Alleyway Cafés / Alice Has Grown Up & A Vintage Shop That Sells Alcohol

By Lai Yan-Ru

When the main roads get too crowded and bustling, turn off into the simpler alleyways. There you’ll find small bookstores, grocery shops, as well as delightful cafés and tea houses... The idol drama “Big Red Riding Hood and Little Wolf” produced by Dreamland Culture collaborated with 15 local alleyway shops in Taipei for the “Big Red Riding Hood Visits” gift campaign. Each shop has its own unique charm and is well worth exploring.


▲ Whether you’re a dark Alice or a mischievous Snow White, you can enjoy a wonderful time here. (Photo provided by Dreamland)

Designer Nancy went on a three-month trip to Europe and brought back a whole container of antiques, which led her to open “Love Lovely, a Lifestyle Vintage Shop.” Then, in hopes of encouraging more people to explore antiques, she also set up a café inside the vintage store. Isn’t the result of overseas travel and shopping just amazing?

“Love Lovely, a Lifestyle Vintage Shop” is located in the Dongcheng District of Taipei. The shop owner, Nancy, is a big fan of the fairy tale “Alice in Wonderland,” which inspired many of the shop’s elements and its logo. “But we sell alcohol, so you could say we’re the grown-up ‘dark Alice,’” jokes brand manager Guo Yipei.


▲ The concept of the “dark Alice” represents Love Lovely’s retained childlike wonder to some extent. (Photo provided by Dreamland)

The idea of the “dark Alice” to some degree reflects Love Lovely’s childlike spirit while also showcasing the quirky tastes of creative individuals. Guo Yipei says the shop is filled with adorable designs and antiques, but also features collections that might scare some people. “Nancy collects a lot of antique dolls. Since they’re antiques, often only the heads or hands remain, and some customers have screamed when seeing them.”

Love Lovely also launched fun limited-edition items for Halloween. They placed plastic human-shaped dolls into translucent jelly made from non-toxic green apples, creating an effect similar to formaldehyde specimen jars. The products look a bit eerie, but their creativity brings a smile.


▲ Just the exterior of the shop already feels incredibly charming. (Photo provided by Dreamland)


▲ These antiques were personally selected by the shop owner during her trip to Europe. (Photo provided by Dreamland)


▲ Do you dare to try this jar of Halloween-limited fruit jam? (Photo provided by Dreamland)

Guo Yipei emphasizes that Love Lovely offers a wonderful space and hopes to engage more with customers, letting everyone come in and have fun. The shop regularly holds courses such as flower arranging and painting, and during major holidays, there are also costume parties and mini markets—ensuring that anyone who steps into Love Lovely can truly enjoy a beautiful life.

【Love Lovely, a Lifestyle Vintage Shop】
Phone: 02-27713800
Address: No. 3, Lane 4, Alley 345, Section 4, Ren’ai Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106