A One-Second Trip to Europe – Café de Lugano, an Italo-French Café in Lugano, Feels Like Being on a European Street

▲ Café de Lugano boasts an atrium full of European charm.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shih-yuan, Taipei

Want to sit on a European street enjoying breakfast and coffee? But do the high travel costs always hold you back? Don’t worry — Lin Ming-chun, chairman of Wenhua Boutique, has created a European-style café, Café de Lugano, on the first floor of the Oriental European-style atrium at Mandarin Oriental. It makes you feel as if you’re right on a European street, enjoying the sunshine and the aroma of coffee. It officially opened on May 5.


▲ Café de Lugano officially opened on May 5.

Following the launch of Thai & Thai Thai cuisine restaurant in 2015 and Tamba Ya shabu-shabu and teppanyaki in 2016, Wenhua Boutique created in 2017 (this year) the most European-style café in Taipei on the first-floor atrium — Café de Lugano. Chairman Lin Ming-chun invited renowned American designer Barbara Allen to take charge of the design, incorporating original paintings by French contemporary artist Jacques Pellegrin. The result is an interior space that blends European luxury with modern sensibilities, and an outdoor atrium filled with the vibrant colors and relaxed vibe of Southern Europe.


▲ One of the brunch menu items: Crispy Pork Oatmeal Porridge.


▲ Boston Lobster Croissant.


▲ Pork Loin with Tuna Mayonnaise.

Beyond the space, the café has recruited Chef Lin Ting-you (Leo), who has experience in Italo-French cuisine and excels at incorporating local ingredients into classic French dishes. As a result, at Café de Lugano, you’ll find many familiar Taiwanese elements — such as pork chops, duck meat preserved in liquor, and Cantonese-style char siu — adding visual and flavor interest for guests. The café offers brunch, à la carte items, dinner, and cocktails.


▲ Thick-cut Pork Chop Sandwich.


▲ Country Vegetable Soup.

The “brunch” served from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM features “Crispy Pork Oatmeal Porridge,” which presents Hong Kong-style char siu — familiar to many Taiwanese — using French techniques. It also replaces Italian risotto with healthy, high-fiber, low-calorie oatmeal. The skin-on pork belly is first cooked with low heat and then slowly pan-fried until the skin turns crispy. Chef Lin Ting-you says this is meant to replicate the texture of Hong Kong-style crispy char siu, making breakfast oatmeal far more exciting.

Address: 1F, Wenhua Boutique, No. 166, Dunhua N. Rd., Taipei City
Tel: 02-2712-1660
Seating capacity: 92 indoor seats (100 ping), 213 outdoor seats (200 ping)