A light meal bistro that offers tranquility amid the hustle and bustle—croissants, sandwiches, and focaccia that hit all the right notes

Text & Photos /Mi’er

When I first heard that the Cathay Investment, known for its iconic big tree logo, had opened a commercial hotel, I have to admit I had a hard time imagining what kind of place it would be. Perhaps influenced by that yellow-and-green corporate logo, the image I had in mind of the Cathay Hotel was probably along those lines. But unexpectedly, when I walked into this rather low-key entrance of the hotel and arrived at the first-floor light meal bistro COZZI KITCHEN, I was completely taken by surprise.

The entire commercial hotel, named HOTEL COZZI, features earthy tones such as blush pink, brown, and gray as its main color scheme, presenting a simple yet elegant atmosphere. Especially in the first-floor COZZI KITCHEN, the sense of space is quite comfortable, and the floor-to-ceiling windows are especially adorned with green landscaping that screens out the bustling traffic outside. Being there feels incredibly relaxing. That’s why this unassuming little bistro at the intersection of Minsheng East Road and Jianguo North Road actually fills up with guests even on weekdays at lunchtime, and there are plenty of people who come here specifically to enjoy a relaxing and cozy afternoon tea time.

I heard that currently Cathay Hotels has two properties in trial operation: the Minsheng branch and the Zhongxiao branch near Shandao Temple. In the future, there will be a more formal Italian restaurant at the Dunhua branch, while the COZZI KITCHEN section mainly focuses on light meals and sandwiches. I originally thought light meals were just the usual fare, but when I opened the menu, I realized there were quite a lot of options. Just as I was feeling overwhelmed and unsure what to order, a familiar figure appeared carrying two large bags.

Wow, it turned out to be Chef Wang Zongjun JACK, whom I hadn’t seen in ages. It turns out that after wrapping up his previous restaurant ALBERO, which I quite liked, he came to work at Cathay Hotels as the executive chef, overseeing the planning of the restaurant. Seeing him there instantly gave me more confidence in the food here, because Chef JACK has certain standards when it comes to food, paying attention to both variety and taste. So I simply didn’t bother ordering and instead let him take care of the meal selection for me.

Actually, if you look closely at the menu here, you’ll find that the focus on sandwiches with flavors from around the world is quite unique. Paired with different salads, soups, desserts, and drinks, they create a set meal for about 400 NTD or less. Honestly, the portions are quite generous—I couldn’t even finish it all with my appetite. To let us try more items, Chef JACK also specially prepared German sausages and pork knuckle, which are only available during dinner hours. Oh my, I’ve always loved his German pork knuckle, so being able to relive that flavor here made me feel really happy.

Just a few days later, I met up with friends here again. Same huge portions, 100% satisfaction, and it made me like this quiet spot in the middle of the city even more. Next time I get the chance, I’m coming back to try the afternoon tea here too.


Freshly pressed apple juice that lets you taste the natural flavor of apples—completely unsweetened, not very sweet, but you can really taste the most natural essence.


There are three soup options. I chose the lighter corn rib soup—the sweetness of the corn blends into the soup, making it very comforting to drink, though it felt a bit odd paired with Western food. But the second time I ordered the Italian vegetable soup, which also had a natural sweetness from the vegetables and paired much better with the sandwich. As for the other cream soup, I never got around to trying it.


There are also three salad choices. This is the avocado salad, with a dollop of avocado sauce in the middle—the veggies are super fresh.


The french fries here are garlic-flavored, and both the aroma and taste are great—you might end up eating them one after another without realizing it.


The Korean-style kimchi beef short rib sandwich is truly loaded with ingredients and delicious. The crisp kimchi pairs with marinated American boneless beef short ribs, all sandwiched in homemade French bread. The first bite really brightened Mi’er’s day, and before I knew it, I’d polished off a whole one.


The smoked chicken croissant—these croissants are really well made, crispy on the outside and fragrant enough that any fresh filling makes it taste great. Here, the smoked chicken is combined with onions, tomatoes, and other ingredients, offering a refreshing taste with hints of the croissant’s buttery aroma.


The smoked salmon focaccia—I was already too full for this one, but Auntie Hu absolutely loved it.


The German pork knuckle was a feast for the eyes as soon as it was served. Just look at that glossy skin—it’s enough to make your mouth water.







The entrance bar counter


Spacious space, with seating areas in different sections each having their own unique vibe.


With sunlight pouring in like this, doesn’t it look really comfortable? I love this feeling so much.

Author: Mi’erGraduated from National Chengchi University’s Department of Chinese Literature and went into food journalism. Coupled with being raised under the guidance of her chef mom, she has a high sensitivity to food—not only does she love eating, but she also loves cooking. Due to her work, she often travels around the country in search of delicious food, sharing her food experiences on her blog, and frequently organizes group food outings. She is the author of the book “Group Food Tasting Reports.”

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[COZZI KITCHEN]

Address: No. 178, Section 2, Minsheng East Road, Taipei City

Contact number: 02-7706-3398