Taipei is a cool, metropolitan city full of opportunities and fun things to do. It’s impossible to be bored here, you’ll almost feel overwhelmed by everything you can do and see. There’s the hike to the incredible view over Taipei 101, night markets where you can fill your stomach with delicious local food, grand shopping malls, lively nightlife, hot springs, temples, and one of the best things - cafés!

The city is blessed with thousands of cafés, all with their own quirky touch to it. If you’re tired of going to the chain cafés that looks the same everywhere in the world, you’ll definitely be happy to know that you’ll be able to find more special ones here. Some cafés are truly exceptional, some are so cute that you won’t be able to take your eyes off of it, and some are just… odd. So don’t forget your camera, bring your friends and enjoy everything peculiar that Taipei has to offer!

Let’s take a look at 5 of the quirkiest cafés in Taipei and why you have to visit them:

Cat.jpg Cafe

The cat cafés have become a worldwide phenomenon, but did you know that the first one was located in Taipei? Some say that cats bring luck and that’s why they’re so popular, and others claim it’s because landlords in Taipei don’t allow pets in apartments, so all the cat lovers had to go to cafés instead to get their daily dose of their furry friends. Whatever the reason, the concept is absolutely purrr-fect! It’s not every day you can sit with your friends, have a nice cup of coffee and snuggle up with cats. Just remember to always treat the animals with respect, remember that they get petted all day long so if they’re not up for it, let them go. The cat cafés are usually very popular amongst locals and expats alike, so come here early to secure a spot.

Address: No. 16, Lane 5, Longquan St, Da’an District, Taipei, Taiwan

Opening Hours: Weekdays 7am to 9pm | Saturdays 8am to 9pm | Sundays 8am to 7.30pm

Nearest Station: Dongmen

Modern Toilet Restaurant

Source: Modern Toilet Restaurant

Have you always dreamt of sitting on a toilet eating ice cream shaped as poop? Ehh… We neither. But now you have the chance to do so. This highly popular restaurant has become one of Taipei's most visited cafés because of its very unique concept. You can find Modern Toilet Restaurants all over Taiwan nowadays, and even in several other places in Asia. You come here for the fun photos, not so much the food that is served in toilet bowls. But you will be guaranteed to have a fun time with your friends here. It’s crazy, bizarre and downright hilarious! A must-do in Taipei.

Address: No. 7號, Lane 50, Xining South Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 - 22:00 | Friday - Saturday 11:00 to 22:30 | Sunday 11:00 - 22:00

P.S. Bu Bu Restaurant

Source: P.S. Bu Bu Restaurant

This vintage car restaurant in Taipei will make you feel like you’ve entered a US diner. Everything here is car-related, and you’ll see Volkswagen Beetles and Mini Austins “parked” in the restaurant. You will sit in real, vintage cars that have been cut up and fabricated into seated areas. This cute and quirky café is a hit amongst both locals and internationals and it’s not hard to see why. Whether you love cars, want to visit a unique café or just looking for a place to eat some Western dishes, it’s a place you have to visit when you’re in town. Come here for the retro vibes, take a photo of the colorful U.S state license plates and the 1960s gas pumps. Everything here will make you swoon!

Address: No. 1號, Lane 140, Section 7, Zhongshan North Road, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111

Open Daily: 12:00 - 22:00

Brick Works

Source: Brick Works

Cute is the word to describe Brick Works. This café is - you guessed it right - lego-themed. Everything from the decor to the food has a lego theme all over it. This is the ideal playground for lego fans where you can walk around and see the exhibits, perhaps purchase some lego toys and finally sit down and enjoy a Lego Waffle. Sounds like a pretty nice café experience, right?

Address: No. 2, Section 4, Nanjing East Road

Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105

Open Daily: 12pm – 8pm

Nearest Station: Taipei Arena

Alice Is Coming

Source: Alice Is Coming

“It’s always tea time” - now you can make all your Alice in Wonderland dreams come true in this quirky Alice themed café. The entire place is decorated to satisfy all the Alice in Wonderland fans. It’ll feel like you’re sitting and having tea with Alice and her friends. Even the drinks and food follows the theme and you’ll hear the soundtrack in the background as well. The café is extremely picturesque - and so is the food - so don’t forget to snap a lot of photos here. You’ll want to remember this beautiful café.

Address: 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Yanping South Road, 111號

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday - 11:30 - 20:30 | Friday - Sunday 11:30 to 21:00 |

Bonus cafés: If you have more time and want to continue café hopping, you must also visit “Tamed Fox”, a more minimalistic café that’s quite the opposite of all the eccentric cafés, but still has its quirky touch to it. It’s a health-conscious café where you can indulge in healthy donuts without feeling guilty afterward. However, if you do want a more over-the-top café, head to “Untitled Workshop” where you can have a Black Goth Latte with a hipster pineapple wallpaper as a backdrop.

And that’s it! These quirky cafés in Taipei will surely make for a fun experience, whether you go there for the food or for the decor (or both!). There’s not quite a city like Taipei and these cafés prove that this city is everything that the cafés represent: cute, fun, bizarre, quirky and most importantly: in a class by itself!