The quickest route to Taipei currently runs through Forest! At Yao Coffee, former bank office manager Anaïs Li has created a little bubble of Taiwanese calm (large windows letting the light flood in, pale wood, vintage furniture and a softly humming soundtrack) that quickly drowns out the noise outside. Here, OR Coffee’s beans take happily to spice, whether in a golden turmeric latte with frothy foam and a gentle peppery kick or a velvety black sesame latte. Best paired with a squishy pineapple bun, delicately scented and boasting a moist crumb beneath its light crust. In short, it’s the sort of place where you arrive for a coffee and accidentally lose an entire afternoon, working, reading, chatting quietly or browsing the handcrafted ceramics for sale. · Tuna Satana

The hidden gem: The zippy Espresso Lemon Fizz made with house lemonade (€6).