Be a bookworm with style once in a while—check out 4 themed bookstores in Taipei

▲ Boven Magazine Library. (Photo/Screen capture fromBoven Magazine Library’s Facebook fan page)

By Peng Huaiyu / Comprehensive report

In our digital world, we often find ourselves constantly looking down at our phones, scrolling through updates from friends on Facebook and Instagram, while neglecting the little world inside ourselves. In fact, the charm of words found in paper books is timeless.ETtoday EBC News has handpicked 4 uniquely themed bookstores in Taipei, each with its own distinctive focus, offering you a cozy place to connect with literature.

▲ Boven Magazine Library. (Photo/Screen capture fromBoven Magazine Library’s Facebook fan page)

1. Boven Magazine Library
Located in an underground space on an alley in Taipei’s East District, Boven doesn’t have an eye-catching signboard, but it is Taiwan’s first magazine library. The store says it aims not just to be a magazine library, but rather a “spiritual restaurant.” With around 15,000 to 20,000 volumes in stock, it includes foreign magazines from Europe, the US, and Japan. The collection also features over 300 types of design, art, travel, fashion, photography, and food & lifestyle magazines from around the world, providing inspiration and spiritual nourishment for creative minds.

The thoughtfully designed interiors, soothing music, and pleasant scents come together to create an elegant reading space. Pick a few magazines and enjoy a literarily infused afternoon.

Address: B1, No. 18, Lane 5, Alley 107, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2778-7526
Business Hours: 12:00–22:00
Admission Fee
Non-members: NT$300 per day
Members: Annual fee NT$1,000 per person (NT$100 per visit); or annual fee NT$5,000 per person for unlimited free visits within a year.

▲ VVG Chapter Huoxiang Studio. (Photo by Peng Huaiyu)

2. VVG Chapter Huoxiang Studio
Previously a viral hit, this bookstore is open to the public for free as a public welfare initiative. It houses a total of 4,000 books, including design, art, and literature titles. With the reader guideline “A Quiet Monologue,” it aims to help visitors truly immerse themselves in the world of books without disturbance and have heartfelt conversations with themselves.

The century-old hinoki wood house features Japanese architectural style, complemented by surrounding greenery, giving off a strong Zen vibe. In addition, there are wooden long tables, classic-style armchairs, and even private reading rooms. By the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, the scenic corridor bathes in golden sunlight when the light refracts—creating a romantic atmosphere for reading. Reading here is truly a blissful experience.

Address: No. 1, Lane 27, Linyi Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-23419662
Business Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00
Official reservation site:http://www.vvgchapter.com.tw/

▲ VVG Huoxiang Studio (Photo provided by netizen Dribs & Drabs. Please do not take unauthorized photos to avoid copyright infringement.)

3. Old Seal House
Nestled in the alleys near National Taiwan Normal University, there lies a quiet reading space away from the hustle and bustle. Established in 1979, as soon as you step through the door, you’re greeted by the faint scent of books. The classic and nostalgic atmosphere seems to transport you back in time, where you might have joined poets in composing verses. The bookstore mostly sells second-hand books. The owner says that the essence of culture truly lies in books, and strongly believes that the existence of old bookstores is a measure of a society’s cultural level.

▲Old Spice House. (Photo / Screenshot fromOld Spice House’s Facebook fan page)

To make reading more comfortable for visitors, the store offers many seating areas where you can slowly appreciate the traces of time woven through new and old texts. In addition, Old Spice House regularly holds various lectures and exhibitions, collaborating with nearby galleries to create an arts and culture hub.

▲Old Spice House. (Photo / Screenshot from Old Spice House’s Facebook fan page)

Address: No. 81, Longquan Street, Da’an District, Taipei City　
Phone: 02-2368-0576
Business Hours: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Tuesday to Sunday

▲Traveler’s Bookstore Zeelandia. (Photo / Photo by Peng Huaiyu, reporter)

4. Traveler’s Bookstore Zeelandia
Located on the second floor of an old apartment building on Qingtian Street, Traveler’s Bookstore is quite hidden and not easily found. It specializes in travel-related books, ranging from encyclopedic illustrated guides to hand-drawn maps. Though the space is small, the warm ambiance created by the dim lighting makes you feel safe and at ease.

In addition, the bookstore also sells tea and desserts. With any beverage purchase, you can choose a window seat and enjoy a peaceful journey through the written word. The store name, Zeelandia, refers to Fort Zeelandia—the first city built by the Dutch in Taiwan—and serves as a reminder that journeys begin with a single step, encouraging travelers to take that brave first step.

▲Traveler’s Bookstore (Photo / Provided by a netizen,juncol9Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Address: 2F, No. 12-2, Lane 12, Qingtian Street, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2322-4772
Business Hours: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)