A magical world appears in a department store — a pasta restaurant with an eye-catching full-wall bookshelf

Reported and photographed by You t
ru / Taoyuan

Can you feel like you’ve stepped into a Harry Potter movie scene in an Italian pasta restaurant inside a department store? Inside TaiMall in Taoyuan’s Taoyuan District, there’s an Italian restaurant featuring a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, embracing a low-key yet luxurious décor style. Spoons hanging above the bar and drawers of various sizes make it feel as if you’ve stepped out of the shopping mall world and into another magical space.


▲%The mysterious corner unveils... a cozy coffee corner?%


“NINI Italian Restaurant,” located within the shopping mall, is a well-known pasta spot in Taoyuan. It originally had a branch in TaiMall but later relocated due to the mall’s downturn before recently making a comeback — returning to its “home base” — attracting many loyal customers. Rather than adopting the bright and casual style typical of shopping mall eateries, NINI Italian Restaurant opts for a classic and opulent theme. Its all-black aesthetic stands out strikingly amidst the mall’s environment.

While the décor is amusing, the true highlight lies in how well the ingredients shine. The restaurant’s most famous signature dish is its exclusive “Tuna Cream Spread,” which combines the rich flavor of tuna with the aroma of butter. Served with small French bread that’s crispy on the outside yet chewy within, it delivers a distinctive taste — indulgent yet not greasy, making it highly appealing. Starter dishes such as bacon Caesar salad and fried squid are also must-orders for many regulars.

 
▲ Left: Fried squid; Right: Bacon Caesar salad.

Dobe, the PR representative of NINI Italian Restaurant, recommends the wild mushroom and crab risotto and the spicy seafood squid ink pasta as particularly worthwhile main courses to try. The wild mushroom and crab risotto uses whole pieces of crab meat, paired with tender wild mushrooms, offering a unique fragrant taste that tempts you to keep eating. As for the spicy seafood squid ink pasta, instead of using squid ink sauce, the pasta itself is made from squid ink, allowing diners to enjoy a rich squid flavor without worrying about black stains — its spicy and bold taste also offers a uniquely satisfying texture.


▲ Wild mushroom and crab risotto.
%The drink menu is also not to be missed.%


NINI Italian Restaurant
Address: No. 112, Section 1, Nan]
Road, Luzhu District, Taoyuan County (6th Floor, TaiMall)
Phone: (03)222-3272