The Cafe Astoria () is the first Western-style bakery in Taiwan. It is located in the

Zhongzheng District Zhongzheng District (also Jhongjheng District) is a district in Taipei. It is home to most of the national government buildings of the Republic of China (Taiwan), including the Presidential Office, the Executive Yuan, the Control Yuan, the ...

Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the no ...

, on Wuchang Street across from the City God Temple.

History

In October 1949, 18-year-old Archibald Chien became business partners with six Russian immigrants who fled

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Chinese, Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four Direct-administered municipalities of China, direct-administered municipalities of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the ...

to Taiwan. Together they opened Taipei's first Western style pastry shop on Wuchang Street in downtown

. They offered pastries on the first floor and a cafe on the second floor. One month after the Astoria opened for business,

Chiang Kai-shek Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...

resumed presidency of the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeas ...

and relocated his government to Taiwan. After the

Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top:{ ...

broke out in 1950, the United States maintained a significant troop presence on Taiwan. During this time, the Astoria hosted many important guests from abroad, including

Jane Fonda Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress, activist, and former fashion model. Recognized as a film icon, Fonda is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Jane Fonda, various accolades including two ...

. The cafe was also frequently visited by

Chiang Ching-Kuo Chiang Ching-kuo (27 April 1910 – 13 January 1988) was a politician of the Republic of China after its retreat to Taiwan. The eldest and only biological son of former president Chiang Kai-shek, he held numerous posts in the government ...

– who had studied in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

for many years – and his

Belarus Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by ...

ian wife Chiang Fang-liang. In 1950, Astoria hosted a Russian New Year Celebration which was attended by

and his family. Chiang Kai-shek's last birthday cake was also prepared by chefs from the Astoria. After World War II, the Cafe Astoria became a popular spot for many socialites and government officials. It was also a spot where many struggling writers and intellectuals met and composed their works. Famous writers, poets and artists known to have frequented the Astoria include

Pai Hsien-yung Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai (; born July 11, 1937) is a Chinese writer from Taiwan who has been described as a "melancholy pioneer". He was born in Guilin, Guangxi at the cusp of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Pai's father was the Kuomintang (KMT) ge ...

Chou Meng-tieh Chou Meng-tieh (; 29 December 1921 – 1 May 2014) was a Taiwanese poet and writer. He lived in Tamsui District, New Taipei City. Biography He was born Chou Chi-shu in Xichuan County, Henan in 1921. In 1948, Chou joined the China Youth Corps ...

Yu Guangzhong Yu Kwang-chung, also romanised as Yu Guangzhong (; 21 October 1928 – 14 December 2017) was a Taiwanese writer, poet, educator and critic. Life Yu was born in 1928 in Nanking to Yu Chaoying and Sun Xiujun, but fled with his family during the ...

, and choreographer

Lin Hwai-min Lin Hwai-min (; born 19 February 1947) is a Taiwanese dancer, writer, choreographer, and founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan. Biography Family Lin was born in Xingang, Chiayi. He came from an intellectual family. His great-grandfathe ...

.Famous customers
/ref>

Transportation

The cafe is accessible within walking distance north east of

Ximen Station Ximen (, formerly transliterated as Hsimen Station until 2003) is a metro station in Taipei, Taiwan served by Taipei Metro. The station is named after the former west gate of the city, whose location is roughly where the current station is locate ...

Taipei Metro Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), branded as Metro Taipei, is a rapid transit system serving the areas of Taipei and New Taipei in Taiwan, operated by the government-owned Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, which also operates the Maokong Gondo ...

References

External links

{{Commons category, Cafe Astoria, Taipei
Cafe Astoria
1949 establishments in Taiwan Buildings and structures in Taipei Coffeehouses and cafés History of Taipei Russian diaspora in China

History

Transportation

See also

References

External links