[Taipei] The Tasting Room 啜飲室

The Tasting Room 啜飲室

Add: 14, Alley 5, Lane 107, Section 1 Fu Xing South Road, Taipei / 台北市復興南路一段107巷5弄14號
Tel: (02) 8773 9001
Hours: 5pm-midnight
Price: 100-250 NTD/beer
Visited: Feb 2015

啜飲室 The Tasting Room opened just shy of one month ago in a quiet lane of Fu Xing South Road. What it is: a beer bar that features a selection of some 20 craft brews from around the world, and a gallery that showcases local Taiwanese art. The design is simple but stylish – it’s one big open space with a shiny beer bar on the left, communal tables at the center and back, and a few smaller tables on the right. Warm woods, soft lighting, and jazzy piano in the air. It’s a charming space, a love a first sight for me.

The menu is written on the blackboard right above the bar, and if the names don’t tell you much, the friendly bartenders will. As it was my first visit, they made a few recommendations and let me try a small dose of each before choosing. The prices are very affordable – a glass of beer ranges from 100-250 NTD – making this a easy place to frequent without breaking the bank. For now there is no food on the menu, though I heard talks about 滷味 (Taiwanese braised snack foods) for the future.

The bar is currently exhibiting artworks from Jessica J Lee, who also designed the gourd/tiger logo of The Tasting Room.

One this first visit, I tried #2 Hardcore Suuuuuuumer Slam (100 NTD) produced by a Taiwanese craft beer brand called Hardcore Brewery. Light and refreshing, an easy one to down even for those who don’t usually go for beers.

The Tasting Room currently also has a selection of canned beers from Yoho Brewing Company of Japan, such as this Tokyo Black Porter (250 NTD).

An ideal place to learn your beers and hangout with friends. Note: this is not somewhere to get loud or get drunk – The Tasting Room is too stylish for that. As it’s in a residential neighborhood, do keep your voices low especially when out on the patio.