By Lin Jun-ping
Good restaurants can be defined by how little they need on top of the simple act of eating. Whether you’re dining alone or celebrating a special occasion — this new spot in Taipei may be the ideal.
“Cantine” comes from an Italian word meaning wine cellar, denoting the casual warmth of a corner tavern. Marais is not only the name of an aristocratic district Paris but a furniture store in Taiwan. Reopening in the quiet alleys off Dunhua South Road, with design from the Taiwanese firm “Source Material Space,” the restaurant perfectly complements its surroundings. A black color scheme creates a romantic vibe suitable for a date, drinks after work, or place to continue a conversation walking along the streets.
The bar stands right where your eyes would land once you push open the mysterious door, like a welcoming hug. The bar counter’s height is lowered specifically to minimize the distance between bartenders and guests. Like it's chic home goods counterpart, Marais, the restaurant chooses its dishes, furniture, lighting, and utensils from the multicultural Le Marais, a historic district in Paris.
Cantine Marais’s space is layered by various textures and patterns of black, including black iron, black cement, black terrazzo, and black mosaic. From its ironed wave exterior to its roughcast entrance embellished with copper lines, the restaurant contrasts this sense of intrigue with its warm-lit shadows inside.
The chef, Yeh Chen-yu, created a fusion between foundational French cuisine and local Taiwanese ingredients and recipes, such as mahi-mahi tacos made with scallion pancake sheets. As for alcoholic beverages, Cantine Marais offers Taiwan’s Weightstone wine in addition to regular red and wine white selection. Its cocktail selection is infused with different types of tea, including earl gray highball, cigar black tea, and peppermint mojito.
9/10- 10/11 Grand Reopening Specials
- 9/10 - 9/24 Gratis french fries for every booked table. After 9 pm, beer and cocktails are half off after the first drink.
- 9/25 - 10/11 (Sunday to Thursday) Gratis rye roll with every main dish. NT$100 off a cocktail ordered alongside any steak.
- 9/25 - 10/11 (Friday and Saturday) Buy one Taihu Beer get one free. With a Weightstone wine or any four cocktails, get a small dish free.
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TNL Editor: Daphne K. Lee, Nicholas Haggerty (@thenewslensintl)
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