Cai Mingliang’s Coffee Corridor Revives 1960s Taipei

When you walk into a historic building and suddenly find yourself in a time capsule of 1960s Taipei—complete with old record players, red velvet chairs, and even a grandfather’s rattan seat—you’re not just stepping into a café. You’re stepping into a meticulously recreated cultural moment. That’s exactly what happens when you visit the Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor, a collaboration between acclaimed director Cai Mingliang and his longtime actor Lee Kang-sheng.

Launched in late November 2011 at Taipei’s Zhongshan Hall, this café-coffee-corridor hybrid reopened the building’s fourth floor to the public for the first time—and did so with a full sensory homage to the 1960s.

What Is the Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor?

The Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor isn’t just another Taipei coffee shop. Tucked away on the fourth floor of Zhongshan Hall—a national second-class historic site—it’s a carefully styled space filled with vintage furnishings: old record players, dressing mirrors, red velvet chairs, and rattan furniture reminiscent of a Taiwanese grandparent’s home. Together, these elements recreate the atmosphere of 1960s Taiwan, as imagined through the lens of director Cai Mingliang.

Why Zhongshan Hall? A Historic Venue Reimagined

Zhongshan Hall is no ordinary location. This landmark has hosted foreign dignitaries, multiple presidential inaugurations, and major cultural performances—including works by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre and choreographer Tsai Jui-mei. By opening the coffee corridor here, Cai Mingliang and Lee Kang-sheng tapped into a space rich with history, then layered it with personal nostalgia and retro design. The fourth floor, previously closed to the public, now welcomes visitors into this unique blend of café, gallery, and time machine.

The 18 Theatre: Cinema in a Coffee Corner

Beyond the coffee and decor, the corridor includes a hidden gem: the 18 Theatre. Hidden along a hallway turn, this miniature cinema seats just 18 people and regularly screens both international classics and vintage Chinese films. It’s a tiny but intentional addition that turns the space from a simple café into a full cultural experience—one where you can sip coffee, then settle in for a film under the same roof.

How Did This Project Come Together?

The Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor officially launched with an opening tea party on November 23, 2011. The event marked the first time the fourth floor of Zhongshan Hall had been open to the public, and brought together figures like director Cai Mingliang, actor Lee Kang-sheng, and filmmaker Wang Hsiao-di. The café’s aesthetic and programming reflect Cai’s signature attention to mood, memory, and minimalism—translated here into a functioning coffee business and community space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor located?

The Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor is located on the fourth floor of Zhongshan Hall in Taipei, Taiwan. The historic venue had not previously opened this floor to the public before the café’s launch in November 2011.

What is the 18 Theatre?

The 18 Theatre is a mini cinema within the Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor that seats just 18 people. It shows classic international and Chinese films and adds a cultural, cinematic element to the coffee corridor experience.

What year did the Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor open?

The Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor officially opened in late November 2011, with an opening tea party held on November 23, 2011.

Who are the founders of the Cai Mingliang Coffee Corridor?

The café was founded by director Cai Mingliang and his frequent collaborator, actor Lee Kang-sheng. The space reflects their shared aesthetic and nostalgic vision.

What kind of atmosphere does the coffee corridor have?

The corridor is designed to evoke the 1960s, featuring vintage items like old record players, red velvet chairs, dressing mirrors, and rattan furniture reminiscent of older Taiwanese homes. The goal is a full-sensory recreation of a bygone era.