Best Cafes for Specialty Coffee in Taipei
Beyond the craze of night markets, the abundance of bubble tea shops and the sea of concrete buildings that isn’t necessarily a masterpiece of aesthetics, I’ve found Taipei to be an incredibly welcoming city with much more to offer than what meets the eye at first glance. My favourite activities in Taipei were drinking coffee (surprise, surprise), eating dumplings, going for a run or bike ride by Tamsui river and hiking the surrounding mountains.
Admittedly, it took me a while to warm up to the omnipresent smell of stinky tofu and the largely neglected facades of buildings that shape the cityscapes all over Taiwan. In moments of cultural shock coffee shops were my comfort zone and slurping some of the best beans growing in the coffee belt immediately took away any feeling of discomfort. Interestingly, even though Taiwan is a coffee growing country with a small amount of farms cultivating specialty coffee, Taiwanese coffee is hard to come by. It is priced very high, which makes importing high quality coffee from abroad more affordable for third wave coffee shops. Apparently, Japan is one of the main importers of Taiwanese coffee, I’ve been told. Nevertheless, there is no lack of great coffee and while this coffee and travel guide of Taipei is by no means exhaustive, it does include some real gems.
First and foremost, I have to mention one of Taipei’s oldest specialty cafés “Coffee Sweet” by Sidney Kao. While taking photographs is not encouraged, it is all the more reason to really focus on what’s in your cup and simply enjoy. Sidney is known all over town for being a kind and knowledgeable coffee professional with a sixth sense for sourcing exquisite beans. “Coffee Sweet” is located close to Taipei’s main station and is a great address for taking the first steps into Taiwan’s coffee scene.
Recommendations for accommodation in Taipei
Orange Hotel Hanzhong – When I visited Taipei last, in March 2024, I stayed at the Orange Hotel Hanzhong and found it to be the perfect mix of affordable and comfortable. It newly opened and is conveniently located a 3 minute walk from Ximen station. → Booking.com
Swiio Hotel Daan – For a more unique experience, check out this minimalist dream. Purely in white, this building boasts geometric designs and is truly a stylish masterpiece → Booking.com
Kimpton Da An – Another beautifully designed hotel with gym and rooftop bar. The rooms are just gorgeous. → Booking.com
Berg Wu’s a name is one you can’t miss when exploring Taipei’s coffee scene. He was the first Taiwanese to win the World Barista Championship in 2016, and his project Simple Kaffa has been setting new bars for quality and creativity in the coffee industry since it first launched in 2011. Nowadays there are several Simple Kaffaa locations around town, each with its own vibe. But the one that’s got everyone talking? It’s perched way up in Taipei 101, on the 88th floor. Getting in isn’t a walk in the park. Book ahead or you’ll likely be queuing. Want a window seat? That’ll set you back 2000 NT$, minimum. The bay sofas are even pricier at 3000 NT$. Steep, yeah, but you’re paying for a slice of Taipei skyline. Here’s a tip for the thrifty: there’s a take-away spot where you can still catch a glimpse of the city. But it’s not just about the view. The cafe itself is something to see and the coffee undoubteldly among the best in the city.
Located in Zhongshan district, Fika Fika Cafe is a Scandinavian enclave and one of the few specialty coffee shops I visited that had Taiwanese beans on the menu (for filter). The single origins for filter are on rotation and can include rare treats, such as a Panama Deborah Geisha. Expect Nordic style coffee and an interior that looks as if it was imported straight from Stockholm.
A glass facade with an illuminated signboard and the subtle, promising inscription “let coffee stand up your everyday” seems to call out to passersby on Yongji Road, inviting them to grab a coffee. The chic coffee bar COFFEE: STAND UP was brought to life by Cecilia and Yian. The name is program, as here, according to their vision, you’re welcome to enjoy your coffee while standing. The owners are old hands in Taipei’s cafe scene. Founded ten years ago, they moved to their current address in 2020. More space, more possibilities – since then, there have also been a few seats added for lingering.The curved counter remains the heart of the establishment, though.
Instil Coffee is a great addition to Taipei’s coffeeshop scene. With no greater promise from its exterior, push open the door to reveal a thoughtfully minimal design: clean lines, natural materials, and subtle colors make for an environment that is at once both inviting and instagrammable. Inside the cafe, there is noteworthy round table with a tree growing in the middle, almost as if it brings the outdoors indoors. It doesn’t fail in the coffee department, either. The baristas take a special liking to the HARIO x Tri-Up Dripper for bringing out the fruitiness in its light roasts. If you’re feeling sweet, freshly baked cakes should complement your brew just right.
VWI by CHADWANG is the brainchild of, you guessed it, Chad Wang. The 2017 World Brewers Cup Champion is a true visionary within the coffee world. The cafe first opened in 2018 and marked the beginnings of what would turn into a trifecta of VWI shops throughout Taiwan. The coffee menu is divided into four groups: Basic, Select, Unique, and lastly, Limited, which includes such raritys as Panama Geisha. One thing that makes VWI stand out is the attention toward detail on everything, especially the water. Chad uses multilayers of filtering, where each layer is assigned a certain specified function: Chlorine out, flavor in; magnesium and calcium for perfect extraction. Every parameter is calibrated to precise settings for the best cup possible.
Moonshine Coffee Roasters can hardly be missed with its white façade and ‘We Drink Coffee Under Moonlight’ written across it. The coffee shop was founded by Zenki Ho in 2018, an SCA-certified instructor and the 2023 Hong Kong Brewers Cup champion, intending to perhaps inject a dose of that Prohibition-era speakeasy vibe into Taiwan’s coffee scene. A striking industrial chic décor that’s quite inviting greets you the moment you step into the café. Exposed concrete walls make the space feel raw and urban, while a neon sign touting “No worries, Be coffee” adds a more lighthearted touch to the space. At the center of the store lies an illuminated brew bar—a coffee-lover playground fitted with great gear.
It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it kinda place with its wooden door and modest sign; but step inside and you just found your way into a world run by coffee. Chill, laid-back, and unpretentious, the interior is an understatement of elegance. Clean lines, soft tones, and a sense of calm come through in an attempt to achieve a divine space wherein the coffee takes the center stage. This is the kind of place where an hour could slip by in what feels like a second, especially if you’re sampling noon’s 1+1+1 tasting menu. The concept is simple: experience a single-origin bean three ways: black, with milk, and as a signature drink.
Yu-ta Chu, this cafe’s mastermind, traded his film industry career for a life drenched in beans and brews. All of it started when he had a – one might say life changing – sip of Tim Wendelboe’s coffee way back in 2015.
Since 2018 Oasis Coffee Roasters are brewing up e Oscar-worthy cups of coffee in this location.
This favourite is worth the trip to the southern business and residential district of Da’an. Owner Tzu-Chi is not only a master of his craft, he also has excellent taste in music. The café and roastery has just enough space to fit a handful of people, which makes for a relaxed atmosphere with a great soundtrack running in the background.
The owner of Kafemera is not only a lover of coffee and analogue photography, he is also a big fan of Berlin based roasters The Barn and Five Elephant. For all you Germans feeling home sick in Taiwan, this is your go to place!