Nordic minimalist-style café   Must-try “Mr. Slippers” sandwich oozing rich cheese

Text and photos byPaperclip. Food Photography Joy

Many years ago, I briefly lived near Yongchun Station and only remember that area being mostly traditional markets and snack shops—can’t recall seeing any decent independent cafés on the streets back then. Now there is one, right on Songshan Road near the intersection with Zhongxiao East Road.

Stone Espresso Bar is located right in front of the “Yongji Elementary School” bus stop. If you’re coming from Yongchun Station, it’s about a three-minute walk from Exit 5. The storefront doesn’t have any particularly eye-catching signage—just the words “Good Cafe” written by the entrance. I came in just as they were opening the shop, and the owner and his wife were busy tidying up the place while casually gesturing for me to find a seat. I took the opportunity to walk around the shop two or three times before settling on a window-side seat.

Stone Espresso Bar does indeed exude the Nordic style the owners pride themselves on: white countertops, wooden tables and chairs, and soft yellow lighting. However, the space is long and narrow, so the further inside you go, the more artificial lighting is needed. Having traveled in Northern Europe, though I didn’t visit many cafés during my trip, my impression was that most cafés and restaurants had open designs with large windows—spacious, bright spaces primarily lit by natural light, supplemented by soft artificial lighting. But for Stone Espresso Bar, the constraints of the space made that unavoidable.

Aside from the menu, you can also check out the chalkboard for coffee options. If you’d like handmade desserts or sandwiches, you can ask the owners. After ordering and paying at the counter, the owner hands you a pebble-numbered tag.

I ordered a “Mr. Slippers” sandwich (NT$200), a toasted caramel latte (NT$170), and couldn’t resist adding a Tieguanyin cheesecake (NT$100).

The toasted caramel latte arrived first. The owner kindly reminded me that their milk foam isn’t overly hot, so it’s safe to drink right away without burning your mouth. The latte had a thin, crispy layer of caramel on top—so thin it practically melted on contact. The foam was smooth and velvety, and the coffee was rich without any shortcuts.

While waiting for my sandwich, I found myself staring at the owner and his wife, feeling like I’d seen them somewhere before. I kept trying to recall if I’d spotted them at another café. The owner’s wife had a warm, friendly demeanor and a captivating dimple—when she smiled, she bore a slight resemblance to Japanese actress Aya Ueto. Where could I have seen her?

The sandwich was made fresh to order, and it took nearly 20 minutes to arrive.

Good things come to those who wait—the effort was worth it. Dubbed “Mr. Slippers,” it’s made in a style similar to the classic French sandwich Croque Monsieur, but with the bread swapped out for Italian honey slipper bread. Stone Espresso Bar’s Mr. Slippers is truly exceptional: the slightly sweet, honey-infused slipper bread is layered with béchamel sauce, double ham, and thick slices of Emmental cheese. The bread is toasted in the oven until crispy, and the cheese melts luxuriously—the cross-section is simply mouthwatering.

Speaking of Emmental cheese, it hails from Switzerland. When sold whole, you can see the varying-sized holes on its surface—yes, this is the very cheese mice are always stealing in cartoons. This cheese has an intensely milky aroma, and when heated, it becomes wonderfully stretchy, making it perfect for cooking.

But with the addition of béchamel and cheese, the Mr. Slippers is undeniably rich and heavy. It’s incredibly satisfying at first (especially if you’re hungry), but by the time I got to the second half, I really couldn’t finish it without a drink. Guess I’m getting older—I just can’t handle such intense flavors anymore. Still, I highly recommend it to anyone who loves bold, savory sandwiches.

So, I rested for a bit after the meal before asking the owner to bring out the Tieguanyin cheesecake.

Yet another small dessert that dazzled the taste buds—the tea flavor was pronounced. Regular café cheesecakes no longer interest me, but Stone Espresso Bar’s Tieguanyin-flavored one? That’s a rare find, isn’t it?

Outside the window is the bus stop, with people coming and going, boarding and alighting. Listening to the stream of nice music playing in the café, it all makes for quite the interesting scene. As I watched, I suddenly remembered where I’d seen the owner and his wife before. :)

[info]
Stone Espresso Bar
https://www.facebook.com/stoneespressobar
No. 304, Songshan Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (Exit 5, Yongchun Station)
02-27610177
1:00 PM–10:00 PM   Closed Tuesdays

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