Taichung’s Century-Old City Hall Reopens with a Gorgeous Makeover as a Café

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

The century-old Taichung City Hall, after years of restoration work, reopened to the public on February 27. Shedding its former image as a cold "government office," the first floor has been redesigned as a café, while the second floor has been turned into an arts and cultural space, offering visitors a fresh perspective on the historical beauty of the building. It’s a must-visit travel highlight in Taichung lately.

Built in 1911, Taichung City Hall is a "Neo-Baroque" architecture in the "Tatsuno Style" from Taichung’s Japanese colonial period and is also the pioneer of reinforced concrete buildings in the region. Its exterior emphasizes luxury and ornamentation, with medal decorations on the gables and windows, and keystone embellishments on the arched windows—fully showcasing the elegance of Baroque style.

Having witnessed nearly a century of Taichung’s development, the City Hall was once deemed a dangerous structure due to damage from the 921 Earthquake. Since 2002, it has been registered as a historic building by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, which then actively initiated research and restoration plans. It was repositioned as the “Taichung Story House,” aiming to become one of the city’s art and cultural exhibition venues. Later, the second phase of restoration was completed, extending to the former site of the “Taichung Election Commission” office building. A team under the Classical Rose Garden brand took over, combining dining and cultural creativity by turning the first floor into a café and the second floor into an art center. The two-story brick building at the back, which was once a public pawnshop in Taichung, will be transformed into a salon offering creative ice cream treats. If you’re visiting Taichung, don’t miss stopping by the City Hall for coffee, admiring artworks, and experiencing the beauty of this Japanese-era building while reminiscing about the city’s history.