Open until the early hours of the morning!Taipei’s hipster café with lemon cheesecake and cold drip coffee

Text and photos by /Zhou Huahua

After turning 25, I stopped planning things for certain days. Dinner after work, a bowl of"Dah He Jia"ramen with four hours left until midnight, the closing time today. Standing in front of yet another coffee shop that was fully booked, I flipped through my list of great late-night coffee spots. Let this day be filled with things I truly love—simple and beautiful, like ramen, coffee, chubby cats, and you.

Weiyang Café

Recommendation rating: ★★★★☆ 4 stars
Short review: A great unlimited-time café near Taipei MRT Technology Building Station, with delicious coffee and desserts

Weiyang Café is tucked away in a lane on Siwei Road in Da’an District. It’s about 600 meters (around 8 minutes) from Taipei MRT Technology Building Station. This was a total spontaneous decision, so this is a mobile note—please focus on the text, and let the photos be what they are.

Opened in 2015, it’s a newcomer in the hipster coffee scene, but the name “Weiyang” has always stuck with me. It evokes a literary feel, reminding me of the novel "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" by Lung Yen. Maybe it’s not a coincidence that I ended up here tonight—I’m still naively hoping for that beautiful world, even if its existence relies on reflections of real life. A bit ironic, but romanticism never goes out of style.

Taipei nights can be quite lively. Hidden in the alleys are always a few small shops that don’t advertise but are always bustling. The customers inside reach capacity close to midnight—who knew so many people stay up so late?

Mismatched tables and chairs, seemingly chaotic but actually well-arranged decor, and good music—these are all elements that attract me immensely. “Feel free to sit anywhere there’s space.” When you come here, just pick a seat where you feel comfortable. There’s power outlets, Wi-Fi, and of course, no time limit.

The menu at Weiyang Café is written on the blackboard at the front, and so is the Wi-Fi password. The variety of items and range of flavors are the most extensive among the cafés I’ve visited recently. Coffee, tea, milk tea, milk, soda, juice, and even savory options like dumplings and cat food. The minimum spend is one drink. It’s so late at night, yet it’s still so hard to choose.

The café usually has a few types of desserts available, but in the evening, it really depends on luck. You can check the dessert counter by the register or just ask the staff directly.

Cold drip coffee – NT$130
With large sphere ice cubes added, the temperature stays cool throughout. This cold drip coffee has a very distinctive character. Each sip reveals different flavor profiles. The first touch on the palate brings a subtle chocolate aroma, followed by a slow glide of red wine notes, with a hint of nuts lingering in the aftertaste. Then comes the second sip, where the red wine flavor bursts through, dominating the taste buds. It’s rich and aromatic—this kind of café should serve this kind of cold drip. I really liked it, highly recommended.

Lemon Americano – NT$160
I’ve lost count of how many lemon americanos I’ve had this year. Maybe their presence will lessen after winter sets in. The sour-sweetness of the lemon hits hard and fast, a series of strong punches that leave someone like me, who doesn’t have a sweet tooth, feeling a bit overwhelmed. In comparison, the coffee flavor is more subdued, but the overall taste is still bold. I still prefer the lighter, fresher style of lemon americano.

Lemon cheesecake – NT$160
The only dessert available in the café tonight, and luckily it’s a combo I like. The first bite was an incredible shock—I couldn’t find any words to describe it at the moment. The lemon filling continues the bold momentum of the lemon americano, with a uniquely sticky and chewy texture. It’s not that I haven’t had similar flavors before, but everything at Weiyang Café feels just a bit more intense. If 100% is the baseline, this cake probably rates 150%. The sweetness of the filling outweighs the tartness, but the freshly grated lemon zest adds a nice touch, lifting the aroma with a hint of freshness. The rich cream cheese is just the kind of dense cheesecake flavor I love, and the crust is brushed with syrup, giving it a delightfully crispy texture. The ingredients are all “heavy hitters,” kind of like an NBA All-Star game—everyone on the court is a star, but you still love it.

The sound of rain replaces the chime of the clock, pushing the calendar number toward 31. Oh right, yesterday was my birthday. “Happy Birthday,” “Thank you.”

Weiyang Café

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Address: No. 10, Lane 208, Siwei Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2703 2331
Business hours: Monday–Sunday 12:30–1:00 AM

“Zhou Huahua, have you eaten?” Eat first, then lose weight.
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