The first impression The Mandarin gives is that it might be trying a little bit too hard. The futuristic brutalism is softened by organic curves and plays on texture. Grey limewash and green stucco walls envelop the seating area while the cafe bar is a striking metallic centerpiece. Soft velvet seats contrast with white marble tables, moss green chairs around a lavender table inject a sense of playfulness into the space. Overhead, a halo of warm light that complements the direct morning sunlight through the windows, casting a shadow of a mandarin logo into the space. It captures the aesthetic of the times to a tee, neatly towing the line between millennial curated minimalism and gen-z digital expressionism to appeal to the Two Bridges crowd.

On any given day, you’ll see an equal number of people reading or capturing content. Both groups will be indulging in matcha. I suppose such is the reality of cafes these days, catering to those who want to consume in a cafe and those who want to perform in one. Hype aside, The Mandarin feels communal without being quite the scene that Dimes Square. And on a weekday morning it’s a half decent place to get some work done.