Just one minute from the MRT exit — check into a youth hostel that tells Taiwan’s stories

▲1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee (Photo provided by 1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee)

ReporterYan Xintong/ Interview and report

1949 Cultural and Creative Café is a design-filled youth hostel, with interiors crafted from handmade Taiwanese furniture and installation art. Every design element is inspired by the theme of “Taiwanese history and culture.” One of the founders, Grace, says:“1949 is a youth hostel that tells stories”.”

▲1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee (Photo provided by 1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee)

Grace says:“1949 Cultural and Creative Café hopes that guests who stay here can truly and deeply understand Taiwan’s land and history.”” Grace is a graduate of National Chiao Tung University and one of the four founders of 1949 Cultural and Creative Café. She was once an exchange student and found that students at Tsinghua and Peking Universities were very interested in traveling to Taiwan, often discussing Taiwanese history in their exchanges.

However, the history of both sides before 1949 was taught the same, but after 1949, the history each side learned about the other was vastly different. Mainland Chinese students are very interested in Taiwan’s history, so Grace suddenly realized:“We don’t seem to care much about our own history. When others ask about our living environment, we often don’t know the answers.”That’s when she decided on the name and style positioning of 1949 Cultural and Creative Café.

▲1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee (Photo provided by 1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee)

Turning 1949 into a Taiwan story museum, showcasing Taiwanese stories, with 1949 as the watershed. The hostel offers historical decorations related to Taiwan after 1949. The architecture revolves around Taiwanese stories. Grace also said that in recent years, there’s been a rise in the literary and artistic trend in mainland China, where people are very interested in old Taiwanese buildings, especially the ancient houses in Tainan, which Chinese people particularly love.

So 1949 brought in items from the era of their grandmothers’ childhoods, turning rusty windows into installation art and wardrobes. Old items are preserved in their original form. Grace, being a woman, felt it was still important to consider guests’ basic needs for cleanliness and comfort. All old items are cleaned before being displayed—even antiques must have a clean and fresh feel. The goal is to let more travelers staying at the hostel experience Taiwanese culture.

▲1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee (Photo provided by 1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee)

“Every bed uses early floral fabrics from Yongle Market, all hand-stitched. We also provide organic shower gel and shampoo, hoping to break away from the traditional backpacker perception of accommodation quality. Affordable prices for the highest quality experience.” Grace says 1949 deliberately chose a location next to a street market, encouraging guests to explore locally by visiting the nearby market for an in-depth experience. At night, they can stroll through Lehuang Night Market, and there’s also Taiwan’s first Yonghe Soy Milk shop nearby.

▲1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee (Photo provided by 1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee)

In the hostel design, many weathered walls were intentionally preserved, with exposed piping creating a raw, minimalist spatial feel. Historic-looking searchlights cast a yellow glow in every corner. The book collection is related to Taiwanese historical stories. While ensuring guest comfort, the original features are retained as much as possible. Each bed features a representative illustration “of a person who grew up and worked in Taiwan,” not limited to any particular celebrity—such as illustrations of singer Chang Chen-yue or taxi drivers beside the beds.

The mannequins in the living room, Grace explains: “The mannequins are called WAGI, which means ‘sun’ in the Atayal language, and are 1949’s most distinctive guardians. After midnight, the lobby lights go out, leaving only WAGI standing in the darkness, watching over every traveler who comes here.” There are also winged light bulbs at the entrance. Grace says:“The bulbs symbolize the travelers who migrated with the government in 1949”, holding onto their own lights amidst the tides of history. With their wings reversed, they represent the desire to return to their homeland despite temporary residence.

▲1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee (Photo provided by 1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee)

The layout of 1949 has undergone major changes. Each floor is about 8 ping (approximately 26 square meters), quite compact. The wooden floors feature a simple design, with warm wood tones intended to create a relaxing atmosphere. Originally, the stairs were too long, so their position was significantly altered to improve space. Architectural techniques make the structure of the small house appear more expansive visually. Guests are encouraged to walk the stairs slowly, as each step reveals the names of Taiwan’s 100 peaks written on them. The adjacent walls are also distinctive, painted with Taiwan’s five major landforms by a Taiwanese designer, helping travelers from different regions better understand Taiwan’s geography.

Speaking of the sense of achievement from running 1949 Cultural and Creative Coffee, Grace says the greatest satisfaction is seeing “travelers who didn’t know each other come to Taiwan but end up going out together. Just seeing a group of ten or so guests chatting and sharing experiences in the lobby is a moving sight. Everyone meets at 1949, interactions are approachable and without distance, and it’s not money-driven.” 1949 Cultural and Creative Café hopes guests can relax and connect over a cup of coffee or tea.

1949 Cultural and Creative Café
Address: MRT Dingxi Station, a 1-minute walk (call the host when you arrive at the station for pick-up).
Phone: (02) 29284402
Room types & prices: 20 beds; 4 floors in total; 3 rooms; 1 all-female room; 1 room with 6 to 8-person beds; price set at NT$720.
Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/Taiwanfrom1949