COFFEE RED: A No-Time-Limit Pet-Friendly Cafe Opposite NTU with Free Wi-Fi

The Space | Bright and Comfortable, Light Industrial Style

There is no shortage of cafes around Gongguan and National Taiwan University (NTU), and COFFEE RED, on Xinsheng South Road, sits right opposite the university. It is reachable on foot from both Gongguan and Taipower Building MRT stations. Large glass windows, red-brick walls and grey concrete give the space a simple, airy feel; it is not huge, but it never feels dim or cramped, and a few semi-outdoor seats sit by the entrance.

The cafe offers Wi-Fi and power sockets with no time limit on dining, and it is pet-friendly. On weekdays you will often see customers working on laptops or reading. Besides coffee, tea and desserts, the menu includes savoury items such as baguette sandwiches, salad bowls and breakfast plates, covering brunch through to afternoon tea.

【Attraction Tickets】Spring City Resort Beitou Taipei - Public Bath・Hot Spring Bathing Voucher (Meal Package Available for Add-on Purchase)

Book today before 18:00

HKD 256 Start

Book now

【Attraction Tickets】【2026 Taipei Popular Indoor Attractions Selection】Disappearing Pharaoh Pyramid VR Immersive Experience | Near MRT Station & Bus Stop

Book tomorrow before 18:00

HKD 101 Start

Book now

【Standard Car Rental Service】Taipei Chartered Tour: Customised Itinerary (Add-on Din Tai Fung Dining Experience)

Book tomorrow before 17:00

HKD 264 Start

Book now

Inside, seating is mostly two-person tables facing an open coffee bar. The glass folding doors let natural light flood in, keeping the space bright and transparent even when it is not large. Tables keep a comfortable distance, so it does not feel cramped even when nearly full. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.

The Menu | Savoury, Light Bites and Desserts

Savoury options include baguette sandwiches, salad bowls and breakfast plates. Baguette sandwiches come in flavours such as apple-and-pork ham, smoked beef, cranberry chicken breast, avocado feta and feta-yogurt egg salad, mixing meat, cheese and fruit. Breakfast plates and salad bowls centre on greens, egg, bread, cheese and nuts, never too greasy.

The sourdough breakfast plate pairs rye sourdough with feta-yogurt egg salad, strawberry yogurt cream cheese, salad, granola and nuts — generous for one person. Desserts vary daily and may include scones, canelé, Basque cheesecake, brownies or other house-made sweets.

Sourdough Breakfast Plate | One Sweet, One Savoury Spread

The plate features rye sourdough, feta-yogurt egg salad, strawberry yogurt cream cheese, balsamic-dressed salad, granola and nuts. Heated, the rye sourdough has a lightly crisp crust with a moist, chewy centre, carrying the aroma of rye with a subtle sourness from natural fermentation.

The feta-yogurt egg salad skips the mayonnaise, avoiding the usual heaviness. The soft egg salad gets a gentle tang from yogurt, lifted by the saltiness of feta, and spread on sourdough the cheese and rye flavours layer together with just the right saltiness.

The strawberry yogurt cream cheese is a completely different profile: strawberry's sweet-sour note first, then the mellow creaminess of yogurt and cheese. On sourdough, the fruit brings out the rye's acidity, letting you alternate between sweet and savoury in a single plate.

The greens are simply dressed with balsamic for a tangy contrast, while granola and nuts add crunch. It is satisfying without being as heavy as a bacon-and-fries brunch plate — the rye sourdough and two spreads remain the stars.

Coconut Americano | Clean Sweetness, Clear Coffee

The coconut Americano blends coconut water with espresso, with no added sugar. The first sip is the natural sweetness of coconut water, followed gradually by the roasted, nutty aroma of coffee. Coconut water is lighter than coconut milk, so it never masks the coffee — sweet up front, then the bittersweet finish of a medium-dark roast, lighter than milk-based coffee.

Paired with the feta-and-yogurt sourdough plate, the coconut Americano's freshness cuts the cheese. Even as the ice melts, the coconut water and coffee never turn into a blur of sweetness, staying clean from first sip to last.

Matcha Coconut Cream | Silky and Layered

This was the most distinctive drink: a clear layer of coconut water topped with matcha cream. Drinking it straight, the matcha cream hits the tongue first — smooth and rich — before the coconut water's light sweetness follows, creating a clear contrast in texture.

The matcha has a faint bitterness softened by the cream, while the coconut water keeps the drink from being as thick as a matcha latte. Stirred gently, the matcha melts into the coconut water, letting richness and freshness come through together. Not too sweet, it is genuinely refreshing on a hot day.

Verdict | No Time Limit, Sockets and Pet-Friendly

COFFEE RED is more than a place for coffee and desserts. Its savoury menu spans baguette sandwiches, salad bowls and the sourdough breakfast plate, whose rye sourdough with two spreads delivers distinct flavours from cheese, yogurt, strawberry and nuts. With no dining time limit, Wi-Fi, sockets and pet-friendly policy, it stands out among cafes near Gongguan and NTU — bright and comfortable, with food that goes beyond basic desserts and coffee

Shop Info

Address: No. 68-2, Section 3, Xinsheng South Road, Da'an District, Taipei
Phone: 02-25415837
Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 11:00-20:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-19:00 (closed Wednesdays)