The most anticipated part of this trip to Tainan was visiting this bar, which has made it onto the list of Asia's 50 Best Bars and has received excellent reviews. Friends of mine have also recommended it, so I was worried about not getting a reservation. As soon as the time came, I quickly made an online booking without hesitation.
I arrived early to avoid being late, and there were several groups of customers waiting outside the bar. Before entering, we were informed that there’s a minimum spend of NT$600 per person for reservations, excluding food (while the minimum for walk-ins is NT$350), and we could stay for two hours. As long as we had no issues with that, we could go in.
The bar was converted from an old house but did not feel old at all. The overall space was dimly lit, combined with music, and the loft design made the space feel maximized. There was an entire wall of liquor behind the bar, and I personally enjoy looking at liquor walls. Their lighting was unique, and I really liked the atmosphere of this place.
There was no paper menu; we ordered by scanning a QR code, and the staff were very friendly. Our memory isn’t great, so after asking about drink A, we’d forget what drink B was. They were very patient in answering and recommending drinks. Each cocktail had its own story and imagery. I shared 8 drinks among friends, with 7 different types, and I found that none of them were disappointing; they all went down smoothly.
My first drink was the “Yunman,” which was on the sweeter side and felt like the type that girls would love. The bubbles on top were also something I had never encountered in a cocktail before. The most impressive drink was the “Benshi,” which came to the table with a lid that released a lot of smoke when opened. It was a cocktail that engaged both the visual and taste senses. The staff mentioned that it used whiskey, giving it a stronger alcohol flavor, and while I could taste the alcohol, it was still quite smooth, with a hint of pepper. It was one of the most unique cocktails I’ve ever had.
They didn’t have many salty food options; we ordered a Spanish cold platter, which paired well with the drinks. I heard their duck liver wonton soup is amazing, but we were already full that day, so we didn’t order it. I must try it next time I’m in Tainan.
Overall, I really liked the environment, atmosphere, the attitude of the staff, and the drinks. The only downside was that it wasn't exactly cheap, but going with friends once in a while made it feel worth it.