Creative Drinks   You’d think this cup of coffee was a potted plant if no one told you!

Text and photos byPingzi

When visiting the alleys along Dunhua South Road in Taipei, there are many unique cafes. Pingzi would like to recommend Wengu Cafe. It only opens in the afternoon, and the hanging chairs inside are very distinctive. The menu highlights its signature potted plant coffee, which is full of creativity. The coffee is delicious and smooth, and there are also tasty, hearty pancakes. The afternoon tea set is great value for money, making it worth a repeat visit.

It’s a short 10-minute walk from Dunhua MRT Station. Turn into Lane 160 from Dunhua South Road, and you might just miss it if you’re not paying attention. The cafe is small but, like a sparrow, it has all the vital organs—fully equipped despite its size.

The understated facade, even the metal signplate, reflects the owner’s reserved nature. You can tell they have real skills but prefer not to show off ostentatiously.

Even before entering, you’ll spot the much-coveted hanging chair setup.

The entrance is planted with lush greenery, full of fresh ideas. On the city street, you can feel life bursting forth.

From a distance, the small shop has surprising depth, with a long, narrow interior layout.

As you step inside, you’ll see several distinct zones, offering a diverse, mixed-style vibe. The interior mainly features warm yellow tones, giving off a homely atmosphere.

The very popular hanging chair area also attracts groups of best friends, often filling up with guests.

On the left is a three-seat hanging chair zone.

In the middle, there’s a raised loft seating area that avoids the crowded spaces below.

They thoughtfully provide a small basket for you to place your bag.

On this day, Pingzi chose to sit in the hanging chair area while reading the book “Stealing Your Mood to Write Love Songs” by Teacher Lin Qiuli. Rocking gently in the hanging chair, she also took the opportunity to brainstorm creative ideas for a recent design proposal at work. It was a cozy and comfortable spot—a great place for generating ideas.

A full row of bookshelves adds a literary touch, with playful and whimsical books and travel guides from around the world. You can tell the cafe owner is a thoughtful, imaginative, travel-loving, and cultured individual.

At the very back of the cafe is an open counter that welcomes incoming guests. The dining tables are adorned with a myriad of small items, wonderfully arranged and neatly organized, where you can find little knick-knacks.

Many of the potted plants feature this smiley-face icon, which is delightful to look at.

Drinks are self-service, and there’s no service charge—great!

The menu here is also very creative—all handmade, with each menu having a different design. It’s a bit of a pity that some of the menus are worn out, with certain items crossed out because they’re no longer available. A bit of reorganization would make it better.

For food, since the cafe only opens in the afternoon, it focuses on afternoon tea. Of course, there are pancake and dessert sets, but the best part is that they also offer savory pancakes and sandwiches. This means friends who don’t eat sweets—or male companions who tag along—can also enjoy a tasty meal.

There’s a wide variety, and just looking at the menu makes you think hard about what to choose.

On this day, Pingzi ordered the classic pancake set, which comes with a 150-TWD coffee. If you want a coffee more expensive than that, you just pay the difference. At just 230 TWD, it’s been ages since Pingzi found such an affordable and great-value afternoon tea, dessert, and coffee combo in Taipei City. Highly recommended for a meal here.

When the pancakes arrived, they were a pleasant surprise. They were served on a rustic wooden serving board, which looked great. The portion was generous, and the presentation added to the appeal. With butter and honey on the side, it was appetizing just to look at.

The butter on the side was piped into a shape resembling a pine tree—very eye-catching—and the portion was quite generous.

The pancakes were served hot, dense, and sliceable with a knife. Topped with honey sauce and taken in a bite, they were crispy and delicious.

For potted plant drinks, you can order: potted coffee, potted milk tea, or potted cocoa (three options available). The potted coffee arrives looking just like a potted plant—so creative. Pingzi couldn’t help exclaiming how fun this cafe is. It’s sure to be a hit with many groups of besties, which is why she came to Wengu Cafe for a drink.

On this day, Pingzi ordered the potted coffee for 160 TWD. It was topped with a generous amount of Oreo cookie crumbs. At first glance, it looks like chocolate powder, but it really does resemble soil too—how fun. The base of the potted coffee is a latte—the coffee isn’t bitter and is served piping hot.

It’s recommended to eat the cookie crumbs on top first; otherwise, if they settle at the bottom, the texture becomes thicker and takes on a different flavor.

The creativity of this potted coffee has indeed attracted many pilgrims. The power of cuteness is great—creativity changes the world and creates the unique charm of this café. Pingzi loves such distinctive cafés, with their thoughtfully designed features.

I enjoy dining here. There are no time restrictions on meals, no service charge, and free Wi-Fi is provided. Due to its high popularity, reservations are not accepted. Those planning to visit are advised to come early or choose weekdays.

Wengu Café (温古咖啡)
02-2711-7181.
No. 16, Lane 160, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City. (5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Dunhua MRT Station)
Minimum charge: one drink per person. No time restrictions on meals, no service charge, and free Wi-Fi is provided.
Business hours: Tues–Fri 14:00–22:00 / Sat–Sun 12:00–22:00. (Closed on Mondays)
Fan page:https://www.facebook.com/wengucafe.
 

Up’s Smile Pingzi (up’s smile 向上微笑)!
She is a designer and also the photographer behind Up’s Smile Travel, Food, Design & Film.
Passionate about “travel,” “food,” “design,” “photography,” and movies.
Blogger:http://upssmile.com/