All reviews of category "Café-Bar"

【Foodholic Naoko @ Lanyu】

"Feat. ______" is a hidden bar located in the Lang Island tribe. Although it’s a bar, it actually opens in the afternoon, and you can treat it like a café as well~

Why is it called a hidden bar? Because it's located on the second floor and has no obvious signs. If you don't use Google Maps and carefully look around searching for it, you really would have no idea there’s a store hidden away.

Once you climb the stairs, the first thing you see is a sign that says, "No noise after dark, this is a store, not your home; we do not accept groups of more than six." I thought the owner was a serious cool guy, but later discovered he’s actually a cute guy.

We arrived around three in the afternoon, and there was no one in the store; it was just the owner sitting alone reading. It was so relaxed that I thought the owner was a customer; even when we left at around five, there were no other groups of customers. We had the whole place to ourselves, which was so nice~

The moment I walked into the store, I fell in love with it. The décor is completely my style, filled with many of the owner’s personal collectibles. His choices in books and music matched my tastes perfectly.

The entire bar is a semi-outdoor space, resembling a renovated home balcony. Sitting at a two-person table by the wall, looking to the right, you can see the sea, and it’s just amazing!!!

The atmosphere of the place is very chill, with the owner saying little. After making our drinks, he returned to reading, allowing us to enjoy our time quietly. I can only say I'm so happy I found this place!

The main offerings are alcoholic drinks, but there are also coffee and black tea available~

We both ordered a hot latte for $150. The moment I took a sip, I thought... hmm... this tastes like a three-in-one instant coffee pack, hahahahahaha. I can only say this latte really didn't work out~ But if you imagine it as if you're at home making yourself a pack of three-in-one coffee on your balcony while enjoying the view and daydreaming, it all makes sense~

Honestly, you can’t expect too much when ordering a latte at a bar. Maybe next time I visit, I’ll try the alcohol.

However, the quality of the latte doesn't diminish my love for this place. If I come back to Lanyu, I will definitely visit again! (I have a feeling it would be a completely different vibe at night.)

I had previously heard from a friend that there is a coffee shop on Fuxing North Road that is quite unique because it uses a Nespresso capsule coffee machine to make coffee, so I decided to check it out during the holiday.

It's quite close to the MRT station, so the transportation is very convenient. Upon arrival, I found the space to be spacious and comfortable to sit in, and the lighting was bright. There were some people at the neighboring table chatting, but the volume was okay, and I didn’t feel disturbed at all.

At the counter, there were many types of coffee capsules available. I chose the Starbucks latte capsule to see if the taste was the same as when I drink it at Starbucks. After trying a few sips, I really couldn't tell the difference. The coffee also had a rich milk foam (I realized halfway through drinking that I forgot to take a photo, so I only captured the latte after I had drunk half of it🤣). The staff mentioned that the size of the cup is fixed, which is approximately 12 ounces (360ml). The taste is pretty standard for a latte, and after all, it is Starbucks coffee. Plus, since it’s made with a Nespresso capsule machine, the quality is not going to be too bad. The flavor was safe.

As for the price, it’s on the higher side considering the cup size and flavor, but since the environment is nice, I think the cost-performance ratio is okay.

The shop was playing relaxing music, and it’s actually quite nice to open up a laptop to work, play on the phone, or read a book here. It's a pleasant afternoon time. ❤️

Truffle Wild Mushroom Cream Fettuccine
As soon as it hits the table, the truffle aroma fills the air. Overall, it is quite standard, with the cream being not overly rich, but there aren't any particularly spectacular elements.

Double Sauce French Fries
Simple and delicious, but the price point is a bit high.

Located near Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station, online ordering offers a limited selection of main dishes. It may be more suitable as a brunch option, but the dim evening ambiance is great for chatting with friends. The service quality is excellent, so it's recommended to make a reservation in advance.

In recent years, Tainan has seen an increasing number of coffee bars that open in the afternoon and stay open until midnight. They are very popular and have their own supporters, and their business hours and days off vary, so there’s always a place to choose from, no matter what day of the week it is.

There are various options for coffee, desserts, wine, and tea, all in a comfortable and clean environment. It’s suitable for students working on reports, friends meeting to chat, and couples on dates. The food is fairly standard.

# Open During the New Year
New Year’s Eve: 07:30-16:00, 20:00-01:00
Day One: 20:00-01:00
Day Two: 20:00-01:00
Day Three: 10:00-18:15, 20:00-01:00
Day Four: 10:00-18:15, 20:00-01:00
Day Five: 10:00-18:15, 20:00-01:00

Unscheduled breaks are based on announcements via Instagram.

