CHLIV — Restaurant in New Taipei

Posh yet understated, this coffee place gives a quiet luxury vibe. Empty on a rainy Monday morning 1030hrs, we were lucky that it isn't weekend with good weather, otherwise there would most definitely be a queue.

Service staff was friendly and told us about the owner when we asked what CHLIV stood for. CH stands for Christopher and L for Lin. IV is 4 in Roman numerals, which represents the fourth foray into business for the owner, whose name is Christopher Lin. He was the 2016 world latte art champion.

Ntd800 for 2 drinks, 2 croissants, and a pineapple tart. Not cheap but everything was great. Jiufen latte was smooth and milky. Matcha latte was whisked and tasted authentic. Latte art for both were on point, as expected. Croissants were super flaky - both types -- sausage cheese, and red bean mochi -- hit the spot in their own way. Pineapple tart was so moist and just sweet enough not to overpower the drinks.

This place is not a spot for the masses, the drinks are not too sweet, the food isn't crazy umami. It's more for the quiet connoisseur who places value on balance and zen. Perfect place to seek shelter from the rain. Love that the service staff were polite and friendly, which is not always the case for popular places.

Definitely recommend this place for people who appreciate...

Absolutely loved the hojicha and jiufen latte!

The hojicha was a great surprise, I ordered it with oat milk and usually, in other places the oat milk taste will sort of overpower the hojicha. But I didn't even taste the oat milk in this hojicha latte, it's soooo smooth and balanced? I don't know what oatmilk they use or how they do it, but I was blown away by this cup of hojicha.

Jiufen latte was a unique drink, the texture of every sip with charcoal was a novel experience. The aesthetics of nice latte art with gold flakes levelled up that cup of unpretentious coffee.

Even the pineapple cake was nice, not just a hype. I felt warmly welcome by the friendly service of the staff, not usually experienced in...

This is my second visit to this coffee shop. As soon as I entered, I could feel the great atmosphere and the aroma of coffee. You can also see the owner making coffee, and it's so professional that customers can watch the entire coffee-making process. A little tip: if you want to see latte art, make sure to order a hot coffee. The delicate foam of the hot latte allows you to experience the owner's dedication to coffee. The shop also has a large mirror, which will definitely appeal to people who love taking photos, just like me, could not stop taking pictures. If you're a coffee lover, you should definitely visit this place and enjoy the beautiful view of Jiufen. It’s a wonderful spot...