Northern Taiwan
This creaking two-storey teahouse from the Japanese era has the look and feel of a frontier gambling den. Inside you can almost picture the miners…
Must-see nightlife in Taiwan
Central East Coast
With a lawn-fronted sweep of sea view, this serene cafe serves top-quality, handmade ice cream and brownies as well as great coffee and craft beers from…
Hualien
The pasta and steak are excellent, but what makes this bar-restaurant stand out is its range of imaginative cocktails based around house-made 'makau wine'…
Songshan
Cosy little secret space with outdoor smoking section and some of the best-quality, cheapest brews in town. Their latte with a splash of Baileys (NT$80)…
Taipei
Packed with foreign students, this smallish club is right next to Maji Square. Eclectic range of tunes – sometimes even reggae – karaoke and live music…
Tainan
The glamorous younger sister of TCRC Bar, Bar Home is all red velvet curtains, green walls and chandeliers, like a cross between old Tainan and Cluedo…
Taipei
Walk into Fourplay and ask for a drinks menu – the bartender is likely to say that he is the drinks menu. Tell him what you fancy and he'll tailor a…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
Lanyu's most happening nightspot, raised just above an attractive bay, serves classic and local cocktails (NT$200-300) – try Lanyu (not Long Island) Ice…
Songshan
The smell of incense and the fluttering of Tibetan prayer flags indicate this charming little teahouse hidden behind trees. Run by the gregarious Mr Hwang…
Ximending & Wanhua
This bright, friendly design cafe has sanded wooden school desks for tables and is jungly with a forest of pot plants. It's known for its signature black…
Ximending & Wanhua
One of Taipei's original coffee shops, Fong Da dates from 1956 and still uses some of the original equipment. Service is brusque – this is a taste of old…
Songshan
This cute cafe is aiming to be a little bit of Tokyo in Taiwan. Its speciality is matcha, that favoured flavouring from Japan made from powdered green tea…
Xinyi
Besides the very tasty and varied craft brews on tap, what makes this place extra special is the outdoor rooftop seating with royal views of Taipei 101…
Taitung
This unassuming little box of a bar is a veritable treasure trove for beer lovers, stocking dozens of mostly Belgian brews, including a wide range of…
Taipei
A hipster cafe without any of the pretension. Spacious, studious, with a wall of windows, and damn good coffee and cakes. Named after the Haruki Murakami…
Taipei
This lively waterfront strip of outdoor pop-up bars offers gorgeous views of the river. Some of the stalls have rooftop areas, or else there are benches…
Kaohsiung
Similar to the restaurant downstairs, this bar features retro Japanese decor and music. Cocktails are carefully prepared by mixologist Neil. Hang around…
Taichung
A microbrewery with an attached pub in the far-flung district of Fengyuan. It was opened by two South Africans and an Irishman and offers seven selections…
Shilin
Cashing in on Taipei's craft-beer craze is Funky Fresh situated on the cusp of the Shilin Night Market action. It's a heavenly nook serving a good range…
Chiayi
This breezy cafe occupying part of the premises of an old liquor factory serves very good coffee that comes with wacky names like 'Young Man', 'Uncle Blue…
Hualien
In this relaxing cafe, you can watch the coffee beans being roasted as you sip drip-, syphon- or espresso-based brews sourced from a dozen different…
Shuitou Village
Easy to spot from the big stylised Mao portrait, this historic 'western' house in Shuitou's main central ensemble is primarily a souvenir shop selling…
Central East Coast
Sip a cinnamon-dusted cappuccino or robust espresso on a semi-open terrace perched high above a stretch of rocky beach. Coastal views sweep north to a…
Taipei
Descending the steps to this lounge bar in the basement of the Amba hotel, the first word that comes to mind is 'smoochy'. The statue of a boar with a hat…
Kaohsiung
Young beer connoisseurs from Kaohsiung like to hang out at this spacious taproom and discuss local politics over a strong ale or a light Belgian brew…
Ximending & Wanhua
Housed in the refurbished wooden quarters of a Japanese priest, this lovely teahouse really catches the afternoon light through its windows. There's a…
Taichung
Taiwan bubble tea has taken the world by storm, and this modern outlet of the multibranch Chun Shui Tang is supposed to have started it all. The bubble…
Tainan
The owner here has built a lush cafe from a rubbish heap by filling it only with recycled materials. The hip spot is wedged into an old building facing…
Kinmen
Choose from around two dozen Taiwanese craft beers (NT$160) or sip from mini pots of rare Taiwanese teas (NT$160) in this upstairs cafe's 1940s retro…
Taichung
Zhang Men is a Taipei brewery with nine branches in Taiwan and a couple in Hong Kong. This lively and relaxing branch on Taiwan Boulevard offers 32 taps …
Chiayi
Stylish COP with its green walls and cool industrial lights is known for tea-infused cocktails, and the more floral and fruity side of drinks. But if this…
Taipei
This snuggly little corner of a coffee shop is basically just a tumble of tables looking out onto a back lane next to Guting MRT station. It's remarkably…
Hualien
A veritable shrine for serious coffee lovers, this intimate place has several dozen fresh roasts (NT$150 to $500), which are listed on a board with…
Northern Taiwan
Duck in to this lively joint behind Wai'ao Beach for craft beer, cocktails and hand-tossed Italian-style pizza. Live music every Saturday and holidays. In…
Ximending & Wanhua
This cafe is set in a long gallery with lovely big windows, on the 4th floor of Zhongshan Hall. It's the perfect setting for reading or meeting a friend…
Taichung
Oenophiles, this is one of the best places in Taiwan to buy and sample fine wines. The range is impressive and there are knowledgeable staff to make…
Central East Coast
Built into the structure of the original sugar mill, this funky gift shop and artisan brewer is a great place for simple cocktails, mead made from local…
Chiayi
A cool and relaxing cafe with Mediterranean floor tiles that serves only coffee – but very good coffee. It's located at a busy junction, which makes…
Kaohsiung
This classy European-style restaurant is one of the few places in southern Taiwan that sells fine European wine by the glass, with a decent Belgian beer…
Eastern Taiwan & Taroko National Park
Combining Thai restaurant and shisha bar, this inviting little space has an intriguing 'secret' back room with pit seating and a historic-style hanging…