Located near the East Gate Market at the roundabout,
it's often passed by but not easily noticed XD
During the day it's a café, and at night it's a bar.
You can still order desserts at night (✪ω✪)

It has two floors, with spacious seating between tables.
The lighting at night is dim but acceptable.
On weekdays at 10:00 PM, no waiting is necessary; you can sit right down.

Jasmine High Ball: $350
Even though it’s called a high ball, the base spirit is tequila.
There’s a layer of milk foam topped with tea powder.
It tastes mainly like milk with no other flavors.
I was afraid the tequila flavor would be very obvious,
but surprisingly, it blends well (๑•̀ᄇ•́)و ✧
There’s no sharp or strong flavor.
It has fruity and tea flavors primarily,
with a slightly sour and sweet taste and a mild alcohol presence.

Espresso Martini: $380
I usually don’t drink coffee,
and I find the coffee bitterness very pronounced.
The alcohol is in between the flavors.
But my boyfriend said that if someone usually drinks American coffee, they would really like it.

Negroni: $380
The bitterness is quite pronounced.
The alcohol flavor is stronger.
A piece of citrus peel is placed on top,
and it has a strong citrus aroma.

French Fries: $120
They serve thin fries!!!
They taste like they were made in an air fryer.
Delicious fries 👍

📍Zhongzheng District, Taipei City (MRT Shandao Temple Station)
A late-night café run by a unique boss ☕️🍸

I found this café around two or three in the afternoon to use my computer.
There’s no time limit in the store, and there are almost outlets available near every seat.

The boss seems like a real character 😆 He looks pretty cool. On the day I arrived, even though it was already operating hours, the café was still closed; a regular customer outside told us that the boss had overslept 🤣 and that we should wait a bit.

After entering the store, I listened to the boss enthusiastically chatting with regulars, sharing coffee knowledge.
The boss is very professional when it comes to coffee, has his own principles, and slowly makes each cup, tasting it carefully before serving it to customers.

🍋 Lemon Americano ($180):
The first sip was absolutely amazing 😍
The coffee has a delicate fusion of lemon flavor, and the texture is great, with no lemon pulp in it; the combination makes you want to finish the entire cup in one go 🍻

🍵 Matcha Lemon ($180):
This one also combines matcha and lemon very well! I can say it’s the best and most balanced matcha lemon I’ve ever had.

I highly recommend it to those who haven't tried this combination 👍🏻
By the end, there might be some matcha powder settling at the bottom, but it won’t be bitter, and it seems to use pretty good matcha.

🍄
Would I visit again: Yes!

✏️
Notes:
🔸 Cash only 💰
🔸 Google says it opens at 1:00 PM, but the Fooday system is a bit odd; currently, I can't set the opening time as 1:00 PM (it can only be set to 1:00 AM, so I temporarily placed it at 12:00 PM and will update it later~)

I happened to stay in Anping with a friend for a night and searched for more well-known cafes in the area, landing on this one, tucked away in a small alley on Anping Old Street.

It is said that it used to be a tailor shop, with decorations like sewing machines, needles, and threads inside. The space is relatively narrow and there aren't many seats. My friend and I arrived at around 10:00 PM on Saturday and even when we left around 1:00 AM, it was not fully occupied.

We sat outdoors, and the staff said that we could see the stars at night (the light pollution in Anping is indeed less than in the city). The weather was just right—not too cold, with a comfortable evening breeze, and there weren't many mosquitoes.

The staff were very friendly! They carefully introduced the coffee selections to us, and if you leave a review on Google Maps, you get discount vouchers and gifts that can be used at the owner's other shops.

When the coffee is served, it comes with a small glass so that you can exchange sips with your friends.

🌻 Light Roast _ Autumn Breeze $320

This was my first time drinking coffee. The staff said their coffee usually isn't bitter, but I still found it slightly sour and somewhat bitter... My friend thought it was pretty mild, which is probably due to my lack of coffee-drinking experience. After getting used to it, it actually became quite smooth.

The aroma of the coffee was also very rich (forgive my poor coffee tasting skills; I really couldn't discern the aromas listed on the menu).

🌻 Medium Roast _ Ice Snow Elsa $280

My friend said this one does indeed have more fruity notes and is a bit more sour compared to my light roast, but for those who drink coffee regularly, the bitterness is really quite mild. She even ordered another cup (the refills are half price!).

