Taiwan was a designated rest stop between two non-stop weeks in Nepal and India, and another ten non-stop days in Vietnam. Sometimes traveling becomes exhausting and it requires a bit of a “vacation”. Therefore, I didn’t plan on doing much sightseeing in Taipei, and instead, focused on cafes in Taipei.
After successfully spending hours in Taipei cafes, I came to the conclusion that I was unimpressed with what the city had on offer on that front. While they had many Insta-worthy cafes, they were lacking in other aspects. Even so, I wanted to provide a list of Instagrammable cafes {with a few disclaimers included!}.
1. Afterhours Cafe
I literally ran to Afterhours Café when it started to suddenly downpour in downtown Taipei. The cafe had such a cozy vibe {something I always gravitate towards}. I ordered the brown sugar latte which, I quickly realized, was a very popular drink in Taiwan. They are also well known for their decadent desserts.
One thing to mention about this cafe is the fact that the entire menu is in Chinese. Luckily for me, one of the staff members spoke decent English, so I was able to get by. That being said, in order to avoid inconveniencing the staff, it’s best to bring someone to help translate the menu.
Hours: 11 AM – 7 PM
Location: No. 117-1, Yanshou Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Instagram: Afterhours Cafe
2. Tamed Fox
I found this Insta-worthy cafe on, surprise surprise, Instagram. Tamed Fox is known for their donut-on-top-of-drinks combination. The donuts they bake themselves sit perfectly on top of the mason jars they sell smoothies {and more} in. The entire menu at Tamed Fox is pretty health conscious, even the donuts which are actually carrot cake. Carrots are healthy right? Even if you don’t want to infamous combo, there are plenty of brunch options to choose from.
A helpful tip: you must order the drink and donut separately. After seeing all of the images on Instagram, I expected the drink and donut combination to be sold as a set. To my surprise, it wasn’t, which made ordering it a bit pricey. The entire cafe is quite Insta-worthy, both indoors and outside.
Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Sat – Sun 10 AM – 6 PM, Closed Wednesdays
Location: No. 56, Lane 122, Section 4, Ren’ai Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Instagram: tamedfox.cafe
3. Paper Street Coffee
It’s easy to miss Paper Street Coffee if you aren’t specifically looking for it. Inconspicuously located on a random street corner in downtown Taipei, Paper Street Coffee offers a minimal menu. Actually, everything about their cafe is minimalistic. To be honest, the entire vibe of the cafe reminded me of New York City.
The coffee is strong, the environment is surprisingly quiet for being on a main road, and the staff are friendly. The only downside to this cafe is the lack of wifi, making it less inviting for anyone wanting to get work done.
Hours: 10 AM – 8 PM
Location: No. 28, Section 1, Bade Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10058
Instagram: Paper St. Coffee
4. Cafe Costumice
To be honest, Cafe Costumice is more of a restaurant than a cafe. I wasn’t aware of this before arriving, but it was apparent the moment I walked in. There is plenty of seating outside, as well as indoors, but a lot of it is set up to enjoy a meal. Therefore, I didn’t find it a comfortable place to get work done.
The price point at Cafe Costume was also insane. I could barely find anything on the menu for less than 200 NT$ {approx. $6.50 USD}, including drinks. As Insta-worthy as it was, I only suggest going to this cafe to treat yo-self! There are plenty of cafes to enjoy with a lower price tag.
Cafe Costumice would be better suited for a girl brunch date, or a work meeting. I would probably return for one of these events, rather than to grab a cuppa. For more on Cafe Costumice, check out this post by A Style Alike.
Hours: Sun – Thur 10 AM – 12 AM, Fri – Sat 12 PM – 1 AM
Location: 106, Taiwan, Taipei City, Da’an District, 忠孝東路四段223巷71弄6號1樓
Instagram: COSTUMICE CAFÉ
5. Kaffa Indigo
I spent ten days in Taipei, and based myself at a hostel in the Shilin District. Luckily, a few Insta-worthy cafes were within walking distance. One of them was Kaffa Indigo. I’m not going to lie, I’m a sucker for exposed brick. Therefore, when I spotted a white washed brick wall, I was immediately drawn in.
The cafe has your standard offerings, and it’s a great place for getting work done. I visited multiple times, and never found it overly crowded or loud. There are plenty of outlets, and very fast wifi. I was actually able to FaceTime my brother about our upcoming trip to Vietnam without too many connection troubles.
Hours: 10 AM – 10 PM, Closed Mondays
Location: No. 42, Dabei Road, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
Instagram: kaffaindigo
Related: The Most Insta-Worthy Cafes in Busan
6. All Day Roasting Company
I almost didn’t include this cafe on my list because of how disappointed it made me. That being said, it was Insta-worthy, but requires a disclaimer. I went to ADRC for a bite to eat after grabbing coffee at Afterhours Cafe during the torrential downpour. I ordered a salmon salad {pictured below}, and a glass of complimentary water.
