Tucked just a few steps from MRT Dongmen Station, Yongkang Street offers a different kind of Taipei experience — slower, softer, and full of delightful discoveries. With independent boutiques, cozy cafés, famous desserts, and beautiful gifts to bring home, it’s the kind of neighborhood where every turn feels like a gentle surprise. Come along on my slow stroll through this charming corner of the city.
🛍️ Discovering Unique Boutiques & Handmade Finds
What makes Yongkang Street so special is its mix of creative, locally-owned shops. From Taiwanese-designed stationery and linen clothing to handmade accessories and postcards, every little store is packed with personality. I found myself popping in and out of shops, picking up scented soaps from southern Taiwan, and admiring shelves of retro-style notebooks and tapes. The joy here isn’t in the shopping itself — it’s in the small, personal stories that each shop seems to tell.
🍧 Famous Mango Shaved Ice, Perfect for a Taipei Summer
After some exploring, it was time for a treat. Yongkang is famous for mango shaved ice, and I couldn’t resist stopping by Smoothie House, one of the most well-known dessert spots in the area. Their signature bowl, piled high with fresh Aiwen mangoes over delicate shaved ice, was pure happiness in a cup. They even have smaller sizes, perfect for solo travelers or light snackers. One spoonful and the summer heat just melted away.
☕ Quiet Time at an Artsy Café
Post-dessert, I was ready for a slower pace. Yongkang Street is also home to several quiet, artsy cafés, perfect for journaling, reading, or just sitting and watching the world go by. I settled into a minimalist café with soft music and hand-brewed coffee. There, I flipped through my travel notes and admired the little treasures I’d picked up earlier. Sometimes, the best part of a trip is doing absolutely nothing — and feeling totally at peace with it.
🎁 A Refined Tea Gift from Geow Yong Tea Hong
Before leaving, I went looking for a souvenir and stumbled upon Geow Yong Tea Hong (嶢陽茶行) — a beautifully curated Taiwanese tea shop. Inside, the atmosphere was calm and elegant, and the tea gift sets were just stunning. Carefully selected high-mountain oolongs like Dong Ding and Oriental Beauty were packaged in minimalist boxes, making them perfect to gift or to savor back home. It felt like bringing a piece of Taiwan’s warmth and refinement with me.
A Gentle Stroll, A Lasting Memory
Yongkang Street isn’t loud or flashy, but it stays with you. It’s in the soft rhythm of the day, the shopkeeper’s smile, the swirl of mango ice, and the quiet clink of tea cups. If you’re looking for a Taipei experience that’s not about rushing but about reconnecting — with yourself, with place, with beauty — Yongkang is the walk to take.
