Paws, Paints, and Pastries (TAIPEI Quarterly 2026 Summer Vol.44)Post date：2026-06-10
0
TAIPEI #44 (2026 Summer)
PHOTOS VISION
From cute critters to activity-based concepts, themed cafés have become go-to date spots in Taipei. By combining special interests, like the love for comforting exotic pets, with playful interiors, creatively presented dishes, and interactive elements, these venues turn a simple meal into a singular shared experience filled with lighthearted moments and plenty of photo-worthy opportunities, all perfect for a cozy date.
Did you know that the world's first cat café is said to have opened in Taipei in 1998? Since
then, the concept has expanded beyond cats to include dogs, birds, and even more unusual residents such as chinchillas and capybaras, becoming a popular date option during which couples can bond over furry company. The novelty is part of the appeal, but do keep animal welfare in mind when deciding where to go.
Located north of MRT Xinyi Anhe Station, Meerkat75 Café is home to a family of energetic meerkats, including playful juveniles who rotate shifts to melt customers' hearts. The animals are usually housed in a glass enclosure at the back of the café, and visitors can book 15-minute slots to meet them up close in a separate room.
There is a set of house rules in place to ensure safe interactions, but once you start playing with the animals, it's hard not to be immediately charmed. The meerkats are endlessly curious – sniffing at your hands, tugging at your sleeves, and occasionally scrambling right up onto your shoulders or head for a better look. Their tiny, warm weight and bright, inquisitive eyes have a way of melting stress away almost instantly.
For couples, the experience offers something surprisingly sweet: laughing together as a meerkat investigates your partner's hair, or catching each other's eye when one of the little creatures decides your lap is the perfect napping spot. Staff are on hand throughout the session to guide visitors and ensure everyone – human and meerkat alike – feels comfortable.
▲Spanish Cuttlefish-ink Pasta
The brightly lit, colorful interior is full of meerkat-themed decorations and merchandise for sale, and all seating offers a clear view of the main enclosure. The menu features a mix of well-presented Western-style dishes, including Spanish Cuttlefish-ink Pasta and Duck Breast & Pesto Pasta, alongside classic desserts such as ice-cream pancake platters and cheesecakes. Colorful drinks, such as a Blue Curacao sparkling drink and an Orange Green Tea with milk foam, add to the playful vibe.
MEERKAT75 CAFÉ 75 度獴
🚩32, Ln. 295, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Daan District
📞(02) 2325-4569
🔗instagram.com/meerkat75cafe
🕝Tue-Thu 11:00am-8:00pm; Fri-Sun 11:30am-9:00pm (Reservations are recommended)
At Poetry, couples are given markers to draw on their drink glasses, adding names, flirtatious doodles, and little jokes that make the experience more creative and personal. While the simple idea is a major draw for dates, this spacious, art-filled, lounge-style bistro with an outdoor garden terrace and private booths offers an intimate yet chic atmosphere well-suited for a romantic night out.
▲Glasses painted by dining couples
Tucked away from the office towers and traffic near MRT Xihu Station, Poetry feels like a deliberate escape. The owner set out to create a quiet refuge from the busy metropolis, summed up in the line, "arrive like a poem, hide away for a while." For couples working in the surrounding tech park looking to decompress and reconnect after a long day, the generous layout, well-spaced seating, and private booths offer a kind of breathing room that's genuinely rare in Taipei. The bistro stays open late, making it a natural choice when the evening calls for lingering.
The façade is defined by a metal-grid wall, allowing the growth of plants through its structure. The doors lead to a striking, solid aspen wood bar that blends well with the industrial elements and quirky art pieces. Inside, the design strikes a balance between modern and cozy, featuring Taiwanese cypress tables paired with European designer furniture and greenery throughout. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in soft natural light during the day, while woven lamps create a more intimate, bar-like atmosphere in the evening.
The interior is a natural draw for art-minded couples. Art fills the space, with a particular focus on the whimsical, childlike paintings and sculptures of Juan Ripolles. Toward the back, traditional Taiwanese hand puppets are displayed on shelves, looking slightly out of place yet adding to the intrigue.
▲One-bite tapas; Grilled ox-tongue risotto
The extensive menu is largely inspired by Spanish cuisine, reinterpreted with Taiwanese ingredients. This season's signature dish is a grilled ox-tongue risotto with a Basque-style roasted paprika base, topped with a thick, tender slice of ox tongue braised in soy and oyster sauce and served with kale. Other highlights include the rouge duck confit with potato gnocchi and a house-made fermented pineapple chili sauce, as well as a one-bite tapas featuring a pastry base, scallops, chorizo, and black garlic.
▲Mist Realm, signature by Poetry
For dessert, a good choice for couples is the Wishing Tree, which resembles a cherry blossom, with pink cotton candy and a chocolate stem set atop a mound of lemon cheesecake, finished with delicate petal-like toppings. The staff can decorate the plate with messages such as "Happy Birthday." Specialty drinks include Crimson Moon, a mix of vodka, red wine, rosemary, and raspberry.
POETRY 如詩
🚩466, Sec. 2, Tiding Blvd., Zhongshan Dist.
