Celebrity-Owned Shop / Yao Yuanhao's SURF CAFE: Crafting an Urban Surf Vibe

Text by Lai Yanru

Tired of the hustle and bustle of the main roads? Turn into a quiet alley. There you’ll find small bookstores, grocery stores, and delightful cafes and teahouses... The idol drama “Big Red Riding Hood and Little Wolf” produced by Dreamland Culture collaborated with 15 alleyside shops in Taipei, using their settings for filming. Each shop has its own charm and character, well worth exploring. First, let’s take a look at the alleyway shops personally decorated by Yao Yuanhao, A-Mei Chang, Ashin from Mayday, Vincent Fang, and Wu Jianheng.

▲ A comfortable and relaxing 1970s American-style ambiance. (Photo provided by Dreamland Culture)

In the alleys of Taipei’s East District, there are many uniquely styled specialty shops, and among them lies the theme restaurant SURF CAFE operated by entertainer Yao Yuanhao. The interior design of the shop doesn’t rely on flashy embellishments. Amid the simplicity, there’s a dazzling “decoration”—two vintage surfboards hanging on the wall. “They were handmade by the world-renowned Australian shaper Tom Wegener and specially given to me as a keepsake. Priceless.”


▲ The eye-catching “decoration” is two vintage surfboards hanging on the wall. (Photo provided by Dreamland Culture)

  ▲ Stepping into Surf Café, you’ll see white brick walls, a retro-style bar, and tables and chairs. (Photo provided by Dreamland Culture)

As soon as you enter Surf Café, the white brick walls, retro-style bar, and furniture create a comfortable and relaxing 1970s American vibe. Yao Yuanhao, who loves surfing, opened a restaurant that reflects his personal style, and naturally, he didn’t miss the chance to incorporate surfing elements into the space.

Yao Yuanhao is usually busy with his acting career, but whenever he has time, he visits the shop, greets customers in person, and even helps wash dishes—completely free of any star attitude. Surf Café often attracts fans, some even traveling from as far as Tainan, only to be disappointed when they don’t meet the celebrity. Staff joke, “As soon as Yao Yuanhao hears about such a fan, he immediately says, ‘Next time that fan comes again, remember to call me. As long as I’m free, I’ll definitely come.’”


▲ Yao Yuanhao often visits the shop in his spare time to greet customers in person. (Photo provided by Dreamland Culture)

Surf Café also features an outdoor dining area where you can enjoy tranquility in the back alleys of the East District—a favorite spot of Yao Yuanhao when he’s in the shop. Whenever the hustle in the store quiets down, he orders his favorite “smoked salmon eggs Benedict,” sits in the outdoor dining area, and enjoys his own moment of leisure.

【Surf Café】
Phone: 02-27752968
Address: No. 45-2, Lane 187, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City 106