A pet-friendly café in a renovated old house with super adorable French bulldog servers!

Text and photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

For pet owners, taking their furry friends out isn’t always easy—going for a walk is fine, but when it comes to dining or grabbing a coffee, humans are usually fine, while pets often get turned away. It’s not that restaurants are unfriendly to pets, but they have to consider other guests and can’t force everyone to love them. Fortunately, the trend of renovating old houses into cafés has been booming over the past couple of years, along with the rise of many pet-friendly cafés for dogs and cats. Thanks to these pet-centric spots, our furry companions can enjoy some literary vibes and even make new friends. Recently, I discovered this truly amazing old-house café that’s also pet-friendly—【Ge Café】—absolutely worth a visit!

The exterior is simple and homely, with a two-story old house featuring a terrazzo low wall at the front. Inside, there’s a small garden rarely seen in modern homes. Though it’s just concrete, it at least gives pets more space to move around and play, and human kids can enjoy it too XD. Because the café has resident dogs, two small protective doors with safety switches have been installed at the entrance to prevent the dogs from running out.

Inside, there’s a French bulldog named Pipi and a pug named Pidan. The “Double Pi” duo often roams the café, cheerfully greeting guests and checking on whether everyone’s food is delicious (at least in their opinion). But please don’t feed them randomly... The indoor space is mostly white, with minimal decoration or overly deliberate antique furniture, creating a very comfortable vibe.

The staircase doubles as a bookshelf and part of the old-house decor. There’s no second-floor space, but another seating area is located further inside, featuring a half-height bar counter with a variety of freshly made sweet and savory pastries. The dogs sometimes hide under the counter, but the best part is the preserved iron lattice windows and the sunny window seats (though summer might be a bit intense). From the window, you can also see relaxed patrons. There are quite a few seats, and the café is tucked away in an alley, so it’s very quiet.

The star is this French bulldog named Pipi. I’m not sure how old he is, but he’s super energetic. There’s a little door under the bar counter where dogs can go in—I assume that’s his den—but Pipi can’t stay still and loves being around people, so he keeps patrolling the tables, begging for cuddles XD. Honestly, he’s adorable!

Especially when someone brings dog treats, he gets even more excited and playful. I love lively and energetic café dogs like him. He’s also kid-friendly, but remember, some pets may be wary of children, so don’t pet them right away on first meeting. Then, Pidan finally woke up and came out for a patrol, but I was so mesmerized by Pipi that I forgot to take his photo XD.

The last time I visited a pet-friendly old house café I liked was 【Li Wu Liang Shui】, which is also pretty great. PS. This place is practically a pet restaurant, as the walls have hooks for pet leashes, and many people bring their dogs here (thanks to Blue Cheese Gourmet for some of the photos)!

But just playing with dogs for free without eating isn’t sustainable—let’s check out what tasty dishes they offer. There are three brunch options, available from 【09:00 AM–01:00 PM】, all paired with meat and priced around 200 NT. Starting at 11 AM, there are also business lunch sets with main meals priced between 210 NT. I think the menu is pretty solid.

Each meal comes with iced black tea and a side salad, but the lunch set is more generous, including a chef’s soup as well. I personally prefer the lunch set. They also offer two exclusive fresh meals for pets, so dogs won’t just sit there watching everyone eat.

【Japanese Chicken Curry Rice │ 220 NT │ With Black Tea, Salad, Chef’s Soup】
Served in a lovely Japanese-style ceramic bowl, the curry rice is light yet flavorful (and the portion is actually pretty decent). The color scheme is quite pleasing. It comes with four large pieces of chicken, with golden, crispy skin. The chicken isn’t particularly tender but not dry either—it has a slightly firm texture.

The curry sauce is mildly sweet with a subtle spiciness, served with a boiled egg. It’s actually quite tasty, and the curry pairs well with rice. The soup is surprisingly hearty and delicious, and the salad portion is also generous—though I don’t like salad, so I gave it to a friend.

The black tea is served in an interesting measuring cup. It’s not a large cup, but it fits well with the rustic vibe. The curry rice portion is filling—I’d say it leaves you satisfied, though whether that’s seven or nine tenths full depends on the person.

【B. Bacon & Sausage Brunch │ 190 NT │ With Black Tea, Salad │ Paired with Fresh Bagel】
The plating is pleasantly surprising XDD—adorable handmade wooden plates. Thick sausages wrapped in bacon, paired with a large, fragrant freshly baked bagel, tofu, and a side salad. The presentation is nice, and the portion is decent.

Their bagels are pretty good—chewy with a slight sweetness, delicious whether hot or cold!

【A. Cheese Burger Patty │ 200 NT │ With Black Tea, Salad │ Paired with French Toast】
A juicy burger patty made with a mix of beef and pork, wrapped in cheese (though not the stretchy kind!). It adds a nice texture contrast, and the patty itself is quite moist without being overly greasy. The brunch meats are all pretty solid!

The French toast is a bit softer and wetter, but I actually like it that way. It’s a bit oily, but still tasty. The sides are the same for both brunch options, and they all come with the same teacup-sized black tea. Overall, it’s satisfying.

【C. Herb Chicken │ 200 NT │ With Black Tea, Salad │ Paired with French Toast】
The chicken is well-marinated with a hint of rosemary, not overly salty, and tastier than my curry chicken!

Though I feel the portion is a bit small, it depends on personal taste—my friend thought it was just right.

【Latte │ 130 NT │ Meal Drinks Eligible for 40 NT Discount】
I can only show you a photo because I didn’t drink it, but the cup it’s served in is pretty interesting.

【Lorraine Classic Savory Pie │ 130 NT】
This was an extra single order. The size is substantial, with a rich egg-milk aroma and a pretty good flavor. Though I feel the filling could use a bit more texture for an even better experience.

【Please follow the pet-related regulations when visiting with your pet】

Running a pet-friendly café is no easy feat—having too few staff makes operations quite challenging, which is why there aren’t many such places. It’s not just about allowing pets inside or offering pet food options. The owner needs to be able to interact with guests’ pets, the resident dog should be lively enough, and you also have to handle unexpected pet situations from time to time (like pets defecating or urinating in the store, barking non-stop, or other various issues).  And opening a café combined with a pet restaurant in an old traditional house is even rarer—it’s definitely worth bringing your furry friend here for a visit. I once saw a mom bringing her daughter in while also walking a French bulldog, and the scene felt incredibly heartwarming (I was practically moved to tears).

◎Shop Introduction: [Ge Café Gé Cafe Pet Restaurant │ West District]
◎Address: No. 152, Zhongqin Street, West District, Taichung City (near LinSen Road)
◎Phone: 04-23723200
◎Business Hours: 09:00 AM – 07:00 PM
◎Consumption Reminder: Open every day, please follow the pet-related regulations in the store

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