“Come for the check-up, stay for the coffee!” Three cafes in Taiwan repurposed from old hospitals

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As soon as you walk in, the wooden partitions immediately evoke the ambiance of an old clinic. The front counter used to be the registration desk, the bar area was once the injection room, and there’s even an antique telephone full of character.

The first and second floors display numerous movie and TV drama posters, some of which are signed by big stars. These works are all by renowned photographer Guo Zhengzhang, one of the founding partners.

The second floor has a Japanese-style vibe. The raised tatami room was once the living quarters of the original owner. It’s divided into three private rooms by sliding doors, and the hollowed-out windows enhance the sense of space and light.

Sitting on the tatami and sipping coffee gives off a nostalgic Japanese feeling, as if you’ve stepped back in time.

The kitchen area retains the original countertops and stoves. I love these little untold details of the past. It’s now been turned into a small exhibition room.

The second floor also has a dedicated storytelling space that displays photos and stories about Mr. Chen Jinbo, recounting the past and present of Hesheng Taiping. I truly admire the owner’s thoughtfulness and dedication. What’s most touching isn’t just the revitalization and preservation of the space, but the reverence for history and the meticulous effort to trace and retain the details left by time.
Hesheng Taiping

Address: No. 145, Section 3, Zhongshan Road, Yilan City, Yilan County 260


Phone: 03-9360060 Business Hours: Monday–Sunday, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/cafestory145<<<<<

This article is from the blog “A Child’s Heart Venturing into the World.” For the full article, click here >>>>

Due to its proximity to home, I occasionally drop by in the afternoon to write. The exterior is an elegant three-story Western-style house, while the interior spans four floors. Baroque arches and columns exude opulence, while wooden Japanese-style windows convey a sense of tranquility. The signboard of the "Shuntian Surgical Hospital" has been preserved—a hospital that once left a remarkable legacy in Taiwan’s modern history.

The founder, Xie Tangshan, was a figure of great distinction—as Taiwan’s first surgeon to complete formal Western medical education. His indigenous identity is an additional source of local pride. He married the granddaughter of Li Chunsheng, a wealthy merchant from Dadaocheng, ascending into the affluent class and expanding his influence across medicine, politics, and business, further enriching this chapter of history with legendary tales. (Quoted from Taipingding 4th Lane)

This building underwent a five-year restoration process and is now repurposed as a café. The interior features a wooden decor style that exudes a humanistic atmosphere, giving off the vibe of an art gallery.

Part of the second floor displays antique "vacuum tube audio equipment," transporting you back to the mid-20th century—where literati and refined scholars would critique artworks in a salon setting. Especially when sitting on a fainting couch, one can’t help but feel a lazy, artistic vibe.

The third floor serves as an exhibition and performance space, with stairs designed to function as tiered seating for a small theater, which opens during exhibitions. On my first visit, there happened to be an exhibition of calligraphy and paintings—the elongated format of the artworks enhanced the sense of spatial depth.

Sometimes, when a wonderful space meets exceptional works of art, the resulting ambiance and energy can leave an unforgettable impression.

The hospital elements of Boan 84 are presented in a playful manner, recreating the scene of a "consultation room" where the doctor has been worked to the bone—literally reduced to a skeleton. The walls display physician coats, nurse uniforms, and stethoscopes, inviting visitors to engage in role-play.

Boan 84
Address: No. 84, Bao’an St., Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2552-8836, 2550-1280
Business Hours: Monday–Sunday, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Boan84

【Taoyuan – Bakuaizhi Studio】

This roughly 60-year-old house was originally a clinic and has now been transformed into a café. From the outside, you can see the two-story old-style building, though only the flooring and windows inside still carry traces of the past.

The first-floor walls are adorned with paintings, allowing you to enjoy the current solo art exhibition. This place isn’t just a café—it’s also a gallery. According to the staff, the owner enjoys painting, and there’s also a studio space on the second floor where you can sign up for painting classes.

Despite being housed in an old building, it constantly gives off a European vibe. Is it the overly elegant counter and lighting? The spacious layout of the tables and chairs? That classic old piano? Or the Western statue?

At the back of the shop, there’s actually a small garden. Looking up, you’ll see an atrium through which sunlight filters and shifts, filling the indoor space with sunbeams and greenery. I love those corners where you can read aloud in the sunshine.

We sat on old sofas, the ambiance strikingly reminiscent of an arts and culture space. We sat quietly, letting time drift by slowly. One of the most beautiful things in life is forgetting the passage and erosion of time, simply flowing gently along with its quiet ripples.

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