Kite Coffee

A couple who jokingly call themselves the bad egg duo opened Kite Coffee near Tonghua Night Market, with owner Lin Chia Yu bringing experience from a coffee shop she ran in Hida Takayama, Japan. They first aimed for a Japanese wabi sabi feel in the original space, then carried that same restraint into a smaller spot next door after moving, building it out with reclaimed wood and simple materials rather than a polished fit out.

The menu splits evenly between espresso drinks and clean, balanced pour overs from rotating single origins, with an outdoor bench seating area that opens from eight in the morning and an irori style charcoal brazier for warming up on cold days. Sprudge named Kite one of its best new cafes of 2023, and the shop still sells its own beans alongside seasonal specials built around Taiwanese fruit and honey.