The Brooklyn
of Taipei is
Da'an / Yongkang Street.

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Coffee culture Galleries Indie film Vintage Design Walkable
The case for Da'an / Yongkang Street

Where Taipei's Intellectuals Sip, Browse, and Linger

Da'an is tea shops, independent galleries, and quiet tree-lined lanes that reward slow walking. Yongkang Street draws crowds for beef noodles and shaved ice - but turn onto Qingtian or Yongkang Lane 31 and you're in a calmer grid of craft ceramics at EILONG, natural wine at James Kitchen, and specialty coffee at Congrats Café. C-LAB anchors the creative scene in a former air force base turned art campus. Stay at Chez Nous or Hotel Proverbs Taipei - both built for the neighborhood, not the tourist loop.

Chifeng Street sits in Zhongshan District, not Da'an, and packs independent cafes and design studios into a half-kilometre strip of converted auto-parts shops.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Taipei.

Minsheng Community

Minsheng Community trades Yongkang's cafe density for wider sidewalks and mid-century apartment blocks with ground-floor design studios. The grid layout feels almost American - unusual for Taipei - with Fujin Street anchoring a strip of local fashion labels and specialty coffee.

Chifeng Street

Chifeng Street trades Yongkang's food focus for narrow lanes packed with independent boutiques, record shops, and tiny coffee bars in converted auto repair garages. Grittier, younger, and better for aimless wandering between Zhongshan and Shuanglian MRT stations.

Dadaocheng

Taipei's oldest trading district still lives through tea shops, fabric merchants, and temples thick with incense. It's grittier and more working-class than Da'an - choose it if you want century-old shophouses over polished cafes.

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Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Da'an / Yongkang Street.

01
Stay in Da'an / Yongkang Street

Da'an puts you in Taipei's best walking neighborhood - tree-lined streets, independent cafes, and serious food without the Ximending crowds.
02
Eat & Drink in Da'an / Yongkang Street

Da'an lives on excellent coffee and soup dumplings eaten at plastic tables.
03
Do & Shop in Da'an / Yongkang Street

Browse Lai Hao for Taiwanese design objects - ceramics, textiles, stationery - all locally made.
All 20 spots mapped out

Da'an / Yongkang Street, corner to corner.

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Our 20 top picks

The Da'an / Yongkang Street guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyTWD
LanguageMandarin Chinese
Cost level $$Moderate
Best monthsOctober to December
Local time UTC+8
Plug type US plug · 110V/60Hz
Emergency110 police, 119 ambulance and fire
Local tip
Skip the weekend crowds at Yongkang Street entirely. Tuesday evenings around 7pm, James Kitchen serves its refined Taiwanese small plates to a calmer room - better service, easier reservations, same exceptional braised pork.
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Common questions

Things to know about Da'an / Yongkang Street.

What is the Brooklyn of Taipei?
The Brooklyn of Taipei is Da'an / Yongkang Street. Da'an is tea shops, independent galleries, and quiet tree-lined lanes that reward slow walking. Chifeng Street sits in Zhongshan District, not Da'an, and packs independent cafes and design studios into a half-kilometre strip of converted auto-parts shops.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Taipei?
Da'an / Yongkang Street is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Taipei. Da'an is tea shops, independent galleries, and quiet tree-lined lanes that reward slow walking. Yongkang Street draws crowds for beef noodles and shaved ice - but turn onto Qingtian or Yongkang Lane 31 and you're in a calmer grid of craft ceramics at EILONG, natural wine at James Kitchen, and specialty coffee at Congrats Café. C-LAB anchors the creative scene in a former air force base turned art campus. Stay at Chez Nous or Hotel Proverbs Taipei - both built for the neighborhood, not the tourist loop.
Where should I stay in Da'an / Yongkang Street, Taipei?
The best boutique hotels in Da'an / Yongkang Street include Chez Nous and Hotel Proverbs Taipei. Chez Nous is the one to book first. Chez Nous occupies a quiet lane off Xinyi Road, its duplex rooms and rooftop bar drawing design-conscious travelers who skip the generic tower hotels. The ground-floor mini store stocks local ceramics and snacks - practical for guests heading to Yongkang Street two stops south.
Is Da'an / Yongkang Street in Taipei safe at night?
Da'an is among the safest districts in Taipei, which is itself one of the safer capital cities in Asia. Solo walking at 2 a.m. is routine. Convenience stores stay open 24 hours and function as informal safe stops. The main caution is scooter traffic on smaller lanes - look both ways even on one-way streets, since delivery riders cut through constantly.
Is Taipei expensive?
Taipei sits in the middle range. From Da'an, a metered yellow cab is cheap and easy to flag, and tipping is not expected anywhere, though sit-down places may add a 10% service charge. Lane breakfast shops serve soy milk and fan tuan for under NT$100.
When is the best time to visit Taipei?
Aim for October to December, when the air dries out, temperatures settle around 20-26°C, and the typhoon threat fades. Weekends are made for hiking Yangmingshan or cycling the riverside paths. Skip summer (June to September), which is hot, humid, and broken up by afternoon storms. March and April are mild but wetter, while January and February turn cool and damp.

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