Thursday, 18 August 2022
Toasted Sandwich places in Tianmu
2. Lutetia does a Panini set (two pleasant venues in Tianmu, both recommended, check googlemaps for address).
3. Best service, and good toasted sandwiches here at Love Happiness (photo) sandwich shop. No. 3之67號, Tianmu W Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111. Conveniently situated at the upper corner of the Square near TAS, a few doors along from Le Sommelier wine shop.
Wednesday, 17 August 2022
How to rent a YouBike bicycle in Taipei
Register
You will need to first register at the Kiosk (on the left of photo). Once only. English and Mandarin language displayed. Warning: it's impossible to read the screen of the Kiosk when the sunlight is bright.
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| Left side: Kiosk to register |
To register you will need A) a Taiwanese mobile phone number and B) an Easy card (cashless payment card). It's definitely worth getting an Easy card in any case, for using public transport. Ask for one at any convenience store, and hand the cashier some cash to load onto your Easycard (suggest $500-1,000 NT).
Choosing a bike
Follow the instructions on the display panel: touch the panel with your Easycard. You will also need to touch the panel in the same way, when you end the rental period, to complete the payment. (Meanwhile, if you somehow lost the bike, you are liable for $9,000. Don't worry about it, bike theft is extremely rare in Taipei (unlike, say, London).
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| old style |
Two different styles of bike
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| new style |
You need to notice whether your bike is OLD style (see photos) tap the sensor NEXT to the bike) or NEW style (tap the sensor ON the bike). The reason you need to notice is, these two designs are NOT physically interchangeable. When you finish with the bike, when you come to 'dock' your bike, you can only return it to the suitable old or new bike dock. With that proviso, you don't have to return to the exact same location you started out at, you can leave your bike at any YouBike stand in town, on condition that it is the suitable style, old or new.
TIP: the bikes come with a locking system. Use it to lock your bike while you pop into a shop, rather than terminate the rental at a YouBike stand. Once you return your bike to the stand and tap your EasyCard to finish the payment, the software doesn't allow to rent another bike there for 15 minutes.
Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Pizza in Tianmu
We only have one enthusiastic recommendation for eating inside:
1. Il Vicino
Eat-in or takeway, cosy place. No. 59號, Section 7, Zhongshan N Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
111台北市士林區中山北路七段59號
2. Faust Pizza is good for takeaway, few tables outside, regular clientele among westerners and locals.
No. 20號, Section 2, Zhicheng Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
Monday, 15 August 2022
Best Cake Shops in Tianmu
(see also Cafes in Tianmu)
Our local favourites
1. ISM. Excellent quality cakes. Take-away
No. 21-4號, Lane 8, Tianmu E Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
2. Paris 15eme
This challengingly named cake shop is found inside Takashimaya department store, staying on the ground floor (not downstairs toward the food court), on the left side (closer to the baseball stadium).
A refined cake shop, very suitable for high end adult treats.
3. Wendels German bakery, close to Sogo / Zhishan MRT. Reliably good cakes and bakery items such as scones. Good choice for birthday cakes.
No. 5號, Dexing W Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111.
Indian / Malaysian food in Tianmu
For authentic flavour we would recommend Namaste, this little shack at Shida night market, run by a man from Sikkim, north India. Portions were hearty, even too large. Outdoor seating only. Score of 5/5 on googlemaps.
No. 13號, Longquan St, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106
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| Chicken curry received the approval of the missus |
Cooking Indian food
I would recommend a visit to Trinity Indian Store. This shop is great for Indian ingredients in nearby Shilin. It is sooo easy to cook a delicious curry, as soon as you have some spices.
111台北市士林區中山北路五段535號
No. 535號, Section 5, Zhongshan N Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
The supermarket chain PX Mart started selling Curry Leaves, fresh, organic.
For Indian food
A lot of expats (not me) recommend the following two Indian restaurants in Tianmu
The Spice Shop; Saffron Fine Indian Cuisine.The tandoori chicken and naan is decent (and expensive), the vibe is convivial and expat-friendly.
For Malaysian food
try Mr Chee Kopitiam Premium, next to Zhishan MRT station. No. 150號, Fuhua Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111031
Heading South
If you visit the southern city of Tainan you are in luck: a lot of cheap Indian restaurants are kept in business by all the foreign postgraduate students there.
Where to Eat out, Western style in Tianmu
(See also "Toasted sandwich shops in Tianmu" "Pizza in Tianmu")
1. American-style Roast chicken
Texas Rangers Fried Chicken
Zhongshan North Road Section 6 no. 752
111台北市士林區中山北路六段752號
Try the whole roast chicken, together with sides of spicy beans and sweet potato fries. Time it right: they get VERY busy Friday night, weekend lunch and dinner time.
2. Louis Burger
No. 28號, Tianmu E Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
3. Wendels German-style bakery sells a great olive bread, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend their German style restaurant for dine-in.
Very close to Sogo / Zhisham MRT.
No. 5號, Dexing W Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
3. Sit inside the expat friendly Lutetia (English sopken), next to TES (see photo): enjoy the art on the walls, and the funky scuptures outdoors.
No. 751號, Wenlin Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
4. For American / English style breakfast/brunch, visit:
JB Diner (in a terrific building, at No. 2, Alley 16, Lane 38, Tianyu St, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111)
Alternatively, and with less enthusiasm:
MWD (My Warm Day) and
Dante both have branches all over.
