Astoria Café

Review

Astoria Café traces its roots to a 1920s Shanghai bakery opened by White Russian émigrés and a former tsarist court chef. After the civil war the founders made their way to Taiwan, partnered with local man Chien Chin-chui, and opened on Taipei's Wuchang Street in 1949. It was a place where Russians in Taiwan eased their homesickness and a literary salon for 1960s writers; the building was listed as a Taipei municipal historic site in 2012, and the second generation now runs it.

The signature souvenir is Russian soft candy, soft and silky, in original, cranberry, matcha and turmeric flavours; walnut cake and ladyfingers are also regulars' must-buys. Upstairs, the Russian coffee is brewed in a siphon with treated eggshells to soften bitterness, and the menu includes borscht, fish aspic and roast pork knuckle. The tables and chairs have been in use since opening and are repaired rather than replaced.

Praise centres on the rich nostalgic atmosphere, the stories behind the old photos and furniture, and Russian soft candy and walnut cake as gifts; some also rate the borscht and desserts. Critics say portions are small and prices not cheap, making it more about history and ambience than food, and some feel certain dishes taste more Taiwanese than authentically Russian.

A 2025 report lists the two-tier dessert platter (Russian soft candy, walnut cake and ladyfingers) at NT$480 and the 6-inch angel chocolate cake at NT$700, with set meals costing more. The café is open 11:30–21:00, accepts cards and adds a 10% service charge; the ground floor is the bakery shop and the second and third floors are the café. Founding dates vary between sources (Shanghai 1922, Taipei 1949), so check before you go. Taipei Main Station and Ximen MRT stations are within walking distance.

It suits lovers of old Taipei's cultural history, those after a souvenir with a story, or anyone wanting to sit down for coffee in the old city centre. If you only want gifts, buy Russian soft candy and walnut cake downstairs; with more time, head upstairs for the two-tier dessert platter and a Russian coffee, just right for two to share.