In July when the weather is hot, there is no better place to hang than in the shops if you want to escape the heat. Here are my current best five hang out places in Taipei and not all are in the comfort of a shopping mall.
Number One
Eslite 24 hour bookstore
Of course you can always check out the newer branch at Xinyi which is near Taipei 101 but this branch is open 24 hours! It is a great place to hang out in. English books abound and you can find some great coffee table books if weight in your luggage is not an issue. It seems Taiwanese are not embracing the e-book as fast as other places so this bookstore is often busy with book-lovers. There is also a great cafe here and their Hazelnut latte is very good! Just ask for the password if you are after free wifi connectivity. This is just a great place to hang out for an hour or so and soak up Taipei city living!
Number Two
Back street shopping and eating in Zhongxiao Dunhua
Catch the MRT to Zhongxiao Dunhua on the Bannan line and exit on the main road. Ignore all the big name shops on the main street and head behind where you will find all the old walk up style apartments and a myriad of tiny clothing shops, cafes and restaurants. I think it is great to see a lot of small businesses and none of that generic brand label approach so common nowadays in modern shopping malls. As for a bite to eat, check out something novel like Toasterina. I went here because a Taiwanese friend thought it interesting. The toasted sandwichs are HUGE and the fries are good! Their address is No.3, Lane 169, Sec 1 Dunhua South Road. Again, ask for the shop's password for free wifi.
Starbucks cafe at Yangmingshan
I can not believe I am recommending this but after a long, long walk in the hills, it is nice to sit and people watch everyone across the street at the bus stop. Also it is a great toilet stop, study spot and not a bad place for a coffee (only kidding). Check out the cheesy fake fireplace. I tried to imagine a real log fire in winter but probably not.
Number Four
iPizza
This is not exactly a place to keep your cool in the summertime but if you like pizza, this little family run business does a great wood fire pizza. Called iPizza, it is a little hard to find but its on Zhongshan North Road, Section 5 on a little lane numbered 505. It is just off the Shilin MRT station on the Danshui line. It is a great place to stop off for dinner after coming back from Yangmingshan since the buses that return from there, stop at a bus stop for Shilin MRT. If on the bus returning from Yangmingshan, you get off the bus, walk back a bit and take the side line on your left and as you are walking towards Shilin MRT you will find iPizza on your left. They have a variety of flavours and if you are truly adventurous, the chocolate, almond, banana pizza sounds very interesting. Note I stuck to Hawaiian!
Number Five
Ximending area - The Red House
Some say this area is the Shinjuku of Taipei. To me it is just Ximending! Noisy, eclectic, lots of interesting shops but a must see spot. Of course in summer it is awfully hot but there is a great little cafe within the Red Mansion house which is uber retro. Just forgive the very old furniture as some of the chairs have passed their so called 'support' days. Within the Red House there are various art and craft shops. On the Saturday I went, there was an art and craft market outside which aside from the very hot weather, was a great place to wander around.
Now also in Ximending and very close to the MRT exit which is nearby the Red house, is a great Japanese restaurant where, if cost is not such an issue, I highly recommend the Taiwanese Wagu beef. Now if you do not look Chinese, be prepared to be asked in your language, where you come from. The restaurant likes to put up a little flag of your home country and that of Taiwan! But it is the Wagu beef that is so delicious. They cook it on a hot stone with rock salt and it just melts in your mouth. It is not cheap. But once in a while we need to spoil ourselves. I must admit I have not had the Wagu on this trip but my last trip to Taipei, this was the highlight of holiday! Enough said.
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