A blend of design, culture, and dining—this low-key hidden apartment café

Text & photos byPingzi

Near National Taiwan University, Taipei Metro Gongguan Station, and Taipower Building Station, if you’re looking to have a meal and coffee with your besties, Pingzi recommends this very discreet AGCT Apartment. This hidden gem of an apartment café is a multifunctional design space where you can browse designer fashion and lifestyle/cultural merchandise, enjoy sandwiches and coffee, and gaze out from the second floor at the lovely scenery—a perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon.

Tucked away on the third floor of an apartment building, AGCT Apartment is extremely discreet and hidden. The first floor houses another café called “Picked Up a Cat on the Road.” Finding AGCT Apartment takes a bit of effort—you enter through the side entrance of an old apartment building, located in Lane 49, Wenzhou Street.

Surrounded by lush trees, AGCT Apartment is nestled within an old apartment complex. Taipei has such green, tranquil spots too. Even before stepping inside, the surroundings are captivating.

Looking up, you can see the AGCT Apartment sign enveloped by the verdant greenery.

The photo above shows the façade of the old apartment building. Take the elevator to the third floor to reach AGCT Apartment. Pingzi loves this understated vibe. The design of a place reflects the owner’s taste and vision. As long as you have something unique, even if you stay low-key, you can still attract attention—you don’t need to constantly make a loud splash. The same goes for life.

AGCT Apartment is a brand café operated by a team of fashion designers. It’s a multifunctional café space that combines design apparel, lifestyle goods, and cultural/creative products. Throughout the shop, you’ll find all kinds of clever designer touches—design is life.

Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the space with bright lighting and create wonderful plays of light and shadow.

The name AGCT is cleverly crafted, using the abbreviations of the four nucleotides that make up DNA. It represents a brand that blends design, music, imagery, and graffiti—and also stands for A=Alternative (liberating thought), G=Generation (the spirit of the times), C=Creative (creating something from nothing), and T=Trend (fashion trends)—overflowing with creative energy.

Every corner of AGCT Apartment is thoughtfully arranged. Though the layout isn’t very large, the overall ambiance is incredibly atmospheric. The expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, combined with the renovation of the old apartment, give the space a unique charm. The lush greenery outside complements the interior, creating the café’s most beautiful view.

Whether you’re here with a few friends or flying solo, opening your laptop to work or write is a delightful experience.

The open kitchen counter is both the workspace for food preparation and the focal point of the entire space.

There are many unique clothing brands worth checking out.

The only large wooden table for 12 in the shop is perfect for group meals, ideal for a bunch of close friends. During Pingzi’s visit, she saw many people using their MacBook Pros here to work online.

The open kitchen counter looks great from different angles—its sleek, sharp lines make it highly photogenic.

Instant cameras are a quick way to capture life and preserve moments as they happen. Pingzi owns one too.

Just like that, my besties and I settled in here, soaking in the lush, green beauty.

The window seats are the most relaxing and comfortable spots. The high stools add a sense of spaciousness, naturally drawing your gaze upward to admire the lovely scenery outside.

This is Pingzi’s favorite spot—such views are rare to find in the city.

One lamp, one window, one story. Just sitting quietly here gives you plenty to ponder.

At AGCT Apartment, there are three pricing tiers for meals: 350 NTD, 400 NTD, and 550 NTD, depending on the ingredients prepared that day. Dining is limited to two hours, but if it’s not busy, there’s no strict time limit. Menus are displayed on tablets.

Each person must order at least one drink or food item worth 200 NTD, including a choice of any daily drink.

350 NTD: Choose one drink and one dessert.

400 NTD: Choose one drink and one main savory dish.

550 NTD: Choose one drink, one main savory dish, and one dessert.

My besties ordered hot coffee + a savory main dish. It came in this type of cup, and we were both shocked when it was served, thinking the server had made a mistake.

The coffee was smooth and rich. For those who prefer black hot coffee, there are three types of beans to choose from—light roast and dark roast. Though the coffee selection isn’t extensive, it’s enough to satisfy coffee lovers visiting this spot.

Pingzi had an iced black coffee that wasn’t bitter at all—very smooth and easy to drink, with a flavor reminiscent of lightly roasted beans brewed and then chilled. It was quite enjoyable even without any sugar added.

The Italian vegetable frittata was served in a hot iron pan, filled with eggs, tomatoes, lettuce, mushrooms, and bell peppers, looking very hearty when it arrived at the table, with bread neatly arranged on the side.

The toasted edges of the bread were crispy and had a great texture, with a firm yet crunchy feel that paired wonderfully with the eggs.

Unlike typical greasy frittatas, this Italian vegetable version was light and refreshing. The egg was golden and slightly crispy on the edges, complemented by fresh lettuce that matched the egg’s flavor perfectly.

For her savory main, Pingzi chose a sandwich that was very eye-catching as soon as it arrived, steaming hot and full of aroma. Since she couldn’t take a picture of the menu, she forgot the full name, but it was the only savory item on the menu featuring a sunny-side-up egg.

All the food Pingzi and her best friend ordered was now on the table—just looking at it made you feel like you were in for a feast.

No matter what angle you shot it from, the food looked so delicious it could make your mouth water.

There was a generous layer of melted, stretchy cheese on top, with crispy bread edges all around that were simply delightful. In the center sat a sunny-side-up egg, creating a bright and sunny visual impact. When you cut into the bread, you’d find tomatoes and bacon inside, with the cheese and bread slowly melding together into a moist, tender layer—it was really tasty. It might have looked like a small portion, but it was surprisingly filling.

The tiramisu, chosen by Pingzi as her dessert, was absolutely delicious. It was made in the traditional Italian style—a moist tiramisu with a layer of boozy, damp goodness underneath and an incredibly smooth, layered texture. On top, there were also crispy chocolate chips. It was so good, you’d want to order another slice right after finishing the first.

Thanks to the wonderful environment at AGCT Apartment, filled with creative energy in its design, Pingzi really loved the vibe here. If you’re visiting the Gongguan area or the National Taiwan University campus and want to sit down for a quiet meal or coffee while chatting, this is definitely a great spot.

They’ve even filmed MVs here—sound familiar?

AGCT apartment
Phone: 02-2369-6659
3F, No. 2, Lane 49, Wenzhou Street, Taipei City. (10-minute walk from Exit 3 of Gongguan MRT Station)
Business Hours: 12:00–22:30 (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Minimum charge per person: $200. Free Wi-Fi and power outlets available.
Facebook Fan Page:https://www.facebook.com/AGCT.GROUP.

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

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