Ueshima Coffee brings Japanese coffee tradition to Taipei. The all-day shop opens earlier than most cafes in the city, and serves up strong brews with simple breakfast and lunch sets (ie: a coffee drink of choice and sandwich). Ueshima lives up to its Japanese origin with the simple yet well-crafted offerings. It feels practical, but also thoughtful.

The free wifi, ample seating and lack of time limit makes it a popular spot for meetings and gatherings. The casual, counter serve format efficiently serves the endless stream of coffee drinkers and café dwellers in an accessible way while being less of a frenzy than a Starbucks or Mr. Brown. The coffee is strong, the pastries are not-too-sweet, the sandwiches are decidedly catered to the local palate. In other words, perfect for Taipei.

There are only a few scattered locations around the city, some tucked within other entities. Perhaps the most convenient one is the one that is also the hardest to provide directions to, tucked away in a corner of Taipei Main Station. A perfect stop when you get into the city, or to kill some time before a train out of the city.