6 Cafes For Digital Nomads & Freelancers to Work From in Taipei, Taiwan

Ranked as the best city in the world to live in for expats, there’s no surprise as to why digital nomads and freelancers are flocking to Taipei (and Taiwan in general) by the dozen (thousands? Tens of thousands?). And, with Taiwan’s introduction of their new ‘Entrepreneur Visa’ in 2018, I don’t foresee this mass migration to Taiwan stopping anytime soon. Aiding this push and solidification at the forefront of best cities to live in the world is Taipei’s bustling and diverse cafe culture. 

Below are 6 of my favorite cafes and what I consider some of the best cafes for digital nomads and freelancers to work from in Taipei, Taiwan. 

YABOO Cafe

Courtesy of Yaboo’s Facebook page.

Yaboo Cafe is the true G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) of cafes to work at (and hang at) in Taipei for digital nomads and freelancers. Yaboo is a freelancer and digital nomad’s safe-haven. The coffee is strong, there’s outlets out the wazoo, and they sneakily have one of the best pastas in all of Taipei (an anchovy, bacon, pesto pasta). Oh, and I don’t know how I forgot to mention. They have cats. 

Nothing quite gets one through the grind than having a furry friend climb on top of your laptop, look up at you, and purr “Everything’s going to be alright.” I’m a cat guy, so Yaboo having cats within an arm’s reach always provided that extra bit of comfort. Even on some of my most stressful days, I couldn’t help but crack a smile after a cat climbed on top of my laptop and typed some gibberish on my laptop with its paws. 

Yaboo’s interior has everything from single tables, to communal tables, all the way to comfortable couch chairs. They also have outdoor seating, for those who want to get a nice sweat on while getting down to work. 

Finally, the staff at Yaboo are extremely friendly and a key driving factor as to why this was my number one work spot in Taipei. 

Oh, and I almost forgot. If you show up and it is packed, they have a second location right down the adjacent alley. Simply take a left out of Yaboo, head straight through the alley, cut across the street down the continuing alley, and Yaboo 2 will be right on your left.

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/yaboo.lalala/ 

• When: 12PM – 12AM Every Single Day 
• Location:
  • Yaboo Main: No. 26, Lane 41, Yongkang Street, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 | 106台北市大安區永康街41巷26號 
  • Yaboo 2: 106, Taiwan, Taipei City, Da’an District, Lane 9, Lishui Street, 10-1號 | 106台北市大安區麗水街9巷10-1號

391 Cafe (391tpe)

Courtesy of 391’s Facebook page.

I was recommended to 391 Cafe by a friend who said their chorizo sandwich was worth going for, and he wasn’t wrong. Not only does 391 Cafe make a mean chorizo sandwich, but they also won me over with a hearty Japanese chicken curry and boeuf bourguignon. Mix in a plethora of assorted cakes (lemon pound cake for the win), communal working tables, and a flat white that made my Australian friend say “Flat What!?” (in a good way), and 391 is entirely worth making the short trek to from either the Taipei 101/World Trade Center or Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) MRT station.  

391tpe is huge. When you first walk in, you are greeted with a near 20 seat communal table directly to your left, couches and leather chairs adjacent, and then countless booths and tables not much further down. There is no need to worry about outlets here, as the communal table boasts a multi plug outlet and table seats are never too far from a wall socket. Due to the sheer number of seats, 391 Cafe is a popular hangout for students and remote workers, making for an almost coworking space vibe.  

Having lived right next to Taipei 101, I can emphatically state that walking by a lit up Taipei 101 at night causes you to step back from your worries and reflect at just how cool your daily routine is. While 391 Cafe’s location isn’t far at all from the packed and sometimes stressful ATT4Fun, when walking those backstreets at night, it feels like you are lightyears away due to the peace and quiet.

Also, it doesn’t hurt that you are less than a 10 minute walk from one of my favorite izakayas in Taipei, Takemura Izakaya, should you be in the mood for some yakitori and ice cold Japanese beers. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://391tpe.business.site/ 

• When: M-F 12PM – 10:30PM | Saturday & Sunday 10AM – 10:30PM
• Location: No. 3, Alley 11, Lane 391, Zhuangjing Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110 | 110台北市信義區莊敬路391巷11弄3號

Oromo Cafe (Wuxing Street Location)

Courtesy of Oromo Cafe’s Google Maps profile.

Next to Yaboo Cafe, Oromo Cafe was my number two in command and it wasn’t just because it was less than a 5 minute walk from my apartment. Oromo Cafe is the definition of a true digital nomad and freelancer’s cafe to me. There is a certain quirkiness to digital nomads and freelancers that I think results in heaps of character. Oromo embodies this with its vintage vibe – comprised of everything from a figurine wall, to furniture that your grandparents would love, all the way to shelves filled with old televisions and typewriters.

