Taiwan’s café scene is absolutely wild, and we mean that in the best possible way. While most countries stick to the usual coffee-and-pastry formula, Taiwan decided to throw that rulebook out the window and create dining experiences that’ll make your Instagram followers do double-takes. From sipping lattes while petting capybaras to eating dessert from miniature toilet bowls, these cafés prove that Taiwanese creativity knows no bounds.
The island has become a playground for themed dining, where every meal feels like stepping into someone’s wonderfully weird imagination. Here is a list of 15 quirky cafés that’ll give you stories to tell for years.
Modern Toilet Restaurant
Let’s start with Taiwan’s most infamous dining experience. Modern Toilet Restaurant turns every bathroom joke into reality, with guests sitting on actual toilet seats (don’t worry, they’re not functional) while eating from miniature toilet bowls and drinking from urinal-shaped glasses. The checkered tile walls are adorned with showerheads, plungers hang from the ceiling, and feces-shaped lights provide the ambiance. What started as a single location in Kaohsiung in 2004 grew to 19 branches at its peak, though only two remain today in Taipei’s Ximending and Shilin districts. The chocolate ice cream dessert shaped like, well, you can guess, has become legendary among visitors brave enough to try it.
Capybara Knight
Taipei’s first capybara café brings South America’s chillest rodents to Taiwan’s bustling streets. Hidden in Tucheng District’s back alleys, this adorable café is home to Ba La the female capybara and Ga Bi, along with rabbits, ducks, and a cat, creating quite the animal menagerie. The café isn’t just about the live animals though. It’s filled with capybara-themed decorations and gifts, making it a paradise for anyone obsessed with these giant guinea pig cousins. Visitors report that the animals roam freely outside and seem genuinely happy, which makes the experience feel more authentic than exploitative. Think of it as a petting zoo that serves excellent coffee.
Kitten Coffee Garden
This unassuming café holds a massive claim to fame — it’s the world’s first cat café, opening its doors way back in 1998 when the concept was completely unheard of. Currently located in Shilin and home to 13 cats and two dogs, this pioneer café maintains a homey atmosphere where visitors can watch the animals eat and play together. Japan didn’t catch onto the cat café trend until 2004, meaning this little Taipei spot basically launched a global phenomenon. The café feels more like visiting a friend’s house than a commercial establishment, which probably explains why the concept became so popular worldwide.
Leputing
This atmospheric restaurant occupies a restored 1920s Japanese colonial building that once served as dormitories for Forestry Bureau officials. After being abandoned for decades, the red-brick structure was lovingly restored while preserving its original architectural elements. The interior maintains simple lines and earthy tones, warmed by gentle curves and splashes of color from hand-dyed scarves and traditional Bian embroidery collections. Even quirky original features were kept intact, like the sunken bath area that now displays works of art instead of being filled in for more dining space. The seasonal set menu showcases fresh, locally-sourced Taiwanese ingredients in beautifully plated dishes that taste as amazing as they look.
Brick Works
Located near Taipei Arena, this Lego lover’s dream features colorful furnishings and edibles mimicking the appearance of those famous interlocking blocks. The café houses permanent displays of impressive LEGO MOCs (My Own Creations) including famous builds like the Ghostbusters headquarters and Springfield from The Simpsons. Kids can play with actual Lego pieces while parents enjoy Lego-themed food, making it perfect for family visits or adult nostalgia trips. They’ve got a free play area, Build-A-Minifigure station, and even sell LEGO sets, turning the café into a one-stop brick experience.
Bugcat Capoo Café
This café celebrates one of Taiwan’s most beloved cartoon characters — a cute cross between a blue cat and a bug created by local illustrator Yara. With over 1.6 million Instagram followers, Bugcat Capoo has become such a cultural phenomenon that there are regular pop-up exhibitions and even a permanent themed 7-Eleven in Taipei. The café in Taichung serves ‘cat-puccinos’ with adorable latte art and sells some of the cutest kitty merchandise you’ll find anywhere. There are now two locations in Taichung, including a new one at Taichung Station housed in an old station building. The blue and white color scheme matches the character perfectly.
OIA Café
About 40 minutes from Taipei in Xinbei, this beachside café lets you dine with actual alpacas roaming around your table. Two friendly alpacas patrol the indoor dining area and can easily be bribed with carrots for photo opportunities. If two alpacas aren’t enough, there are 10 more hanging out in the back area outside. The café features beach-inspired décor that matches the coastal location. Just remember not to hug the alpacas unless you want to risk getting spit on — they’re friendly, but they’re still alpacas with alpaca attitudes. The pasta is surprisingly good considering you’re eating next to livestock.
P.S. Bu Bu
This retro American diner throws you back to the 1950s with vintage posters, old vehicle license plates, and the main attraction — actual vintage cars converted into dining booths. Featured cars include Volkswagen Beetles, Mini Austins, and Cadillacs, creating an automotive museum you can eat inside. The restaurant serves Westernized and fusion dishes along with popular Taiwanese set meals, all while surrounded by pastel-colored classic automobiles. It’s perfect for car enthusiasts or anyone wanting to experience American diner culture with a distinctly Taiwanese twist.
