is the 6th-floor rooftop terrace, open to guests all day with canvas chairs, wooden tables and potted plants. From there you look out over the Jiefangbei towers, Qiansimen Bridge and the Jialing River stretching away; after dark, when the tower lights come up, it becomes a quiet photo spot even Chinese tourists track down.
Things to know before booking
This is a hostel, so set expectations accordingly. The pod dorms are simple and offer little privacy — fine for backpackers, less so if you want hotel-grade space. Everything is compact, from the kitchen to the common areas, which can feel tight if you travel with a lot of gear. And Jiefangbei is busy all day and well into the night, so expect crowds and street noise right outside. Beds run from around $14, with private twins about $45.
Our take
Only Cafe and Backpacker Chongqing is the prettiest sign-off on this list. It suits solo travellers who want to meet actual locals, budget backpackers, and indie couples who book a private twin. It isn't just a place to sleep — it's an insider take on Chongqing. Go up to the rooftop in the evening, sip a drip coffee, talk to the owner, and the 9.6 guest score stops looking like an accident.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A genuinely distinctive design hostel, hand-decorated by the young couple who run it and covered in postcards and photos left by guests from around the world.
- Hard to beat the location: Jiefangbei in Yuzhong District puts you in the dead centre of Chongqing, walking distance from Hongyadong and the riverfront.
- Only about a 2-minute walk (100 m) to Jiaochangkou metro exit 4, with Lines 1 and 2 reaching Liziba in 5 stops and Ciqikou old town in 8.
- A shared kitchen with microwave, fridge and kettle, plus a third-floor cafe serving homemade bread at ¥18 (about $2.50) and drip coffee at ¥25 (around $3.50).
- The English-speaking owner bakes bread every morning and gives every guest a free 12-page trip guide covering quiet walking routes, local restaurants and the Liziba train timetable.
- Rooms are simple hostel-style pod dorms — fine for backpackers, but not the place if you want a high degree of privacy or hotel-grade space.
- Everything is compact, from the shared kitchen to the common areas, which is normal for a small hostel but worth knowing if you travel with a lot of gear.
- Jiefangbei is one of the busiest parts of the city and stays lively from morning to late night, so expect street noise and crowds right outside the door.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Chongqing
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Insider Tips
- Head up to the 6th-floor rooftop after dark — when the tower lights come on, the Qiansimen Bridge and Jialing River view is the photo spot even Chinese tourists seek out.
- Order a slice of the owner's homemade bread (¥18) with a drip coffee and ask for the free 12-page English trip guide before you set out.
- Walk 2 minutes down to Jiaochangkou metro and ride Line 2 five stops to Liziba to watch the train pass straight through an apartment block.