📞(02) 8501-5416
🔗instagram.com/poetry.tpe
🕝Sun-Thu 9:00am-10:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am-12:00am
🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map
Paws, Paints, and Pastries
Two Themed Taipei Cafés That Are Perfect for Dates
PHOTOS VISION
From cute critters to activity-based concepts, themed cafés have become go-to date spots in Taipei. By combining special interests, like the love for comforting exotic pets, with playful interiors, creatively presented dishes, and interactive elements, these venues turn a simple meal into a singular shared experience filled with lighthearted moments and plenty of photo-worthy opportunities, all perfect for a cozy date.
Did you know that the world's first cat café is said to have opened in Taipei in 1998? Since
then, the concept has expanded beyond cats to include dogs, birds, and even more unusual residents such as chinchillas and capybaras, becoming a popular date option during which couples can bond over furry company. The novelty is part of the appeal, but do keep animal welfare in mind when deciding where to go.
Located north of MRT Xinyi Anhe Station, Meerkat75 Café is home to a family of energetic meerkats, including playful juveniles who rotate shifts to melt customers' hearts. The animals are usually housed in a glass enclosure at the back of the café, and visitors can book 15-minute slots to meet them up close in a separate room.
There is a set of house rules in place to ensure safe interactions, but once you start playing with the animals, it's hard not to be immediately charmed. The meerkats are endlessly curious – sniffing at your hands, tugging at your sleeves, and occasionally scrambling right up onto your shoulders or head for a better look. Their tiny, warm weight and bright, inquisitive eyes have a way of melting stress away almost instantly.
For couples, the experience offers something surprisingly sweet: laughing together as a meerkat investigates your partner's hair, or catching each other's eye when one of the little creatures decides your lap is the perfect napping spot. Staff are on hand throughout the session to guide visitors and ensure everyone – human and meerkat alike – feels comfortable.
▲Spanish Cuttlefish-ink Pasta
The brightly lit, colorful interior is full of meerkat-themed decorations and merchandise for sale, and all seating offers a clear view of the main enclosure. The menu features a mix of well-presented Western-style dishes, including Spanish Cuttlefish-ink Pasta and Duck Breast & Pesto Pasta, alongside classic desserts such as ice-cream pancake platters and cheesecakes. Colorful drinks, such as a Blue Curacao sparkling drink and an Orange Green Tea with milk foam, add to the playful vibe.
MEERKAT75 CAFÉ 75 度獴
🚩32, Ln. 295, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Daan District
📞(02) 2325-4569
🔗instagram.com/meerkat75cafe
🕝Tue-Thu 11:00am-8:00pm; Fri-Sun 11:30am-9:00pm (Reservations are recommended)
At Poetry, couples are given markers to draw on their drink glasses, adding names, flirtatious doodles, and little jokes that make the experience more creative and personal. While the simple idea is a major draw for dates, this spacious, art-filled, lounge-style bistro with an outdoor garden terrace and private booths offers an intimate yet chic atmosphere well-suited for a romantic night out.
▲Glasses painted by dining couples
Tucked away from the office towers and traffic near MRT Xihu Station, Poetry feels like a deliberate escape. The owner set out to create a quiet refuge from the busy metropolis, summed up in the line, "arrive like a poem, hide away for a while." For couples working in the surrounding tech park looking to decompress and reconnect after a long day, the generous layout, well-spaced seating, and private booths offer a kind of breathing room that's genuinely rare in Taipei. The bistro stays open late, making it a natural choice when the evening calls for lingering.
The façade is defined by a metal-grid wall, allowing the growth of plants through its structure. The doors lead to a striking, solid aspen wood bar that blends well with the industrial elements and quirky art pieces. Inside, the design strikes a balance between modern and cozy, featuring Taiwanese cypress tables paired with European designer furniture and greenery throughout. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in soft natural light during the day, while woven lamps create a more intimate, bar-like atmosphere in the evening.
The interior is a natural draw for art-minded couples. Art fills the space, with a particular focus on the whimsical, childlike paintings and sculptures of Juan Ripolles. Toward the back, traditional Taiwanese hand puppets are displayed on shelves, looking slightly out of place yet adding to the intrigue.
▲One-bite tapas; Grilled ox-tongue risotto
The extensive menu is largely inspired by Spanish cuisine, reinterpreted with Taiwanese ingredients. This season's signature dish is a grilled ox-tongue risotto with a Basque-style roasted paprika base, topped with a thick, tender slice of ox tongue braised in soy and oyster sauce and served with kale. Other highlights include the rouge duck confit with potato gnocchi and a house-made fermented pineapple chili sauce, as well as a one-bite tapas featuring a pastry base, scallops, chorizo, and black garlic.
▲Mist Realm, signature by Poetry
For dessert, a good choice for couples is the Wishing Tree, which resembles a cherry blossom, with pink cotton candy and a chocolate stem set atop a mound of lemon cheesecake, finished with delicate petal-like toppings. The staff can decorate the plate with messages such as "Happy Birthday." Specialty drinks include Crimson Moon, a mix of vodka, red wine, rosemary, and raspberry.
POETRY 如詩
🚩466, Sec. 2, Tiding Blvd., Zhongshan Dist.
📞(02) 8501-5416
🔗instagram.com/poetry.tpe
🕝Sun-Thu 9:00am-10:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am-12:00am
🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map
