Simple Kaffa — Restaurant in Xinyi District

I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the terrible and sarcastic customer service displayed by a staff member of Kaffe located on Level 1 of Taipei 101 during my visit on 28 June 2025 at approximately 6.30PM. The staff in question was a young woman with shoulder length blonde hair wearing a green bandana. She was the only one present at the time managing both dine in and takeaway orders.

Upon arrival we noticed a long queue for takeaway. Since dine in and takeaway queues were indicated separately we approached the counter to check on dine in availability. We were informed that dine in was fully booked so we joined the takeaway queue around 6.35PM.

Halfway through the queue we saw a small sign stating that walk in orders would not be accepted after 7PM. This was not communicated online or posted clearly at the start of the queue. This caused growing concern among customers as the time approached 7PM.

The actual issue began when it was finally our turn to order. Instead of attending to us the staff member left the counter took a few menus and walked to the start of the queue to explain the ordering process to new arrivals. This was unnecessary as instructions were already clearly posted at the start and middle of the queue.

A fellow customer politely asked the staff if she could continue serving those already at the counter. The staff replied with an audibly sarcastic tone saying “Everyone is ordering over here.” This response was unprofessional and dismissive. The customers nearby were visibly shocked by her attitude.

When she finally returned to take our order the mood had already turned unpleasant. On top of this the Level 88 collection point was completely disorganised. More than 25 people were squeezed into a tight corner waiting for their overpriced underwhelming takeaway orders and a photo opportunity.

Suggestions for improvement • Better staffing. One person managing both queues during peak hours is not acceptable • Clear communication. No walk ins after 7PM should be stated online and at the start of the queue • Crowd control. Consider timed pickup slots or batch queues at Level 88 • Professionalism. Staff should be trained on basic courtesy and customer service

Our visit to Kaffe was meant to be enjoyable but ended up being stressful and disappointing. The experience did not match the image Kaffe tries to present and left a negative...

Our first order of business in Taiwan was to see the Taipei 101 vantage point. We read reviews that it’s better to dine at the Simple Kaffe and admire the view, considering the prices. If you just buy a ticket to go up, it is 600NTD. So, for me and wife, that’s 1,200NTD. Compare that to the consumable if you dine at the restaurant, which was 1,500NTD (there are seating options with corresponding prices), then it’s a small difference. So why not just relax and admire the view, while having coffee and snacks?

Now, it is confusing to get to the restaurant. From Grand Hyatt, we took the escalator to the 5/F, where the Observatory ticket area is. We then asked the guard where the Kaffe was, and he said to take an elevator to the 1/F. So we did, and then found the reception table for the restaurant. We then chose our seating option (by the window, with required 1,500NTD consumption). The receptionist then asked us to take another escalator to the 2/F, and then ride the escalator to the 60/F, where you then had to transfer elevator to reach the final floor - 88/F.

Btw, regarding the seating options, you have four: table farthest from the window, 4-seater almost by the window, 4-seater right by the window, and 2-seater by the window.

The restaurant itself is airy, spacious and quiet. It is peaceful. You have to line up at the cashier to pick place your order and pay.

Everything was delicious, and food was delivered to the table quickly. Our bill was 1,600. My only mistake was assuming the Kenya item on the light-roasted section was tea; it was coffee. The coffee was actually good (no need for sugar). The brown sugar latte was outstanding - it was smooth; no bitterness. Makes you realize how bitter Starbucks is. The vanilla ice cream with hojicha was good too.

We had a great time enjoying the view, without the crowds and the lines. Plus we had scrumptious food and...

Cafe Simple Kaffa Sola is located on the 88th floor of Taipei 101. In the lobby, there’s a receptionist who handles takeaway orders and cafe reservations. To made an order I had to queue for quite a long time because the receptionist explains to each person the minimum charge and time limit. Then we webt up to the 88th floor.

The minimum spend for takeaway is NT$250/person. For dine-in, it’s NT$300 per person for regular seating, NT$2,000 per table for window seats, and NT$3,000 per table for bay window seating. There’s also a 90-minute time limit for dine-in customers.

When I arrived in the afternoon, the cafe was quite crowded, and I had to wait about 30 minutes—so I ended up choosing takeaway instead. If you want to avoid waiting, it’s best to make a reservation a few days in advance through the link on their Instagram.

I tried one of their three signature coffee: Smoky Southern Taiwan. It includes espresso, Taiwanese jelly, white gourd syrup, and osmanthus. The coffee itself was on the lighter side, possibly to let the osmanthus aroma come through. It had a nice floral fragrance and a subtle smoky note that made it interesting. The jelly was generous and the sweetness was well balanced—not overly sweet. Overall, it had a unique flavor that I really enjoyed.

However, in my opinion it tastes more like an osmanthus tea than a coffee. So if you’re specifically looking for a coffee, this might not be the best choice. But if you’re open to trying something different, it’s definitely worth a shot.

Even if you’re just getting takeaway, you can still enjoy the view of Taipei from several windows next to the cafe (though there’s no seating there). The service was friendly and the serving duration...