Miyahara Ice Cream
— Photo by elwynn
This stunning ice cream parlor in Taichung was built in 1927 as the largest ophthalmology clinic in the city during Japanese colonial rule. After decades of abandonment following earthquake and typhoon damage, the Dawn Cake company purchased and restored the building in 2010. The interior now resembles Hogwarts from Harry Potter, complete with towering bookshelves, vintage memorabilia, and ornate chandeliers, creating a magical atmosphere. The real star is their famous ice cream with over 60 different flavors, plus seasonal specials — you can choose five different flavors and add creative toppings to create Instagram-worthy desserts. They also sell beautifully packaged chocolates and Taiwan teas in vinyl record-style sleeves, making it both a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.
Wistaria Tea House
This historic teahouse occupies a 1920s Japanese-style wooden house that has witnessed decades of Taiwan’s political and cultural evolution. During the 1980s White Terror period, it served as a secret meeting place for political dissidents and intellectual activists fighting for democracy. The building became Taiwan’s first national heritage site in 1981 and was designated as a historic monument in 1997.
Visitors step into a tranquil world with tatami seating rooms, a serene courtyard featuring a koi pond, and rickety wooden floors that creak with history. Staff demonstrate the traditional gongfu tea ceremony, and you can stay up to three hours brewing and sharing premium teas from their extensive menu of aged oolongs, pu-erhs, and rare varieties.
Oromo Café
This multi-floor wonderland near Taipei Station is probably one of the quirkiest cafés in the entire city, with each floor offering a completely different themed experience. Large teddy bears nestle in cozy nooks and sprawl across a blue slide that runs parallel to the stairs, while a giant floor-to-ceiling bookcase stuffed with vintage memorabilia lines an entire wall. The space features an Alice in Wonderland aesthetic with Greek columns, a massive standing mirror, and greenery suspended from the ceiling creating an overwhelming but delightful sensory experience. The top floor even has an indoor slide blocked by a huge teddy bear, glass flooring for those brave enough to look down, and high tables perfect for working while surrounded by whimsical decor.
Pythonism
This might be Taiwan’s most unusual concept — a café where you can sip coffee while interacting with friendly ball pythons. Under staff guidance, visitors can safely touch and learn about these gentle reptiles while enjoying a cozy atmosphere. The café also sells reptile-related products like cages, food, and accessories, making it a hub for Taiwan’s reptile community. It’s pet-friendly too, though we’re not sure how most pets would react to the resident snakes. Located in Datong District and open afternoons to evenings, it’s definitely not your average coffee experience.
TankQ Café & Bar
This playful, toy-themed café feels like stepping into a giant toybox where childhood dreams come to life. The space overflows with colorful cartoon figurines, Marvel superhero decorations, and Disney characters creating a nostalgic atmosphere that appeals to the inner child in everyone. At the entrance, large plush characters provide perfect photo opportunities, while inside, guests can enjoy a hands-on DIY area where they craft their own keychains as souvenirs.
The food presentation matches the whimsical theme — burgers and fries arrive in mini shipping containers or tiny carts, while drinks are served in adorable cartoon-character cups that are almost too cute to use. The café even offers their signature brunch served directly from vintage suitcases, giving wanderlust-filled diners a unique way to satisfy both their appetite and their travel dreams.
Sunsun Museum Café
This experimental space combines art gallery aesthetics with café culture, creating what they call ‘a mini museum in Taipei.’ The venue serves as both a contemporary art exhibition space and a coffee shop, hosting rotating displays of cutting-edge artwork alongside their beverage service. The minimalist design features clean lines and carefully curated installations that change regularly, making each visit a completely different visual experience. What makes this spot particularly unique is its commitment to showcasing emerging artists and experimental concepts, turning your coffee break into an immersive art gallery visit. The café doubles as an event space for exhibitions, lectures, brand launches, and cultural activities, making it a dynamic hub for Taipei’s creative community.
Kaiju Tea Shop
Hidden in Kaohsiung’s trendy Yancheng district, this monster-themed tea shop spans two floors of pure Godzilla merchandise and memorabilia. The ‘roarsome’ establishment serves Godzilla-themed food and drinks, including cappuccinos with monster foam art and gorgeous Godzilla pancakes available in several flavors. Everything on the menu pays homage to the King of Monsters, making it a must-visit for kaiju fans. As Taiwan’s themed café scene continues growing, this Kaohsiung location proves that quirky dining experiences aren’t limited to Taipei. The café manages to be both terrifying and adorable simultaneously.
Taiwan’s Café Revolution Lives On
While some themed cafés have closed over the years (goodbye, Rilakkuma Café), Taiwan’s creative dining scene keeps evolving with new concepts opening regularly. These quirky establishments represent more than just Instagram opportunities — they’re a window into Taiwan’s playful culture and willingness to embrace the wonderfully weird. From launching the global cat café phenomenon in 1998 to pioneering toilet-themed dining, Taiwan has consistently pushed the boundaries of what a café can be.
Whether you’re seeking nostalgia, animal therapy, or just a really good story to tell back home, these 15 spots prove that sometimes the best meals come with a side of absolute absurdity. The next time someone asks why Taiwan should be on their travel list, just show them a photo of yourself eating ice cream from a tiny toilet bowl while a capybara watches — that pretty much says it all.
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