Simple Market came highly recommended by some of my friends when I asked for recommendations on things to do in Taipei. The market itself only open on Sunday, so the better half and I made sure we booked the afternoon to visit. There was very little information online… at least, for the non-Chinese literate like me. So imagined my surprised when I stepped out from the cab to realise that Simple Market is very near to Beijing 101!
The surprise was doubled after we took in the surrounding and soak in the buzzy atmosphere. Unlike night markets in Taiwan, Simple Market has a mix between crafts, food and fashion that immediately made you feel kinda hip to be amongst the youngsters, who seem to be the target crowd. Just check out these adorable merchandises.
The bustling market.
Colourful arrangements of dried flowers.
Handmade dolls!
Arty coin pouch. I bought one!
Roasted sweet potatoes. The better half had to restrain me.
One of the draws of Simple Market was Good Cho’s, a lifestyle store featuring organic goods and locally produced wares, from honey to postcards to socks. Located within Cho’s was this cafe where I had the most buttery delicious scone, ever. Pair that with a steaming cup of coffee and the chilly winter afternoon, yours truly was happy, happy foodie.
Low-rise buildings all around Simple Market.
Organic produce.
The stylish, cozy cafe.
Incredible, buttery scones!
Simple life. Simple socks.
More local goods.
But the best part of Simple Market lies in its location. One-story houses painted in bold, primary colours and surrounded by what I could only imagine as bomb shelter. It was low key and unpretentious, stylishly done in a subtle way, defiantly Taipei yet easily one of the best markets I have visited. Think the Shire, Taiwanese style. Little wonder Simple Market is often touted as a photographer’s wet dream come true.
I wasn’t posing.
… bomb shelters? Or vegetable patch? I have no idea.
Recycle, anytime, anywhere!
You must have seen me using this pic everywhere. Loved the colour combi!
As you can tell, I was ridiculously glad to have made it to Simple Market. As Charmaine (who recommended the place to me) put it: Visit Simple Market, and make yourself happier.
I did, and I was.
See more of my Taipei 2013 posts:
- The One With Tales of Taipei, Part 1
- The One With Tales of Taipei, Part 2
- The One With Tales of Taipei, Part 3
- The One With Tales of Taipei, Part 4
- The One With Tales of Taipei, Part 5
- The One With Da Shan Wu Jia – An Extraordinary Yilan Food Adventure Into The Mountainside of Taipei
Simple Market & Good Cho’s
Sōngqín St, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110Simple Market opens every Sunday, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Good Cho’s opens daily except MondayClick here to see all my photos at Simple Market.