皇城司 The SPY Bar & Bistro

One day I saw a cool restaurant and bar on Instagram, a speakeasy with a Chinese style. I love those places where you can't find the entrance XD. The cocktails and dishes also look really delicious 😍.

You can make a reservation through Instagram first. You need to pay a deposit of 1000 NT dollars, and they'll make you a membership card that can also serve as a recharge card and a door access card. Plus, you'll receive 120 shots as a bonus.

It's a 10-minute walk from the MRT station, which is a bit far.

The entrance looks a lot like a suit store, so if you hadn't seen it beforehand, you wouldn’t know it's a restaurant and bar. The membership cards are displayed in the middle, but you still wouldn't know how to open the door XD. If the staff finds you can't get in, they'll come out to help.

The interior space is spacious, the lighting is dim but not too dark to see. On Sunday night, there were only two tables occupied.

The menu is accessed by scanning the NFC next to the table with your phone. The staff provided detailed introductions and recommendations.

Stir-fried scallop pasta with Singapore sauce has a flavor I've never tried before; it’s mildly spicy with scallops and salmon roe.

Spicy green pepper chicken balls are the sauced kind, a bit spicy but very addictive.

Tender tea-infused lamb chops have a nice tea aroma, but they might be a bit overcooked and hard to chew.

The "Indulgence" drink is served in a Stitch cup with dry ice—it looks super cool! You can't taste any alcohol at all; it's just sweet and fruity, perfect for those who can’t handle strong drinks.

The "Yama King" drink has pork paper, and the alcohol flavor is obvious but not overpowering. The balance of tea aroma and hibiscus flavor is really good.

Overall, both the dishes and cocktails performed excellently today! It's a great place to hang out with friends.