Saturday, April 21, 2012

Mooi Trouve


This cafe and curiosity shop is one of many of the ShiDa area's hidden gems. It a charmingly refurbished space, savouring the rustic character of the building's shell and pitched country cottage-like roof and beams, but adding contemporary and retro elements for style and comfort.
There is a generously sized courtyard with a large timber deck, and the side of the cafe facing the courtyard has been glazed with floor to ceiling windows to afford light and a view onto the courtyard.
I was disappointed to discover a lack of op-shopping opportunities in Taiwan. I was expecting a treasure trove of asian curiosities to rummage through, but alas, not so. Either Taiwanese people don't value recycling furniture and clothes and throw them out, or they hoard them away never to see the light of day. Who knows? So it was of some delight, that I shuffled around this little magpie's nest, adjoining the cafe at the front of the building. It's only small, but the curiosity shop is full of fab knick knacks, gifts, homewares, and the odd pieces of furniture, both retro and contemporary.

The courtyard deck.
Retro bits and pieces.
Fun window display.
The cafe. Exposed beams, clever refurb.
Peaking through the shelves of the curiosity shop into the cafe.
http://www.facebook.com/mooitrouve