Cultural and creative spots to explore around Taipei
Where old buildings have found a second life
Alongside classic tourism hotspots like Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, and the National Palace Museum, Taipei is home to a number of revitalized creative spaces.
These repurposed historic buildings are now filled with pop-up shops, exhibitions, cafes, and restaurants. They host a steady stream of events and markets, making them great places to spend an afternoon shopping, reading, and relaxing.
This Is Taipei visited three cultural and creative areas that are popular with both locals and visitors, and are well worth adding to your list.
#1: Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
From a tobacco factory to creative hub
Built in 1937, Taiwan’s first tobacco factory became Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in 2011.
Today, the many long corridors feature a mix of coffee shops, craft stores, pop-ups, and cultural activities, with something new almost every time you visit. There are also nearby warehouses that host large exhibitions.
When This Is Taipei visited in February 2026, an area celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kuromi, the Japanese mascot character, was drawing big crowds. There was also a busy escape room and stores selling products including handmade postcards, specialty teas, and home diffusers.
Other highlights included pop-ups dedicated to K-pop stars and a "Women Born to Shine" National Geographic exhibition.
The weekend is a good time to visit, as there are usually markets selling gifts and food, and the Baroque Garden is a good place to relax when the weather is nice. There is also a large seating area next to a sizable pond.
For those wanting to pick up a book, the Eslite Spectrum Mall is nearby. It also hosts a hotel, numerous craft shops, and a solid food court.
Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is open every day between 8 AM and 10 PM.
#2: Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Red brick warehouses, pop-ups, and space to wander
A few stops down the Blue Line from Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is Huashan 1914 Creative Park, based in an old sake brewery. Here, dozens of warehouse spaces have been converted into pop-ups, exhibitions, cafes, and restaurants.
The area is surrounded by banyan trees with snaking roots — making it aesthetically pleasing for photo backdrops. The open-air space at the south-eastern corner often hosts lively commercial promotions.
When This Is Taipei visited in February 2026, the exhibits were wide-ranging, from a Sanrio character pop-up, to an exhibition dedicated to ancient civilization, and a display of hundreds of works by a Chinese paper-cutting artist. There are also craft shops selling cute souvenirs.
When you need a break, there's a range of restaurants to choose from, including burger joints, pizza places, and Taiwanese restaurants. For those wanting alcohol, there's also a brewery and wine bar.
The independent SPOT Huashan cinema screens local and international films. Films not in English or Chinese usually feature subtitles in both languages.
Huashan 1914 Creative Park is open every day between 11 AM and 9 PM.
#3: Rongjin Gorgeous Time
A small cultural spot with deep historical roots
Located about a five-minute walk from Daan District's popular Yongkang Street, Rongjin Gorgeous Time is a row of restored Japanese-era houses that has been reimagined as a cultural hub filled with cafes, restaurants, and gift shops.
During Taiwan's Japanese colonial period, the area housed officials who worked at Taipei Prison, which once stood next door. Between the two sites are remnants of the Qing Dynasty-era Taipei City Walls, adding another historical layer to the stroll.
Information panels explaining the site’s history line the street, and there’s also a small visitor center.
Beyond shopping and eating, visitors can dress up in a rented kimono for photos, get a tarot card reading, or unwind at Check-in Coffee, which has a large, open seating area.
On weekends and public holidays, Rongjin Gorgeous Time hosts a cultural and creative market. When This Is Taipei visited in February, the narrow street was full of people browsing stalls.
Rongjin Gorgeous Time is open every day between 11 AM and 8 PM.
In conclusion...
These three spaces show how Taipei has reworked old buildings into places that complement modern city life.
