Taipei Solo Adventure: Day 3 Taipei Zoo, Dinner and Wine Bar
In February 2024, I went on a solo 3 days trip to Taipei from Osaka.
Check out the Day 1 & Day 2 blogs from here if you haven’t!
Today, I'd like to share my experiences from the last day of my stay in Taipei.
I began my day with an onigiri breakfast from 青島飯糰, a popular take-out spot on the street.
Unfortunately, I couldn't read the Taiwanese menu, but the lady kindly explained in Japanese that they offer both purple and white rice. I decided to go with the first option on the menu, which featured purple rice.
青島飯糰
Address: No. 13, Qingdao W Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
The chewy rice, sweet and spicy meat sauce, and crunchy fried bread created a perfect combination.
It was cheap and quite filling. Highly recommend for quick breakfast :)
After breakfast, I took a walk and headed to Taipei 101.
The building is incredibly tall compared to the surrounding structures.
Taipei 101
Address: No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐
Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐) is a world-renowned Taiwanese restaurant chain known for its exquisite xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and other Chinese delicacies.
The hallmark of Din Tai Fung is its xiaolongbao, which are made with delicate, thin dough filled with seasoned pork and a rich, flavourful broth. Each dumpling is carefully pleated with exactly 18 folds, ensuring a perfect balance of texture and taste. The restaurant also offers a variety of other dishes, including steamed buns, noodles, fried rice, and vegetable dishes, all prepared with the same attention to detail.
My favourite tea brand, TWG Tea has a store inside the Taipei 101.
TWG Tea is a Singaporean luxury teahouse chain and a namesake brand of artisanal tea.
I had lunch at an Australian brunch café called Woolloomooloo, located near Taipei 101.
I ordered avocado toast and fresh orange juice. The café's atmosphere was really cozy and modern!
Woolloomooloo
Address: No. 379號, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
My original plan was to visit the Taipei National Museum, but I didn't realize it was closed on Mondays. So instead, I decided to visit the Taipei Zoo.
The Taipei Zoo was huge, with multiple sections organized by the origin of the animals. It made for a pleasant walk after lunch.
In addition to its impressive animal exhibits, the zoo is also dedicated to conservation, education, and research, making it a significant center for wildlife preservation and learning. The expansive grounds offer a scenic and educational retreat, perfect for visitors of all ages.
Taipei Zoo
Address: No. 30號, Section 2, Xinguang Rd, Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 116
Pandas were SO CUTE!!
After visiting the zoo, I met up with my friend who works in Taipei.
He took me to a casual Chinese diner, and it was incredible. The dumpling sauce was perfectly balanced, and my favourite dish was the beef noodles. The spice and beef were well mixed, creating a very flavourful taste.
This place quickly became my favorite restaurant in Taipei.
He also took me to a fantastic wine bar with an impressive collection of natural wines.
We enjoyed a bottle of Merlot from Australia.
Dancing Elephant Wine Bar 跳舞大象葡萄酒専売
Address: No. 2號, Alley 8, Lane 106, Section 4, Bade Rd, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
We met up with other friends and enjoyed a couple more glasses of wine at a hidden bar.
I wanted to introduce you to the best pineapple cake in Taipei!
I got these pineapple cakes from Yearscake Bakery, a small shop owned by a lady with only one location.
She hand-makes each and every pineapple cake, and they are absolutely delicious. I almost want to keep it a secret, but I couldn't resist sharing the joy with you here.
Yearscake Bakery
Address: No. 149號, Chaozhou St, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
I would love to go back to Taipei again for these pineapple cakes and the dumplings :)