Oromo embodies what I love most about Taipei – endless hidden treasures. 

Oromo Cafe boasts one giant communal table (with plenty of outlets), that draws the likes of developers, travel bloggers, blockchain enthusiasts, and more. While several other cafes on this list are popular with students, Oromo is geared more towards professionals. This is a post-up and buckle down type of place. 

Coffee-wise, I would argue that Oromo serves up the strongest coffee of the bunch, and I found myself working into the late hours of the night after slugging several of their vanilla lattes (which are some of the cheapest on this entire list). Oromo does not try and be anything fancy. It’s just Oromo. My day at Oromo Cafe wouldn’t be complete without gulping down a mango smoothie (冰沙) and taking a quick lunch break right down the street at my favorite fast food dumpling shop Ba Fang Yun Ji (八方雲集).

On a sentimental note, the day before I left Taiwan (and before my girlfriend and I decided to part ways) I asked my then girlfriend if we could have one last coffee together at Oromo. I remember sitting in silence, sipping my vanilla latte and thinking about my giant next chapter of uncertainty. The weight of the next day’s move hit me and I began tearing up. One of the male baristas I became very friendly with saw this, read the situation (he knew it was my last day), and came over and gave me a hug. Interactions like that will always stick with you and remind you just how good people can be. 

Keep in mind that there are three Oromo Cafe locations in Taipei. I never made my way over to their Taipei Station Store or Shilin location, but would feel confident recommending them based on just how great their Wuxing Street location is. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oromo-Cafe/507412656402201 

• When: M-F 7:30AM – 9:30PM | Saturday & Sunday 8AM – 9:30PM (Wuxing Street Store Hours)
• Location:
  • Wuxing Street Store: No. 15, Wuxing Street, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110 | 110台北市信義區吳興街15號
  • Taipei Station Store: No. 26, Nanyang Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan | 100台北市中正區南陽街26號
  • Shilin Store: 111, Taiwan, Taipei City, Shilin District, Lane 16, Meide Street, 1號號 後門 士 林捷運 站 1 號 出口 旁

Make sure to check out my post on 6 date ideas for couples in Taipei!

Wilbeck (Wuxing Street Location)

Courtesy of Wilbeck’s Facebook page.

Less than a five minute walk right down the street from Oromo Cafe is Wilbeck Cafe. You will know you are there because six out of seven days you will see one of the happiest golden retrievers sitting outside (his name is Cookie and he is the owner’s). Seriously, he was there almost every single time I went to Wilbeck Cafe (and that was a lot). Wilbeck is kind of an open air cafe. While not huge, it has great lighting and feels far bigger than it actually is with its open entrance. 

Wilbeck also brews up one of my favorite lattes there is, the banana latte. I can only describe it as those yellow banana candies you would eat as a kid, with somewhat of a smoothie taste, finished off by a caffeine kick. It’s definitely not for everybody. 

This is definitely a cafe to work at on a Thursday or Friday, as it is absolutely bustling and gives off a palpable energy and excitement. I typically would work out of Wilbeck before a designated night out for Big Body. If you are looking to settle down for the long haul here, do try and aim for a booth seat with your own table, otherwise you may need an extension cord to charge your laptop. Or, post up and stand at the wooden countertop directly in the middle, which fits anywhere from four to six people. 

There must be some sort of strategic placing of both Wilbeck and Oromo, as Wilbeck also sports a Taipei Station location (well, actually two), less than 80 meters from Oromo’s Taipei Station address. So, whether you are on Taipei’s east side or west side, you are always within an arm’s reach of a Wilbeck Cafe or Oromo Cafe. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/WilbeckOne/ 

• When: M-F 8AM – 6PM, Saturday & Sunday 9AM – 6PM (Wuxing Street Store Hours)
• Location:
  • Wuxing Street Store: No. 52號, Wuxing Street, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110 | 110台北市信義區吳興街52號
  • Taipei Station Store 1: No. 26-7, Xinyang Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100 | 100台北市中正區信陽街26-7號
  • Taipei Station Store 2: No. 9號, Section 1, Kaifeng St, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100 | 100台北市中正區開封街一段9號

Costumice Cafe

Courtesy of Costumice Cafe’s Facebook page.

