書店喫茶 一二三亭

Walking into a time capsule is my first impression of this cafe… all of a sudden, I was back to late 70s when I was born and grew up in the similar building. The tile, the window and the door… nostalgic yet tranquil. Very dim background music with soft glowing light, this cafe has a zen feeling. I was here around 3:30, perfect for afternoon tea. I browsed the menu and picked a special brown sugar crisp plum sparkling coffee and earl grey pineapple cake. The ice coffee was impressive, well balanced with sweetness and tartness from the plum and the sparkling water with espresso paired perfectly with the flavor, giving this beverage the texture that’s perfect for a warm day. I quite recommend everyone try this drink if you are an adventurous person. Pineapple cake, I do find it ordinary. I can taste the earl grey but given pineapple cake is one of the most famous pastries in Taiwan, I don’t see it quite memorable. Maybe trying other pastries next time is a better option. I will bring my foreign friend here for sure to experience a snap shot of Taiwan in 1970s.

If you are into retro buildings, especially early 19th century Japanese decor and architecture. Then this place is a must to visit for you. The furniture and decor transport you back to the pre-war era and kind of nostalgic, which I enjoyed. The beef bolognise is decent but not fantastic and latte equally acceptable. Come here for the building experience and nostalgic values. It can get rather chatty and loud, so you might not be able to fully enjoy your reading.

One of the best coffee I have tried in Kaohsiung!!! Fine pancake 🥞 decent beverages, I do enjoy the vibe they provide to the customers. Extremely comfortable and chill.

Nice hidden restaurant in Kaohsiung city, and the food and drinks were great, side dishes were tasty as well. Pros: cozy authentic dining area, food is great and you can quietly work or read here. Cons: Only 2 options for the meals, but they are both great.

The matcha cake was horrible. The pancake’s texture was too cakey. For ntd300, it was absolutely not worth it. The icecream was hard too.