Back in the day, Dadaocheng used to be a massive spot in Taipei’s Datong District where folks would dry grains under the sun. Nowadays, it’s still bustling, mixing up some creative vibes along with its hundred-year history. Taking a walk around the area, you’ll catch whiffs of cool cafes and Chinese herbs floating in the river breeze. It really gives you a taste of Taipei during those halcyon days when Tamsui Port opened for foreign trade in the early 1860s.
Dadaocheng today is marked by a mix of classic dried herb and tea shops, blended with hip cafes, eateries, and bars that infuse a local flair into their offerings. Here’s how to make the most of your visit:
Look Up: Gorgeous architecture
Dadaocheng is one of those vintage spots in Taipei City, as it was established back in the 1850s. Today, you can still find rows of cool old buildings all packed into a small area. History buffs will definitely find this place irresistible, with traditional Fujian-style Qing Dynasty homes lined alongside Baroque revival styles popular during the time of the Japanese colonial occupation.
This place is also a hotspot for photoshoots, with the stunning AS Watson building, the vintage signs, and rows of fancy shophouses filled with a mix of businesses, from hip cafes to Chinese herb apothecaries.
Dadaocheng is anchored by Dihua Street (the oldest street in Taipei) – it’s got a bit of everything that makes this area tick: tea and herb merchants, east-meets-west old-school vibes, and hipster cafes.
The best way to explore Dadaocheng is to start from the north since it’s the least crowded area. The further south you go, the more crowded it gets, with the epicentre being centered around the Xia Hai City God Temple. You can start by taking the MRT to Daqiaotou Station and head down Dihua St until the southern end of the road.
Cafe Hopping
After strolling around Dadaocheng, you’ll need to take a break! There’s no shortage of amazing cafes for a shot of caffeine. If you love themed cafes, you’re in luck.
For hand-brewed coffee, Pallas Café is a favourite among visitors, and its retro interior invokes a relaxed Japanese kissaten vibe. What’s more, it’s located right next to the famous signboard on Dihua St Lane 14. Another cafe with a retro vibe is AKA café, which is a little hard to find as the entrance is super narrow. But once inside, the colonial-style space opens out into a spacious garden, and you can try some of their coffee cocktails here.
If you love chocolates, then head upstairs to COFE, which not only has locally-sourced coffee but also Taiwanese chocolates. These chocs are locally made, and are infused with local coffee beans and tea leaves, so you’ll get flavours like Chiayi Alishan Geisha and Oriental Beauty Tea.
Perhaps one of the most interesting cafe is Cabinet of Migrants, which is filled to the brim with taxidermied animals (from badgers to bears!), skeletons, and also an eclectic collection of antiques. Definitely a peculiar vibe that’s great for photo ops!
Tea steeped in history
Even if you’re only in Taiwan for their famous bubble teas (Dadaocheng also has those), you can’t visit this place without sampling some local specialty teas at the many teahouses here. After all, the area used to be the heart of Taiwan’s tea trade about 150 years ago.
If you want to get a taste of history, visit Wangtea Lab, founded in 1890 and is still operating to this day. You can get a tour of the tea roasting facility, and sample some unique teas and tea concoctions in its fancy new tea bar.
Another venerable tea merchant is Sin Hong Choon, situated in an 80-year-old three-story house that now functions as a museum of sorts.
Since Dadaocheng is Taipei’s tea district, there’s a lot of places where you can sample Taiwanese tea. Those who appreciate old school vibes can head to South Street Delight Tea House or ASW Tea House.
You can also bring back some specialty Taiwanese tea (like Oriental Beauty, Dong Ding, JingXuan, etc) or even dried fruit teas from one of the many tea merchants that line Dihua St.
Dried herbs, fruits, and souvenirs
When you’re walking around Dadaocheng, soothing scents of Chinese medicinal herbs linger in the air. You can find old school traditional Chinese medicinal herb shops lining Dihua St and Minle St, and they’ve been here for over a century. Many of these shops include a pharmacy, where a doctor versed in Chinese medicine can provide advice, like Liu An Tang Chinese Medicine (六安堂參藥行) which offers single-use packs of Chinese herbs. Another Chinese apothecary, Yao de Herbs (姚德和青草號), not only retails herbs, but is also a hipster tearoom selling ready-to-drink herbal tea.
If you’re thinking of getting souvenirs back home for friends and family, Dadaocheng is the perfect place to go. You can find plenty of shops selling dried fruits that Taiwan is known for – like plum, mango, kumquat, guava, and more. FullMountain is one of those stores that specialises in all kinds of Taiwanese snacks, including dried fruits. Alternatively, take a walk down Dihua St and you’ll find rows of shops with dried fruit samples you can try.
Another old business that’s been around the block is Dachun Soap, where you can get an array of soaps made using local ingredients. There’s also a tester counter where you can lather up.
Once you’ve bought enough, you’ll probably need to get a big bag to hold all your purchases! Head to Gao Jian Bucket Shop and get yourself an iconic tri-coloured nylon woven bag called qiezi-dai, which is super cheap and durable.
Bars with a local flavour
When night falls, you may feel like heading to a bar. There aren’t as many options here as in Xinyi District, but each one is unique. These include Bar CityNorth, a classic-looking bar tucked upstairs of a shophouse, where cocktails include unique signatures that feature local ingredients.
The iconic AS Watson buidling also houses a bar with a classic interior on the third floor: Antique Bar 1900 boasts an old-timey interior and specialises in absinthe!
If you’re in time for sunset, head towards the pier at Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market. It’s basically a cool container park with numerous stalls where you can have dinner and a drink overlooking the river. Try a local craft beer brew from Sunmai, and head upstairs for great views.
