Everyone has had their fair share of fancy afternoon teas on a three-tier cake stand, but have you had brunch from a suitcase? This dining concept is complete new to us too and if you are interested – it is available right in the heart of Taipei city centre.
It is a signature dish at TankQ Cafe & Bar, where avid travellers can take their incurable wanderlust to a whole new epic level.
Taipei might just be one of the most underrated cities to visit. It doesn’t matter whether you are a foodie, a shopper, or if you simply enjoy marvelling at the wonders of nature – Taipei will have you covered.
So many street snacks to love, so many night markets to roam at, so many more karaoke sessions that we need, so many cultural centres to visit. Taipei is one destination in Asia you must visit.
Here are 25 Reasons To Love Taipei.
If you don’t already know, Gudetama is an anthropomorphic Japanese egg yolk characterised by its laziness. It only made its debut in 2013, but has since gained “recognition” globally. We kid you not. From cushions to notebooks, Gudetama’s iconic sluggish body is now imprinted on almost every object thinkable.
So it is without surprise that an entire restaurant dedicated to the Gudetama has opened in Taipei’s Da’an District. The new Gudetama-themed restaurant—called Gudetama Chef—is currently Taipei’s latest craze and bookings are mandatory.
The quaint tree-lined Fujin Street is one of Taipei’s best-kept secrets. Spanning across 800 metres, this up-and-coming Taiwanese neighbourhood boasts an eclectic mix of chic boutiques, hipster cafes and furniture stores. It is also one of Taiwan’s most underrated but trendiest lifestyle destinations, and celebrities are often spotted in this vicinity!
Fujin Street is equivalent to Singapore’s hipster neighbourhoods Tiong Bahru and Haji Lane. The shops that line Fujin Street are tastefully designed and exude a mesmerising rustic charm; think brick walls, concrete floors and potted plants. The façade of these retail stores make a perfect backdrop for your OOTD and we felt like we were browsing through Pinterest—but in real life.
From boutique florist Botanica, Fujin Tree 353 Cafe by Simple Kaffa, Restaurant Pinecone to fashion apparel store BEAMS, here is our Guide to Taipei’s Fujin Street and the 15 Cafes and Shops To Check Out.
Think Taipei is all about Taipei 101 and Shilin Night Market? Not really. Addiction Aquatic Development is the place to visit when in Taipei.
Addiction Aquatic Development is a massive space that houses fresh seafood and aquamarine products, a large Japanese-style supermarket, and many themed restaurants and food kiosks under one roof. It is developed by Mitsui food and beverage enterprise group, who also owns several established Japanese restaurants in Taipei, including Mitsui - our favourite Japanese restaurant in the city.
Sitting near the Songshan Airport, and what used to be the old Taipei Fish Market, it is now an upscale and classy market with Addiction Aquatic Development. It stands head and shoulders above other famous seafood markets in the world such as Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, Sydney’s Fish Market, and Perth’s Fremantle Market.
Infographic designed by Infographics.sg
Yong Kang Street is a dining destination in Taipei. Whether its cheap and delicious Taiwanese snacks like ‘cong zhua bing’, shaved ice mountain or beef noodles; nice and chic cafes where you can get a cup of good coffee and desserts; or niche boutiques selling lifestyle products – there are plenty of options at Yong Kang Street. You can easily spend a day wandering in the alleys.
Here is our guide to Taipei’s Yong Kang Street, featuring the niche boutiques, trendy cafes and local eateries.
The whole world is crazy over the cat without mouth: Hello Kitty, the cat with the highest commercial value. Said to be born in London on November 01 1974, she is as tall as five apples, and weighs as much as three apples. And because she is portrayed as such a bright and kind-hearted girl who is always surrounded by many friends, Hello Kitty is a world phenomenon today.
Anything that has Hello Kitty stamped on it becomes a collectible, anywhere with Hello Kitty attracts great crowds. And this includes the ever popular Hello Kitty Sweets at Taipei – visited by endless crowds everyday from all over the globe.
Mitsui Cuisine is famous for being one of the best Japanese restaurants in Taipei, and when we were there last month, we knew our trip would not be complete without an omakase dinner there. Alas! It was such a splendid and memorable experience. Mitsui Cuisine truly lives up to its name.