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Living in: The world’s top coffee cities
http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20140421-living-in-the-worlds-top-coffee-cities
In many of the world’s top coffee cities, the cafe is more than just a place to get a
warm drink – it is also a hub of culture and conversation for locals and visitors alike.
And while each city defines its coffee culture in a different way – whether it be by
their classic drink style or by the sheer concentration of independently owned coffee
houses – these six cities, taken from “best of” lists in publications including Travel
and Leisure and the USA Today, have one thing in common: the cities are filled with
people who life for the craft of coffee.
Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei residents are known for being extraordinarily friendly and extremely polite.
Since the island was once a Japanese colony, it is not uncommon for shop employees
to smile and bow in unison when someone walks through the doors. And nowhere is
this friendliness more apparent than in the city’s surprisingly unique cafes. Topo Cafe,
in northern Taipei’s Western-style Tianmu neighbourhood, is so offbeat it has a
miniature, gold-fish filled river running through the middle of it.
Alistair Chang, an American from the Washington DC area, lived in Taipei for a year,
documenting his favourite coffee spots on his blog, Taipei Cafes. He said he especially
loves the establishments near the Zhongxiao Dunhua transit station in southern
Taipei’s Da’an district. “These cafes are a little bolder,” he explained in an e-mail.
“Homey’s Cafe, for example, requires you to walk up two unmarked, sketchy cement
stairs to find, while the Barbie Cafe is exactly what the title suggests: completely
pink.”
Apartments near the station range from studios to three-bedrooms, and are modern
with no extra frills, though they can still be on the expensive side. With no shortage
of entertainment options, the Da’an district has lots of shopping, restaurants and is
famous for the Tonghua and Shida night markets, where street vendors serve up
budget-friendly snacks and gadgets.
There’s a particularly strong cafe culture near the National Taiwan University in Da’an.
“This movement to create independent cafes in Taipei has really been driven by the
younger generation,” Chang said. One of the district’s more popular spots is The
Puzzle Cafe (022-362-0859; number 28, Lane 44, Tàishùn St), where friends can catch
up over cappuccino and a 500-piece puzzle. Housing here caters to mostly students,
so apartments tend to be on the smaller, simpler and more affordable side.