Italy’s street scenes can also be found in Taiwan — Café de Lugano recreates Southern European romance

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team, compiled and reported

Taiwan’s coffee culture is thriving more than ever, with a wide variety of cafés springing up, offering numerous choices for coffee-loving travelers. Among them is the Taipei Mandarin Oriental Hotel, renowned as the pinnacle of luxury, which has created Taipei’s most European-style café, “Café de Lugano” (Lugano Franco-Italian Café), in its first-floor atrium. Since its opening in 2017, it has attracted many visitors on a pilgrimage.

Café de Lugano boasts an elegant interior space and outdoor seating with a European street vibe. During the day, it serves brunch as well as delicious burgers and sandwiches, while in the evening, it offers innovative dishes from its bistro. The café creates a spacious yet authentically European atmosphere. Stepping inside feels like traveling back in time to the streets of Italy, filled with a romantic ambiance.

Lugano is a historic city located in southern Switzerland. Due to its proximity to northern Italy, its streets and food culture closely resemble the charm of Southern Europe. Café de Lugano inherits the characteristics of this city and has invested hundreds of millions to create a luxurious European-style space. Combining the European habit of enjoying coffee outdoors with original contemporary French paintings adorning the interior, it exudes a rich Southern European leisurely elegance.