A café on Chifeng Street: slowing down on Taipei’s old Blacksmith Street

Why is Chifeng Street called “Blacksmith Street”?

In the decades after the Second World War, shops selling second-hand car parts and hardware clustered along Chifeng Street. The clang of metalwork and the smell of engine oil earned it the nickname 打鐵街 — “Blacksmith Street”.

As modern repair garages took over, many workshops closed. Their low, narrow buildings — cheap to rent and full of character — drew in designers, makers and independent coffee shops. A few hardware stores still trade between the cafés, and that mix of old and new is exactly what gives the street its charm.

Where is NOR Coffee on Chifeng Street?

NOR Coffee is in Lane 53, a short lane that links Chifeng Street to the Zhongshan Linear Park. Look for the “NOR you need a break” lightbox sign above a green-and-white striped awning. It is the home of the Low Battery Club: a cozy refuge to slow down and recharge, watched over by NOR, a lazy coffee-loving dog.

Expect cream-top signatures (peanut butter cream, salted caramel sea-salt cream), honest classics like a Flat White or a BONSOY Latte, and PETIT SAM LIU canelés. The full price list is on the menu page.

How to spend a slow afternoon on Chifeng Street

1. Arrive at Zhongshan MRT (Exit 5) or Shuanglian MRT (Exit 1) and stroll a stretch of the Zhongshan Linear Park (心中山線形公園), the green strip laid out along the route of the old Tamsui railway line.
2. Wander Chifeng Street and its side lanes slowly — the good shops are often tucked behind plain doors.
3. Recharge at NOR Coffee in Lane 53 with a cream-top signature or a Flat White. Dogs welcome.
4. As the light drops, walk about 8 minutes west to Ningxia Night Market (寧夏夜市) for dinner, or about 15 minutes to Dihua Street (迪化街) and Dadaocheng for old Taipei architecture.

Prefer film or art? SPOT Taipei Film House (光點台北) is about 7 minutes away on foot, and MOCA Taipei (台北當代藝術館) about 10.

Good to know before you go

• NOR Coffee opens daily: Mon–Thu 12:00–18:00, Fri–Sun 11:00–19:00 (occasional closures are announced on Instagram). Afternoons are the sweet spot.
• Bringing a dog? NOR has a shaded leash post, a water bowl and indoor dog parking — see the dog-friendly guide.
• Coming by MRT? Step-by-step directions are on the visit page.
• Not going out today? NOR delivers — order by Instagram DM @nor.coffee_.