I've been thinking about making guides for a few years now. The reason why I am doing it only now is because I felt that I didn't have the right experience. But I figured out that I am currently the sole editor for our Edit and this is my platform and it is all about my tastes and the way I look at things.
So, in our first ever guide, it's gonna be Taipei - my favourite spaces in my favourite city.
Taipei is the capital and busiest city in Taiwan. Like most of the other capitals in the world, it is always bustling with all sorts of activities. But my favourite thing about this place is that it is always so easy to find a place where you can recharge your mind in peace despite all the city noises. Every corner in Taipei is unique and I never fail to find a space that I love.
Most of the time, when I decide to visit a cafe, it's always because my mind is tired and is in a desperate need to find a new space to focus and/or to get new inspirations. It's not just a "coffee or Instagram-worthy place" to me. I see it as a temporary personal space and I want it to positively affect my mental state and wellness.
Truffles Living 舒服生活
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I first stepped into Truffles Living late in the night, at about 8pm without any prior research. This space is tucked in a corner of Da An District and if I wasn't conscious enough, I'd definitely have missed it. I felt in love immediately. Imagine high ceilings, detailed vintage decor and tastefully sourced furnitures. Every corner looked different but they somehow managed to blend perfectly together to create a space so beautiful. I remember sitting by the window on an extra large sofa, ordering a pot of camomile tea and sat there just trying to ease my anxiety. Well, it worked.
Aside from the divinely curated space, they serve great food, desserts, coffee and even cocktails. I am really amazed at the amount of effort they put into their presentation. Every single one of their serve-wares look like little pieces of art on their own.
Check out their floral arrangement classes and from what I saw on their Facebook page, Truffles Living is also a vintage store. So if you're lucky, you might be able to find a perfect vase to bring back home.
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Truffles Living 舒服生活 |
Café Costumice
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Café Costumice is buried in the alley right by the bustling Zhongxiao Fuxing street. The have a popular al-fresco area nicely curated with woody accents and beautiful plants. Interior of the cafe is rustic, with little hints of Scandinavian inspired decors.
This space is great for my fellow coffee lovers. The aroma in the cafe tempted me to order a cup of hot latte almost right away and it was insanely good - this statement is coming from someone who already had her daily cuppa so that statement definitely did not come from any kind of insane caffeine deprivation.
It is definitely a chill-out space for the self-employed and freelancers during the non-peak hours where it is a little quieter. Cafe Costumice is also a great location if you are looking for a hangout with your friends, while chatting over glasses of wine at night.
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Café Costumice |
One Tree Hill (Oth Taipei)
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Founded by a pair of Singaporean couple, One Tree Hill is a tribute to the founder's grandmother, whose first house was located in One Tree Hill, Singapore. This tea room is located in a quiet spot of Zhongshan North Road. The interior is decorated minimally to bring out the essence of the space - simplicity.
Their menu consists of a variety of organic locally grown teas and delicate desserts. If I'm not wrong, the food they offer varies by the day. I love how they are using quality Taiwanese tea leaves in their beverages because there really is a difference in their aromas and tastes.
The Double Cocoa caught my eye - imagine Earl Grey Tea topped with a thick layer of chocolate moose, then generously sprinkled with 100% cocoa powder. It's an explosion of different sensations on your tongue.
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One Tree Hill (Oth Taipei) Address: No. 5-1號, Lane 27, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104 Phone: +886 2 2571 2000 Opening Hours: 11:30am-6pm (Mon, Tue, Thur) / 11:30am-7pm (Fri-Sat) / closed on Wed, Sun Website: https://www.onetreehill.com/ |
KiOSK
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Behind that bright blue door at KiOSK is a bright and modern beautifully designed space. The large windows also allow for natural light to shine into the cafe so it's a pretty nice space for the freelancers and creatives to do their work. When you need a space to chill and run wild with imagination, this is definitely the right place to go. Black and white decors almost doesn't go wrong and KiOSK definitely hit that right spot with their interior.
It is also a must to try their famed avocado toast (this dish when done right, is heavenly) and olive oil cheesecake. I'm hungry already.
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KOiSK |
AMP Café Independent Roaster
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I was actually contemplating if I should include AMP Cafe into the guide because it is a small, curated space and the cafe only fits 8 persons at a time so I don't think this is a good place for you to hang out for long. But I love how modern, clean and cosy the space is, so here we go.
The interesting thing about this cafe is that you are not going to find any food in there. AMP Cafe places their full focus into making (really good) coffee, authentic Italian style. If you need a quick coffee break to clear your mind amidst all the chaos, this is it. Try their cold brew if you need a perk-me-up. The coffee beans are steeped for 48 hours and it is a cup of yummy concentrated caffeine poison.
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AMP Café Independent Roaster
Address: No. 409號, Section 4, Ren'ai Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 |
新保安捌肆 Boan 84 Cafe
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This cafe is located inside an old building, and it was originally a hospital. The owners of Boan 84 kept the old signage so you can still see it right outside the cafe. There are 3 levels to this space and every level is carefully designed. Vintage spaces aren't usually my thing but the oldie vibe at Boan 84 is so cosy and relaxing. Even their coffee machine looks like something from another era. Going there is like taking a walk down the lane of Taipei's history.
Oh, and don't forget the servewares they use to serve their food and beverages. It has more of that vintage European vibes but when you pair that with a Chinese-style cafe, it's another level.
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新保安捌肆 Coffee Boan 84 Cafe |
Taipei is saturated with so many coffee places and if you are a tourist, you might be tempted to cafe hop all day long. But my advise for you? Don't do that. There are just so many things to explore within the city. Shopping's really good over there too. Or you could travel out of the city for a day trip to smaller cities like Hualien and Yilan - they are only 1-2 hours away from Taipei by trains or coaches. So, don't saturate your itinerary with a long list of cafes, do your research and go for the ones that are truly worth a visit.