When it comes to bubble tea in Jiufen, most people's impression might still be of the hand-shaken drink stalls on the old street. But if you're willing to go up the mountain after evening falls and into the night, this mountain town that once prospered from gold mines actually hides a few tea spots with unique charm – and not the kind of quick grab-and-go sold to tourists.
1. Why go to Jiufen for bubble tea at night?
Jiufen has a very special geographical location - it is built on a mountain and is not high in altitude, but because it faces the windward side of the northeast monsoon, fog forms particularly quickly in the evening. Because of this, Jiufen at night has a hazy beauty — lantern light, fog, and stone steps, which is also the inspiration for the Bathhouse scene in Spirited Away.
The crowds who come to Jiufen during the day are mainly there to worship taro balls and take photos for social media; but after climbing up the mountain in the evening, you'll find that Jiufen after the crowds have dispersed is the truly local side of the place. At this time, going to buy a cup of bubble tea, the owner has time to chat with you and is more willing to adjust the sweetness and ice for you.
Furthermore, Jiufen itself produces tea — the Baozhong tea here was once a tribute to the Japanese imperial family, and the cool climate on the mountain results in high-quality tea leaves. The bubble tea made with local tea has a subtle roasted aroma that sets it apart from chain shops on the flatlands — this is a regional characteristic that can only be enjoyed in Jiufen.
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II. Recommended Locations: 3+1 Hidden Gems
1. A-Mei Tearoom – The Most Classic Jiufen Teahouse Experience
Address: No. 135, Jishan Street, Jiufen
Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00
Average Spend: Approx. NT$120-180
This isn't a typical bubble tea shop; it's a traditional teahouse, but they offer a product called 'set tea drinks' – they'll give you a small pot of brewed tea, a cup of milk, and toppings for you to mix yourself, essentially giving the customer control over their bubble tea. Regulars know to order 'Pu-erh with pearls' – A-Mei's hidden menu item.
After 7pm, the indoor seating area becomes less crowded, and you can sit on the second floor and watch the mist rising from the valley. The space is small but has a lovely atmosphere. The downside is that it is a teahouse, not a quick takeout place, so the waiting time for tea is a bit longer.
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2. Rice Ji – Young Returned Entrepreneur's Hipster Tea Drink Shop
Address: No. 45, Shiqi Road, Jiufen
Opening Hours: 13:00-20:00 (Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays)
Average Spend: Approx. NT$90-130
The owner is a second-generation local from Jiufen, who returned to start a business after graduating from a culinary programme in the north. The shop is very small – it can only fit about four people standing – but their specialty is 'sweet potato pearls' – white jade pearls made from Jiufen's local sweet potato, which are chewier than regular pearls and have a subtle natural sweetness.
Rice Ji's menu is simple, with four products that dominate the offerings: original bubble tea, sweet potato bubble tea, oolong latte, and yuzu tea. The sweet potato bubble tea is their original creation – you can't get it anywhere else. When the weather is cold, the owner will recommend the 'hot oolong latte', saying it uses Ruifang oolong tea as a base, which has a thicker tea flavour.
This shop has no big sign – it's very discreet, located right next to the stairs on Shiqi Road. If you're visiting for the first time, you might need to ask a local resident.
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3. Sad City Tea Drinks – The Most Authentic Taiwanese Tea Stall
Address: Jishan Street, Jiufen (near the 7-Eleven section)
Opening Hours: 11:00-21:30
Average Spend: Approx. NT$60-80
To be honest, this place has no fancy décor – it's just a food cart, but it's the most frequently visited takeout stall among locals. The owner has very skilled hands and shakes the bubble tea very quickly – not as standardised as chain stores. This place also has the most affordable prices among Jiufen bubble tea shops.
We recommend ordering the 'traditional Yonghe soy milk style bubble tea' – fixed seven-point sweetness, with more milk flavour than tea flavour, that's the old-fashioned taste. If you've been walking around Jiufen all day and want to quickly buy a drink to rest, this is the most convenient place. It's right next to the 7-Eleven, basically a landmark.
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4. Little Shanghai – Hidden Tea Food Shop in the Stairs
Address: Shiqi Road, Jiufen (at the end of the road)
Opening Hours: 14:00-21:00
Average Spend: Approx. NT$100-150
This place is less well-known – it was recommended by a local woman during field research. Little Shanghai's signature product is 'longan and red date bubble tea', which has a subtle sweet fragrance when drunk cold, and it's a health-conscious option that won't keep you awake. The shop is on the second floor – you have to climb a very narrow staircase, but the view from up there is excellent, overlooking the night lights of the entire Jiufen Old Street.
The owneress says their pearls are hand-rolled by themselves, not sourced from factories, so the texture is firmer. However, due to the handmade nature, sometimes they only have them before 7pm – after 8pm, they may have sold out.
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III. Practical Information
| Item | Content |
|------|------|
| Transport options | From Ruifang Station, take bus 856 to Jiufen Old Street, or from Taipei Bus Station take the [Guoguang Bus] toward Jinguashi and get off at Jiufen Old Street. If driving, parking is difficult on weekends, so it's recommended to park at a paid car park near Ruifang Station (NT$200 per day) and then transfer to a bus up the mountain. |
| Best time to visit | Go up the mountain after 4pm, first explore the old street and eat taro balls, then after 6pm go to buy bubble tea when the crowds have dispersed and the tea shops are more empty. It's busier at weekends, so visiting on weekdays gives a better quality experience. |
| Price range | Bubble tea in Jiufen is generally 20-30% more expensive than Taipei chain stores, this is because of logistics costs + the difficult mountain roads. Typically between NT$80-180, it's recommended to bring cash as some small stalls don't accept mobile payments. |
| Opening hours | Most bubble tea shops close at 8pm, only A-Mei Tea House stays open until 10pm. It's recommended to go between 7:30pm and 8pm at the latest to avoid missing out. |
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4. Tips for Night Visits to Jiufen – Expert Advice
1. Bring a light jacket: Even in summer, the wind in Jiufen at night can be cool, especially when walking up the stairs. Easy to climb up, cold coming down.
2. Don't buy bubble tea at the old street entrance: The further you go into the old street, the same product is usually 10-20 dollars cheaper and tastes better. It's the same logic as shop rent theory in Xinyi District.
3. Rainy days are actually a secret weapon: There are the fewest tourists in Jiufen on rainy days, but the tea shop owner says that those who come to buy bubble tea on such days are usually treated to "an extra portion of pearls". Locals all know this.
4. Catch the golden hour for photos: From 5:30 to 6:30pm is when the sky is bluest, the mist is just rising and the street lamps are on – holding a bubble tea in front of the stone steps at this time gives the most dreamy lighting.
5. Beware of being taken for a ride: Some roadside spots in Jiufen have people offering "free tasting" marketing – these usually want you to buy souvenirs, bubble tea is better bought from actual shops.
Jiufen's bubble tea isn't the kind you travel specifically to eat – it's more of an "after climbing the mountain" everyday thing – that feeling after a long day, after walking all the stairs of the old street, holding a warm bubble tea in your hand while looking at the night lights in the valley, that feeling of mountain town romance that only Jiufen can give you.