These two are not a recommendation, but simply a listing ;-)
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Philosophical note:
Option A adjust your tastes to local food: after an initial study period, life is ten times simpler. Plus your taste-buds expand, and you have stories to tell your grandchildren (durian, stinky tofu etc).
Option B insist on finding western food, meet with bitter disappointments and inflated prices.
Option C combo of A and B
My personal vote is C, sometimes we all need a bit of comfort, food reminding us of our childhood. Also, while travelling, it's part of the experience to try the local cuisine, even if it takes a little bit of effort and experimentation.
Drinking (alcohol) in Tianmu and beyond
1. Hangout Cocktail Bar, recently opened to very good reviews.
2. To sit outside for a homely glass of wine, at the big square just north of
TAS. (bring mosquito repellent, no seating indoors).
Le Sommelier (website here)
3-81號面向天玉街38巷號 1 樓
3. Lili Restaurant and Bar
Good quality Tianmu restaurant with bar, comfortable indoor seating with
tasteful arty interior.
Zhongshan North Road section 6 no. 760, Taipei City, 中山北路六段760號
4. Buy whisky from Taiwan's award winning Kavalan
111, Taipei City, Shilin District, 中山北路六段734號
5. For a swanky evening out, with cocktails further afield:
Closet Restaurant (pricey)
No. 15號, Lane 101, Section 4, Zhongxiao E Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106
Thanks to Taipei Expats blog (click here)for the tip and photo
6. Mellow Fields hotel serves very cheap cocktails until 9pm in their cafe/bar, open to the public, on the ground floor. It's not a romantic venue for a night out, but it is calm and pleasant with comfy chairs.
7. For cold beer, try Asahi Dry, a Japanese lager available in convenience stores and supermarkets, crisp flavour suitable for a hot summer's day.
Keeping cool in the heat of Taipei
If you are feeling too hot in Taipei, go to a department store: they have great air-con, and you can pass a little time strolling around. (See separate post on department stores). You can buy some clothes with thinner fabric while you are there. The cinema in Mitsukoshi store has fantastic aircon. Meanwhile:
1. Make fruit smoothies at home
Dragon fruit and papaya are currently in season. Pop them into your blender with some ice. Serve with a dollop of yoghurt. What a colour! Guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
Cultural note: MILK is commonly blended wih mango and papaya drinks in Taiwan. (I had it by accident, I admit it is delicious): if you don't want so much dairy, stick to fixing your own at home.
2. Go out for shaved ice or soybean pudding
A great Taiwanese summer cooler for sharing.
No. 262-1, Dexing E Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
好奇營養豆花, 111台北市士林區德行東路262-1號
Or visit Yonkang Street (Dongmen MRT) for plenty of fashionable mango ice options.
3A. Go for bubble tea.
Drink in at chunshuitang (underneath the cinema box office at Mitsukoshi department store, this company claim to be the original inventors of bubble tea.
3B. Grab a take away from Milkshop (No. 82號, Dexing E Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 11147), a successful chain which originated in south Taiwan.
4. Cafe Rue
No. 2號, Lane 35, Section 6, Zhongshan N Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
PRACTICAL TIPS for surviving the summer heat/humidity
- Carry a small flannel/towel around with you for mopping the brow. Check out this novel kind of 'cooling towel' : soak it under the tap, rinse it out, fan it in the air and drape it around your neck, it does feel cool.
- Avoid the heat of the midday sun. If possible, avoid being out and about between roughly 11am-3pm.
- Take several showers a day.
- Buy clothing with thinner fabric (inc. linen and sportswear).
- You could do as the locals do (on condition of being immune to fashion considerations) and wear 'sleeves' (on top of your T-shirt/vest) to protect you from UV rays, especially if you are cycling around in the sun
Sunday, 14 August 2022
Favourite Cafes in / around Tianmu
1. Changing cafe
Best. Coffee. Beans. In. Taipei. Don't start a conversation with the owner about beans unless you have 30 mins free! Sit in or takeaway.
112, Taipei City, Beitou District, Alley 17, Lane 114, Yuminliu Rd, 2-1號1樓
2. Old Hall Cafe
has very good coffee and is a good choice for buying beans. A few seats indoors. No. 9-2號, Yunong Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
No. 2號, Lane 141, Section 7, Zhongshan N Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111
This next branch has a great view from the top floor and is close-by to a great river walk toward Keqiang swimming pool and Zhishan MRT. No. 132號, Tianmu W Rd, Beitou District, Taipei City, 112
4. Lutetia (French style bakery and cafe) is run by a friendly local expat. If you are craving a European vibe, their first branch (turn left from TAS, walk 5 minutes down the main road) is your best bet Zhongshan Road Section 6 Number 442 Taipei 111台北市士林區中山北路六段442號. Quiche and salad set recommended. Second branch is opposite TES, peaceful.
5. Komeda's Coffee For a laptop session close to the MRT station at Zhishan, this Japanese chain is a very good solution, choose a table at the window in the front. Avoid at weekends due to atrocious service.
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| Mellowfields Hotel, cafe |
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
new concert series in Taipei
click here for concert details
Friday, 5 July 2013
new recordings!
Hi everybody! I just uploaded three recordings to YouTube. Rachmaninov’s Preludes in C minor and G sharp minor, plus Manos Hadjithakis ‘Conversation with Sergei Prokofiev’ taken from his suite ‘For a Little White Seashell’, op 1. I recorded them in Forum Auditorium in Taipei 2 weeks ago. I hope you enjoy them! Here is Prelude in c minor Op 23:7