As I was about to leave, the waitress approached me and insisted I purchase a beverage. I clearly looked puzzled because… wtf? I had already ordered a salad which, by the way, cost much more than any beverage for sale. She told me that it was the ADRC policy that customers must order a drink. Although I had never heard of such a policy, I agreed to get a tea because what other choice did I have?
I was so disappointed in the establishment, but decided to unpack my bag and blog {aka stay a while since I was paying for it}. I remained at ADRC for the rest of my afternoon, and only left after dark. Therefore, if you plan on visiting, make sure you are only going for a cuppa, or have plans of ordering an additional drink with your meal.
On the plus side, ADRC had plenty of space for those looking to get some remote work done. You can expect large communal tables, personal tables that fit 2 – 3 people, or bar seating as shown below.
Hours: Mon – Fri 10 AM – 11 PM, Sat – Sun 8 AM – 11 PM
Location: No. 329, Yanshou St, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
台北市松山區延壽街329號
Instagram: allday_roastingcompany
7. Untitled Workshop
Another strange cafe encounter occurred at Untitled Workshop. While again, this cafe checked every box aesthetically, the service was lacking. I arrived in the morning, expecting to order breakfast after seeing some drool-worthy avocado toast images on Instagram. When I went to order, however, the staff member told me they has sold out… of every food item on the menu.
What the actual fuck?
How does a cafe run out of literally everything on the menu? I opted for a chai tea latte, but drank it quite reluctantly. If you are lucky enough, their avocado toast looked superb. Otherwise, don’t expect to be spoiled for choice at Untitled Workshop.
The outdoor patio is what sold the cafe for me. With the retro yellow and blue tiling, I found it completely charming. Inside, there isn’t much room to sit, but they do offer outlets for the few seats available. Final verdict: great for Instagram shots, but lacking otherwise.
Hours: 11 AM – 7 PM
Location: No. 1, Alley 52, Lane 12, Section 3, Bade Road, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Instagram: Untitled Workshop
8. Jack & NaNa
An Insta-worthy cafe that certainly did not let me down, was the famous Jack & NaNa. While they have a limited menu, they offer quick service and a lovely atmosphere. The prices were pretty standard for Taipei, and the coffee was strong.
I was a bit confused about their hours, and arrived before {what I thought was} their opening hours. Even though I was technically early, the staff were ready to attend to me, and I got the entire place to myself. The exterior of the cafe is where it really shines. Indoors is rather dark and crammed, but there is plenty of space to sit outside. Therefore, it’s not a great workplace, but would be perfect for a coffee date.
Hours: Sun 1 PM – 8 PM, Mon – Fri 11 AM – 8 PM, Closed Saturdays
Location: No. 36, Lane 33, Linyi Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Instagram: Jack & NaNa COFFEE STORE
9. Mimi Tea
As you may know, Taiwan invented bubble tea. Typical of me to leave it until my last day to order one though… Mimi Tea was recommended to me by a friend I made in South Korea. She had recently visited Taipei and said it was as Insta-worthy as they come {equipped with backdrops and a swing for photo opps}.
While Mimi Tea is relatively small, it was perfect to capture an aesthetically pleasing shot of my bubble tea {which in itself is Instagrammable}. If I had someone behind the camera at the time, I would have asked for a picture on the swing as well. Overall, the tea was fantastic and I was angry at myself for leaving it so long before ordering one.
They have more than one Mimi Tea in Taipei so I will include both destinations on the map below. Both of them are Insta-worthy!
Hours: Sun – Thur, 11 AM – 11 PM, Fri – Sat, 11 AM – 12 AM
Location: No. 68, Lane 233, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 AND No. 22號, Dabei Road, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111 {the second location is the one I visited}
Instagram: 綿綿mimitea
10. Gingin Coffee Co.
Gingin Coffee Co. is a modern restaurant located very close to Jack & Nana’s. They offer an extensive menu, as well as plenty of tea and coffee options. I personally went in for brunch, but saw tons of people sharing a cuppa with friends.
Unfortunately, they only offer a small outdoor patio. Even so, this is a cute spot to check out if you are in the area {and would be perfect on a rainy afternoon}. The menu is filled with Western options for a decent price, which is hard to find in Asia.
Hours: Mon – Fri, 7:30 AM – 8 PM, Sat – Sun, 8 AM – 8 PM
Location: 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Lane 27, Linyi Street, 9號
Instagram: gingin_coffee
Once again, I was rather unimpressed with the cafe culture in Taipei, but it didn’t stop me from visiting a good handful of them. If a pleasing aesthetic is all you require in a cafe, then you’ll have nothing to worry about! Otherwise I would head somewhere with an exceptional cafe culture {i.e. South Korea}. For more Insta-worthy cafe recommendations in Taipei, check out this post by The Darling Adventurers.
