Japan’s must-try “Blue Bottle

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Blue Bottle coffee, a must-try in Tokyo, is now expected to come to Taiwan! JR East Japan’s station-based shopping mall “atre” (アトレ) recently announced plans to open its first overseas branch, “Breeze atre,” in Taipei’s Xinyi District. Spanning an area of 3,000 pyeong (approximately 9,900 square meters), it is scheduled to open in October 2018. Among the prospective tenants is the coffeehouse often referred to as the “Apple of the coffee world”—“Blue Bottle Coffee.”

▲The must-drink Blue Bottle coffee in Japan could be available in Taipei as early as 2018. (Photo / fromBlue Bottle Coffee Japan Facebook page)

▲Meguro atre shopping mall. (Photo / from Wikipedia)

“atre” is a station-integrated shopping mall operated by JR East Japan, known for its mid-to-low price range. It currently has outlets in major JR stations including the well-known Ueno, Ebisu, Kichijoji, and Mitaka, totaling 43 branches.

The first overseas “atre” branch has been confirmed to be located in Taipei’s Xinyi District at “Breeze Nan Shan,” developed by the Breeze Group. The complex covers a total area of approximately 16,000 pyeong, with the “atre” mall occupying about 3,000 pyeong. It will house around 50 brands, over 70% of which will be making their Taiwan debut, and roughly 35% of the retail space will be food and beverage outlets.

▲Blue Bottle Coffee is currently only available inJapanand can be found in Tokyo. (Photo / from Blue Bottle Coffee Japan Facebook page)

What excites netizens is that the “Apple of the coffee world”—“Blue Bottle Coffee,” and the “Starbucks of burgers”—“Shake Shack,” are both on the list of potential tenants. This means Taiwanese people may soon enjoy these internationally renowned eateries without having to travel abroad.