Narrow Door Cafe

Top choice in Tainan


A 38cm-wide alley leads to this charmer where the colours are bold, the ceilings high, and on a fine day, there's always a breeze dancing. The patterns and ambience may transport you to living rooms by 20th-century European artists like Matisse or Kandinsky. Settle by one of the large windows overlooking the Confucius Temple and enjoy the coffee.

Narrow Door is a favourite haunt of the literati – you'll see on the wall autographs of celebrated writers and painters including Nobel Prize winner Gao Xingjian. The owner Jessica is a proponent of wearing qipao or cheongsam, a traditional body-hugging dress for Chinese women. She has a selection of the garments for rent, from NT$300 (wearing for photos inside the cafe) to NT$900 (taking it outside and returning before closing).


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