Situated right in the heart of Taipei’s trendy Dong Qu District (East District), Costumice Cafe is by far the most instagram-worthy cafe of the bunch, and reminds me of a mix between a greenhouse and George of the Jungle’s treehouse. This is the Taipei cafe for digital nomads and freelancers that are in the mood to sip on a potent glass of sangria or craft beer while they work. Nomads can either choose from Costumice’s outdoor tables, slightly hidden from the road by towering greenery, or inside seating where there is no shortage of wooden tables.  

Near and dear to my heart is Costumice’s craft brewed cold brew, which as always, packs a punch and goes down far too easy on a hot Taipei summer day. Costumice also makes a mean homemade pizza for one, that has found the perfect balance between a crispy and firm crust and gooey cheese topping. And, if you’re feeling assorted finger foods (chicken nuggets, french fries, buffalo wings, and even fried oysters), you’ll be thoroughly pleased.

Costumice Cafe was good and bad for me. Good in the way that it is (and was) one of the better cafes I’ve ever worked out of. Bad in the way that their collection of craft beers often led to me not accomplishing as much as I would have liked. While I’m not from Oregon, I am a huge fan of Deschutes Brewery, which Costumice Cafe was well stocked with (Fresh Squeezed IPA, Hop Slice Summer Ale, Black Butte Porter). Sometimes when living in Asia, it is nice to have a liquid slice of home to prevent any homesickness.    

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/costumice.cafe/ 

• When: M-F 1PM – 12AM | Saturday 12PM – 1AM, Sunday 12PM – 12AM
• Location: 106, Taiwan, Taipei City, Da’an District, Alley 71, Lane 223, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, 6號1樓 | 106台北市大安區忠孝東路四段223巷71弄6號1樓

Elephant Machine Coffee

Courtesy of Elephant Machine Coffee’s Facebook page.

If I was sorting these cafes by superlatives, Elephant Machine Coffee would be the coffee aficionados’ favorite cafe. And, that’s no easy task considering the area that it is in. Elephant Machine Coffee sits directly south of Dongmen Station and right off what I refer to as the ‘Coffee Triangle’ (due to Yongkang Park’s triangular shape). Yongkang Street is littered with literally any type of cafe you want. From cat cafes (Yaboo Cafe), to Japanese style cafes with tatami mats (Neko Cafe), to even dog-friendly cafes, Yongkang Street (and its surrounding area) has it all.

Oh, and it just happens to be one of the best streets for food in all of Taipei.  

Because Elephant Machine is a coffee lover’s dream, it is often packed and can be difficult finding seating. To maximize your chances of finding an open table, I recommend showing up right at opening, at 1PM. Do try and post up right at the window if you can, nothing soothed my wandering mind more than typing away at my laptop while looking out of a rain streaked window at Elephant Machine. 

I would not classify Elephant Machine as a “heavy” digital nomad or freelancer cafe or coffeeshop, but you will still encounter plenty of people reading or just hanging on their laptops.

Don’t worry, if you can’t find a seat, just head one minute right down the road to Yaboo. 

Elephant Machine Coffee’s Nitro Cold Brew is to this day, the single best cold brew I have ever drank. It’s smooth and crisp at the same time, caffeine packed, and refreshing. This cafe will run you a tad more than the others, with most drinks coming in right around NT $150 (USD $5). As you probably guessed from my strange liking of Wilbeck’s banana latte above, I’m very pro-banana flavor. So, when I ordered Elephant Machine’s caramel banana cheesecake, I nearly swore to myself that I would not eat another single food but that ever again. 

Pro Tip: After you’ve finished up a day of freelancing at Elephant Machine Coffee or Yaboo and are in dire need of some liquid relaxation, head on over to Zhang Men Brewing located over at No. 10, Lane 4, Yongkang Street (106台北市大安區永康街4巷10號).

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/elephantmachine.coffee/ 

• When: Closed M, T, W | Thursday – Sunday 1PM – 7PM
• Location: No.5, Lane 37, Yongkang St.,, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 | No.5, Lane 37, Yongkang St., 大安區台北市106

Final Thoughts on Laptop Friendly Cafes For Digital Nomads & Freelancers in Taipei

I was quite excited to include Eslite’s 24 hour bookstore location on my list (they have a cafe as well), but found in my research that they are set to close in June of 2020 (so there is still time to get there!). I was also excited to include the first crypto-friendly cafe and community center in Taipei ‘Bitzantine’, however that closed as well. I do hope that with rising rents and an influx of foreign companies that these quirky, cozy, and incredible cafes aren’t forced out. 

Whether you are a freelancer or digital nomad, or just looking for a cozy (or bustling) cafe to get your caffeine fix at, Taipei really is a cafe and coffee lover’s heaven. I’d love to hear in the comments any cafes that you personally love working out of in Taipei, as I know I will definitely be back. 

Best,

-Big Body