HsinchuPlay Recommendations

JAI-Zhai is a pet-friendly Italian restaurant tucked down a small lane near Hsinchu Big City, famed for its social-media-ready jungle aesthetic. The room is filled with greenery and a tall giraffe sculpture, plating up pasta, pumpkin soup, and fresh fruit drinks. Dogs are welcome inside (kept on leash and in carriers or strollers). App-based ordering, eco-conscious tableware, and a bright, roomy layout make it perfect for photo ops and leisurely afternoons with furry friends.

PHOENIXCAFE (Fei-Ni Coffee) sits on an old street near Hsinchu's City God Temple in the North District, a pet-friendly, time-unlimited cafe. Light woods and cement greys set the tone, with bright, roomy interiors offering plenty of outlets and free Wi-Fi - ideal for bringing a pet, working on a laptop, or meeting friends. Signature desserts are house-made mille-crepe cakes (matcha, tiramisu, Earl Grey), pairing beautifully with pour-over single-origin coffee for a soothing mood. A parking lot sits right next door, keeping travel easy.

Ouran (Serendipity) is a pet-friendly cafe at No. 11, Lane 53, Xin-Zhuang Street in Hsinchu's East District, serving coffee, desserts, and light bites. Hours run 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with pets welcome inside - ideal for travelers who want a relaxed coffee alongside their four-legged companion. Phone 0971-760-818 is available for advance reservations.

Nei-Wan Old Street in Hsinchu County runs about two hundred meters long and channels a Hakka-village atmosphere. Both sides are packed with Hakka snacks and traditional handmade sweets - brown-sugar cake, turnip cake, mochi, Hakka vegetable buns, and cheese steamed buns - perfect for families grazing as they go. Classic carnival games (marbles, ring toss, claw machines) keep kids entertained. With its wide layout and many pet-welcoming shops, it's also a popular stop for pet travelers. Access is easy: take the train to Nei-Wan Station or drive. Expect weekend crowds, so plan your itinerary and lodging ahead.

Zhao-Cai Coffee hides deep in a lane off Ying-Ming Street in Hsinchu, a healing cafe that pairs coffee and desserts with animal interactions. The first floor hosts a capybara zone and the second floor a cat base, with roomy seating and a literary vibe. Cat lovers and animal enthusiasts can enjoy mid-tier-quality food and drinks while mingling with cats and capybaras. A roughly ten-minute walk from Hsinchu Train Station. Hours run 12:00 to 19:30 (kitchen until 18:30), closed Tuesdays. Perfect for travelers and locals looking to slow down and find a city oasis.

Beside Hsinchu's City God Temple on an old street sits a pet-friendly cafe renowned for house-made mille-crepe cakes and pour-over single-origin coffee. Wood and grey-cement styling fills a bright, roomy seating area, ideal for sitting with a pet, working, or reading. Beyond desserts and light bites, the cafe offers free Wi-Fi and outlets, letting guests settle into a long afternoon. Located at No. 132 Bei-Men Street in Hsinchu's North District, it's close to the temple and bus stops with a parking lot available for easy access.