Great cafes for studying near NTNU
Strong coffee and comfy spaces to learn Chinese near the home of the Mandarin Training Center
The streets around National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) are packed with cafés catering to caffeine-seeking students in need of decent Wi-Fi and a place to focus.
And if you’re one of the 5,000 or so foreign students enrolled at NTNU’s Mandarin Training Center each year, you might also be looking for a place to open your textbooks.
Here are three of This Is Taipei’s favorite coffee spots near the university — each with a slightly different feel — if you’re looking to get some work done.
#1: Supreme Beans Coffee
An intimate space with tasty baked sweets
Supreme Beans Coffee is a jazzy little café serving high-quality coffee and freshly-baked cakes in a relaxed setting, perfect for doing some work or study.
Tiramisu, carrot cake, cookies, cinnamon buns, and other treats are made in the open kitchen. It smells great, but if you stay too long, don’t be surprised if your clothes leave smelling faintly cakey.
The coffee is reasonably priced — an americano costs NT$60 and a latte is NT$80. For the braver crowd, there are also whisky-, rum-, and sorghum-infused coffees priced around NT$180.
Dessert portions are generous. The carrot cake is a hefty slice at NT$120, while the tiramisu costs NT$150. English menus are available on request.
The vibe is cool and relaxed, with bright blue walls and jazz-pop playing in the background when This Is Taipei visited, and there was a 90-minute seating limit.
Supreme Beans Coffee is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, except Mondays, when it is closed. It's a five-minute walk from Taipower Building MRT Station.
#2: All Day Roasting Company
Strong coffee perfect for long study sessions
All Day Roasting Company is a popular spot for settling in for a day of studying.
Accompanied by a lofi beat soundtrack, it's generally quiet enough to focus. But it can get busy during the afternoons, and you may need to wait for a seat.
The coffee is high quality with a good range of single-origin options, mostly priced from around NT$200. The house black americano costs NT$150.
Food-wise, the tiramisu stands out and is generously soaked in alcohol. There are also other desserts, along with less impressive salads and baguettes if you want something more substantial.
The interior is dark wood and white marble, giving the space an airy feel. There are plenty of charging points. Orders are placed via QR code, and service can be a little slow, especially when the café is full.
One thing to note: You’re expected to return your tray when you’re done, and staff will not hesitate to remind you if you forget.
All Day Roasting Company is open every day between 7:30 AM and 10:30 PM and is a few minutes' walk from Taipower Building MRT Station.
#3: The Cafeist & Old Jack
Great value coffee and a calm place to work — if you can get a seat
The Cafeist & Old Jack is a great-value cafe with a cute, relaxed feel, helped along by the bookcases stuffed with books and fairy lights strung around the space.
Coffee prices are hard to beat. The special blend (特調咖啡, tètiáo kāfēi) is a standout at NT$65, while an americano is even cheaper at NT$55. There’s also a Baileys coffee for NT$110 if you’re after something with a boozy kick.
When This Is Taipei visited one morning in December, there was plenty of space to spread out. It tends to get busier in the afternoon, though, so earlier is better if you want to guarantee a seat.
The interior has a cozy and studious feel. If you're into people watching, we recommend trying to grab a window seat.
There’s a three-hour seating limit, and power sockets are available at some tables. The air conditioning was blasting cold air when we visited in December, so it might be a good idea to bring a jumper.
The Cafeist & Old Jack is open every day between 8 AM and 8:30 PM. It is about a five-minute walk from Guting MRT Station.
In conclusion...
Each of these cafes has its own atmosphere, but all three offer the same essentials: strong coffee, space for laptops and textbooks, and enough calm to get some study done.