🌻 Caramel Layered Cake $190

Delicious, delicious! It’s best enjoyed with the nuts on the side to have a variation in texture (the nuts are also very tasty...). The caramel on top is baked to a crisp, and when you first bite into the layered cake, it doesn’t really have that layered texture (I guess it’s because there’s too much cream), but later on, it does give a nice texture. It’s a bit on the sweet side, but I do prefer sweeter treats.

🌻 Matcha Layered Cake $190

A friend who has tasted countless matcha desserts said it had a hint of matcha aroma without too much bitterness. The matcha flavor isn't too strong or too weak—it's just right.

🌻 Mushroom Siu Mai $80 Crab Roe Siu Mai $90

Incredible siu mai! Incredible siu mai! Incredible siu mai! My friend and I unanimously agreed that the MVP of our order was the siu mai. Once you bite into it, it bursts with juice and has a substantial texture, and the seasoning is excellent. For the portion, it’s actually quite generous. There were only three pieces in a basket, which may seem expensive at first, but after we finished, we immediately decided to order another basket.

I personally felt that the mushroom and crab roe flavors weren't too different, so you could just go with the mushroom flavor.

———

Overall, the food, atmosphere, and service attitude were all excellent, making it a place I definitely want to revisit! It's a pity that the dorm is so far from Anping and it only opens late at night. For students not staying there, it’s really easy to miss out on... although the minimum spend on beverages is a bit on the high side.

There were a lot of people at the Huatai Outlet on Saturday. I originally planned to have brunch, but because there were so many people, it turned into lunch. There were about 30 groups ahead of us, but since we could check the queue status online, we strolled around while waiting. After about 2 hours of waiting, we finally got to eat.

We ordered:
Shrimp and chicken flat noodles with sunrise sauce
It’s the number one popular selection on the menu. The only downside was that the green beans (?) felt a bit too raw, but the flavor was good.

The bread platter came with two types of bread paired with brown sugar butter sauce. I liked the toast; it was delicious dipped in the cream soup or spread with the butter they provided. The cream soup was quite rich and had a flavor I liked.

Uster meat sauce omelet
The potato chunks were tasty, and the omelet was also good. Since it was a meat sauce without meat, it felt like it lacked a main dish (?), but for my appetite, the portion was fine. However, for those with a bigger appetite, it might feel insufficient if ordered alone.

The staff had a positive and proactive attitude, and they informed us during the meal that we could refill the bread and drinks. I felt very full, and it was quite a good value. There were many options on the menu, and brunch is served all day, which is great if you sleep in or just want to have brunch. Overall, the dining experience was very nice, and since it was the winter solstice that day, we were warmly treated to a small bowl of red bean soup with glutinous rice balls, which was really sweet and charming.

Oops Surprise Coffee is located on Xuanyuan Road in Hualien, close to the Dongdamen Night Market. Despite having "coffee" in its name, the atmosphere feels more like a mix of a bar and a casual dining spot. The menu has a high proportion of food options. The interior decor is quite interesting, filled with details, such as various figurines and models, and even an old-school arcade game by the restroom, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia and little surprises, which is very eye-catching.

During this visit, I ordered several signature dishes, such as the barracuda fillet and fried chicken, both of which left a lasting impression. The fish fillet had a crispy exterior and tender interior, paired wonderfully with a special sauce. The barracuda is probably a local specialty from the East Coast, and it was flavorful without any fishy taste; it was delightful to dip in the sauce.

For my main course, I chose the clear sauce chicken thigh risotto, which had a generous portion and was reasonably tasty. The chicken thigh was tender with a fresh aroma, but it felt a bit ordinary compared to other dishes, presenting a more stable performance. The highlight was the crispy cream soup, which had a unique texture. Unlike the thin puff pastry commonly found on the market, it had more layers and was highly recommended to try. The final dish, the pancake, had a beautiful presentation, accompanied by ice cream and chocolate sauce, which tasted above average.

Overall, Oops Surprise Coffee is a small shop that consistently performs well in all aspects and is operated with care. Whether it’s the decor, the dishes, or the atmosphere, everything is commendable, making it a great choice for gathering with friends or enjoying a leisurely meal. I would give it 4.5 stars, and I would like to visit again the next time I come to Hualien.

The pop-up event at the South Korean Tacosoul restaurant and the Jinghua Hotel had an undeniably high standard in terms of the dining environment. However, the service attitude of the male manager wearing glasses at that time was truly disappointing—there's really no other way to put it. He was indifferent to customers, and when presenting the bill, he hurriedly turned around as if he had done a complete 360-degree turn in his attitude towards foreign guests. Perhaps he felt that the lack of a tipping culture made it not worth his time. The food was delicious, but the prices were definitely on the high end.