Ximen’s old coffee merchants give a different perspective on Taipei from the new tasting bars. Chengdu Road is the anchor, with the Red House and busy pedestrian streets making it easy to build a compact visit.
Start with Fong Da or Nanmei on Chengdu Road, then explore the Red House and the pedestrian streets. The cafés are next door to one another: choose the one that suits your mood rather than treating two cups as a requirement.
Fong Da is a window into Taipei’s older coffee habits: bags of beans, biscuit jars and a long-established cold-drip tradition on Chengdu Road. Choose it for a classic coffee-and-biscuit pause in Ximending, with the street’s everyday activity as part of the experience.
OUR SUGGESTED ORDER
The signature cold-drip coffee and a traditional biscuit from the counter.
Before you goLook for number 42. Nanmei Coffee is next door at 44; the two businesses should not be confused.
Nanmei is especially useful for curious home brewers. The long-running coffee merchant stocks roasted beans and brewing equipment, showing another side of Ximen’s coffee culture beside the better-known Fong Da. Spend time looking at the tools as well as the coffee list.
OUR SUGGESTED ORDER
A brewed coffee, followed by a look at beans or equipment for your own kitchen.
Before you goThe storefront is number 44, immediately beside Fong Da at 42. Check the name before following a photo or directions link.
