// TAIPEI 台北 // ZHONGZHENG (XINSHENG新生) //
gingin coffee company
a sit down and eat in kinda coffee shop
In Taiwan, finding a place for sit down coffee before 12pm that isn’t Starbucks (or another copy and paste chain) is a feat in itself. So when there’s one that not only offers modern aesthetics but also full on food meals, you bookmark it and you save it for a rainy day. A rainy day, in this case, being any day you are looking for a casual caffeinated meal in the morning.
Upon first look, GinGin could very well be an Instagram-trap: all style and no substance. But despite their questionable menu that can only truly be described as a vague interpretation of western style casual cafe fare (think: avocado toast, sandwiches, pasta, chips and guac, steak and fries, it runs the gamut), and though their drinks selection span everything from earl grey mocha to strawberry pineapple juice, they actually do have decent coffee (both espresso-based drinks as well as single origin pourovers). If you’re looking for less of a meal and more of a sweet pick me up, they also have some dessert options. So while it isn’t mind-blowing, it fits the bill, checks the boxes, and is a nice, not overly crowded place to sit down and escape the heat and humidity for a bit. Oh did I mention they also serve spiked coffee drinks too?
the details
| Address | No 9-1, Linyi St Lane 27, Zhongzheng District, Taipei |
| @gingin_coffee | |
| Hours | 09:30-21:00 every day |
| Price | $$ – drinks are generally 150-200NT ($5-6), entrees are 250-350NT ($8-12) |
| Aesthetic | millennial contemporary, complete with the terrazzo counter, bold blue and yellow accents and cute illustrated merch |
good to know
Go here for: a casual counter order brunch for a small group, a quick coffee to go
Order this: get a signature coffee drink (caffeinated and/or alcoholic, your choice, they’re all fun), for a meal the katsu sando is pretty good and salads are pretty popular, for more of a snack get fries (cinnamon sweet potato or truffle potato fries), a simple caramel pudding or a decadent tiramisu liege waffle
Amount of time to spend: about an hour or two, they don’t have an enforced time limit but it is more of a come and go kind of place
When to come: weekdays are pretty low key, weekend mornings are pretty chill too
Getting here: take the blue or orange line to Zhongxiao Xinsheng, use exit 2 and it’ll be a couple minutes walk down Ln 134
Other things to note:
- If you’re looking for coffee on the go, they also have a little takeout window.
- If you order a breakfast or lunch you can add a drink and save 20NT. They also have oat milk (20NT).
- Their menu has English, and though the translations can be a little questionable, you more or less know what they mean.
Last visited: August 2021
Last updated: December 2021
