The aroma of coffee wafts from vintage buildings—soak in the century-old charm of Tainan’s history.

Text and photos byPingzi

Tainan is a city where old and new cultures collide, sparking creativity. In recent years, heritage light travel has become popular. Today, Pingzi wants to take you to a century-old red-brick building—a historic café called Zhengxing Café. Besides serving delicious brunches and letting you enjoy coffee in an old house, it now also offers homestay accommodations, perfect for exploring southern Taiwan.

The blue vintage door hints at the age of this old traditional house—it’s over 70 years old. The retro blue tones reflect the deep cultural roots. This café is housed in a renovated old building, and in recent years, such heritage sites have drawn more literary youths and travelers. Now in its third year, Zhengxing Café remains as popular as ever. During her trip to Tainan, Pingzi decided to revisit this charming spot.

Zhengxing Café is spread across two floors of the old building. On the second floor, there’s a small terrace, and the exterior features Japanese-style washed pebble walls. The first floor houses the café, while the second floor includes a performance and art space available for rent. At the back, there’s also a newly added homestay. In the past, people often hung their family name above the entrance, and Zhengxing Café has deliberately preserved the “Zeng Residence” signage. Nearby are the well-known IORI and Nezumikou.

Named after Zhengxing Street, Zhengxing Café is located nearby, though its actual address is on Section 3, Guohua Street. This spot enjoys a unique “golden triangle” location, which adds to its charm.

This is a project by Open Architecture under the “Heritage Revitalization” initiative, created by architect Liu Guocang.

Upon entering, you’ll see an open bar area and a waiting zone for seating. The space is divided into two sections: the front bar area and the rear red-brick wall seating area, which dates back a century. The original structure was a 60-year-old residential home owned by the Zeng family. After renovation, the “Zeng” character above the door—symbolizing the Zeng family—was preserved instead of being removed during the remodel. The old house retains most of its original framework, with only damaged parts restored.

A small blackboard above displays the café’s drink menu.

Opposite the bar, there’s a display of cultural and creative merchandise—feel free to browse and purchase.

The signature blueprint-style mugs showcase how cultural creativity shouldn’t just be a slogan but should be integrated into daily life. Through objects and human interaction, it gains warmth. Creativity isn’t just about making money; it’s about accumulating cultural energy.

Passing through a small door, you’ll be greeted by a large red-brick wall—the layout of this century-old building is divided into narrow, elongated sections connected by three structures: front, middle, and back. The front section was built around 1945. Aside from repainting, you can still admire the original washed pebble walls, wrought iron windows, and terrazzo flooring. The exposed wooden beams and ceiling reveal the building’s raw structure, highlighting the essence of traditional architecture and construction methods.

A corner plaque reveals the deep cultural atmosphere of this place.

The middle connecting structure is an even older brick house from the late Qing Dynasty, while the newest addition at the back now serves as the homestay.

The full red-brick wall, illuminated by soft lighting, looks weathered and vintage, telling stories of history.

It’s precisely this retro, worn look of the red-brick walls that defines today’s new fashion trend. Old is new—staying true to roots, preserving, and passing down heritage. Here, in this old house, Pingzi feels the new life infused into the architecture.

Looking up, you’ll see traditional cypress wood beams and columns. While sipping coffee indoors, you can also appreciate the timeless charm of this century-old red-brick house—truly fascinating.

Pingzi chose a seat to soak in the old house’s charm.

The glass and wooden lattice windows, along with vintage window patterns, create a “scenery within scenery” concept. The indoor design uses layered windows to form a subtle, layered aesthetic. The entire vintage window structure has been transformed into a bar counter, separating the indoor space while adding a sense of mystery.

The spaces divided by the wooden lattice windows each have a distinct ambiance.

The red-brick walls, witnesses to a century of history, are the soul of this café. Hanging yellow lamps cast a warm glow, making it feel as if you’ve traveled back to the bustling 1950s.

Nearby, there are reading magazines and books, encouraging visitors to read rather than spend the day glued to their phones.

Behind the main door is a private space reserved for homestay guests and currently not open to other visitors.

The menu is designed like a wooden flip book, featuring a minimalist style. Flipping through, you’ll find simple layouts with a few photos and text arrangements. Though not overly stylized, it’s easy to read.

They serve brunch from 9 AM to 1 PM, with options for à la carte or set meals. Since Pingzi visited after brunch hours, she opted for an afternoon coffee instead.

Many single-origin coffee options were sold out during her visit.

Each coffee comes with a small cookie. The latte was decent—smooth and creamy, with a flavor that ranks above average.

Free Wi-Fi is available here.

Tourist map of the surrounding area.

Here in southern Taiwan, take a light trip to Tainan. Enjoy the aroma of coffee at the old-house cafe Zhengxing Coffee, spending an afternoon here. Friends who love historic buildings shouldn’t miss this century-old red-brick heritage structure — a witness to history and a carrier of cultural charm.

Friends who wish to stay at the Zhengxing Coffee historic house can book rooms on Agoda, where prices are lower than on the official website.Link.

Geographic location.

Zhengxing Coffee — also offers homestay accommodations, book via Agoda.
No. 43, Section 3, Guohua Street, West Central District, Tainan City.
Phone: 06-2216138.
Business hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 19:00; Friday to Sunday 9:00 to 21:00.
Free Wi-Fi and power outlets available.
Fan page:https://www.facebook.com/zx.cafe/.

upssmile Pingzi (up’s smile — upward smile)!
She is a designer and also the photographer for Upward Smile Travel, Food, Design & Film.
Passionate about “travel,” “food,” “design,” “photography,” and movies.
Blogger:http://upssmile.com/

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