Ounce Taipei — Restaurant in Da'an District

Short: nice snack options (few options but still great quality). Come here for the amazing drinks made by knowledgeable well-travelled bartenders within the calm and comfy speakeasy atmosphere.

Long:

One of the best speakeasies for english speaking expats to feel the calm soothing comfort of a dim-lit room, kind bartender service, soft-spoken jazz and high quality cocktails made specifically to your tastes.

Chinese locals should definitely come as well, either for a comfortable noise-free drink space with your friends/date, or to explore quality cocktails in an atmosphere parallel to wonderful speakeasies around the world (it helps to speak english, but there is also Chinese speaking staff too so no worries).

Best to come before 9pm if you want absolute peace and quiet and a guaranteed seat. Past 9, the crowds start arriving.

The bartenders make you what you want (no menu), and will make sure what you get is what you desire. If it isn’t, they will insist on remaking the drink for you, free of charge.

Ash, one of the bar managers, was a kind man from France who has traveled around the world and speaks great English. I had the privilege to have a nice conversation with him about random things of life on an early weekday night.

His kind service made me feel like I was back home, celebrating winter as i drank the hot spiked cider I ordered. And his knowledge of the drink is worth the price they ask. Learned a few new cocktails to add to my personal list of must drink again thanks to him.

Out of all the bars i’ve been to in Taiwan, this would be the one i would visit again if i had only one more chance to drink for the holidays.

And if health and time permits, I will be coming here again.

Thank you...

From the moment you find the entrance it's an experience. From describing your taste preference, and the knowledge of the staff, they will serve you drink that fits your palate or mood.

Let me explain my first sip of the drink. OMG is just presentation. Placed on the table you touch the thin posh glass with your fingers which easily makes it to your mouth; your senses start exploding with pleasure. First your nose is filled with the aromas from the descriptive flavors left in the waiters care, then your lips touch the glass that start to fill your palate, teasing the taste buds. Finally, in a rage of euphoria you tip the posh glass that wafts the aromas that satisfy and fill the taste buds with surprise, delight, wonder and a bit of relief into your mouth and go, "mmmmmm." Involuntarily loud enough to be inappropriate.

That first sip is the beginning of my story how I excessively drank responsibility with delicious, aromatic, taste bud pleasing cocktails based on the expert hands of the wait...

I visited Ounce in October, during one of the typhoons. When we arrived, the bar was empty due to the oncoming storm — in fact, Ounce was one of the few places open for the storm.

The entrance is hidden in plain sight: approach the tiny coffee shop looking store front and ask to get cocktails. You’ll be lead through a recessed door into the bar. The darkened bar is cozy and intimate, with no more than six seats at the bar and five or six tables throughout.

There is no menu: you will be reliant on the staff to help pick your drinks for you. Everyone we interacted with was happy to make suggestions and ask questions to determine what would be a enjoyable drink to match my tastes. I ended up with a fantastic Calvados Ramos for my first cocktail and a delicious clarified milk punch for my second.

Special shoutout to the grilled cheese — my favorite bar food in Taipei! This is a great spot for small groups, couples, and even to hang out solo. The staff speaks English well and has a good...