French pastries made in a 107-year-old building — “Seven Wolves” return home to chase their dreams

Reported by You T-Ru / Interview & Reporting

The wave of “old house revival” sweeping across Taiwan has now reached Chiayi. In the heart of the city, there is a low-key little shop with a soft, pale yellow hue, quietly nestled in a niche between two buildings. The shop’s roof still features traditional tiles, and when the sunlight hits, golden beams spill over the entire yellow structure, making the whole place seem bathed in sunshine.


▲ Chiayi city is also embracing the old house trend, and this pale yellow shop quietly stands by the road, catching the eye. (Photo / Provided by CC)


▲ “Futian French Pastry Workshop,” renovated from a 107-year-old building. (Photo / Provided by Futian French Pastry Workshop)
What makes this “Futian French Pastry Workshop,” renovated from a 107-year-old building, truly special isn’t just its age — the warm and delicate storefront is actually the creation of seven 25-year-old guys from Chiayi. Dubbed the “Seven Wolves” by friends, these seven high school classmates grew up and, in pursuit of their shared dream of opening a shop, encouraged and discussed ideas with each other. Eventually, they chose their hometown as the base, giving birth to a brand-new pastry shop.


▲ Seven high school friends, dubbed the “Seven Wolves” by their peers, pursued their friendship-fueled dream of opening a shop. (Photo / Provided by Futian French Pastry Workshop)

Looking closely at the exterior, you can still see faint traces of repairs made after insect damage. Aside from the first floor, which mainly serves pastries, the second floor surprisingly features two staircases that divide the space into three areas, creating an intriguing winding layout. This clever design preserves the old structure while casting a warm spell over this pale yellow gem.

“To preserve this house, we spent a lot of time on detailed restoration work,” explained Jeff, one of the shop owners. What was initially planned as a one-month renovation project ended up taking three months. Moreover, most of the tables and chairs inside are second-hand pieces collected from various places, mixed with new sofas to create diverse atmospheres. “This is to breathe new life into the old house, hoping that both old and new energies can coexist here.”


▲ Old and new furniture share a vibrant energy within the space. (Photo / Provided by Futian French Pastry Workshop)

 
▲ Left: The curved staircase leading to the second floor. Right: Architectural view captured from the second floor inside the shop. (Photo / Provided by CC)

“In this shop, every pastry has its own story,” said Jeff. For example, the shop’s most popular macarons are made using traditional handmade methods, with the fillings carefully adjusted. “The pistachio flavor is one of our proudest creations.” Unlike common pistachio macarons loaded with chocolate sauce, these remove all extraneous flavors, preserving the pure aroma of pistachios. With a crisp outer shell and a soft, fluffy interior, the first bite is simply astonishing.

 
▲ Left: Dark chocolate ganache cake. Right: Signature macarons. (Photo / Provided by Futian French Pastry Workshop)

▲ Six flavors of macarons are available. (Photo / Provided by Futian French Pastry Workshop)
Additionally, the “Dark Chocolate Ganache Cake” here is also exceptional. Dagwas is a type of cake base known for its rich nutty aroma and thicker texture compared to regular cake bases. The top layer uses 70% Belgian chocolate, offering a dense yet not overly sweet flavor upon the first bite — another highly eye-catching dessert.

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Another customer favorite is the “Raspberry Yogurt Cup,” which combines commercial yogurt, Lin Feng Ying yogurt, and a homemade cookie. The overall texture is rich and smooth, seemingly gliding down the throat. The flavor transitions from rich to light from top to bottom, bursting with raspberry fruitiness.

【Futian French Pastry Workshop】
Address: No. 168, Zhongshan Road, Central Li, East District, Chiayi City
Phone: (05)225-6058
Business Hours: Mon–Fri: 12:00–22:00, Sat–Sun: 11:00–22:30