MiaoliPlay Recommendations

Xingpin Garden in Dahu, Miaoli, is a family-friendly farm that pairs elevated strawberry picking with pet-friendly design. Cultivated organically without pesticides, the farm offers a wide lawn, a glass-house cafe, and a children's play area, so families and their pets can share the fun of strawberry picking, afternoon tea, and outdoor leisure together. Admission is free, with a free parking lot, making it a relaxed pastoral experience for the whole family.

Gongguo Spicy Hot Pot in Miaoli City is a Hakka-style hot pot restaurant housed in a converted old Western-style house. It offers a wide range of soup bases, including mala spicy, herbal pork-bone, and 'kung fu' tomato beef, all made by hand. The restaurant is pet-friendly, family-friendly, and full of vintage Taiwanese nostalgia, with photo-worthy corners throughout. Guests can pair two broths in a yin-yang split pot and add their choice of hot pot ingredients. Prices are mid-range, and the shop is a popular gathering spot for both locals and visitors.

Known Cafe & Bistro (Nong Coffee) at No. 43 Xinyi Road in Toufen City, Miaoli County, is a much-loved local coffee and light-meal spot. The shop is known for specialty cold-drip coffee, handmade desserts, and a full menu of mains such as curry rice, pasta, and risotto; the space is small but packed with dried flowers and vintage decor, perfect for dates, friend meet-ups, or relaxed visits with a pet. Hours run Monday to Friday 10:30-20:30 (closed Tuesdays), with extended hours on Thursday to 22:30 and Friday-to-Sunday service until midnight. Each guest has a minimum spend of one drink; given its popularity, online or phone reservations are strongly recommended.

Lijingguan Cafe B&B in Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, pairs European-style wooden cabins with the local mountain landscape for a pet-friendly stay. Rabbits and cats roam freely around the courtyard, and visiting dogs can run across the spacious lawn. A communal lounge serves several coffee and tea drinks, letting travelers relax and chat under starlit skies and forest views. The hosts are warm and happy to share tips on local ecology and sights; breakfast is light, so travelers with special dietary needs should mention them ahead of time. Large dogs are not accepted, and a pet cleaning fee applies, so it is best to confirm details before booking.

Arwin Seven-mile Rose Forest in Touwu, Miaoli, sits on the slopes of the Mingde Reservoir scenic area and is the only rose estate in Taiwan laid out to follow the natural mountain contours; it is also Taiwan's largest free-admission rose garden. The grounds hold more than 10,000 rose plants across 600-plus varieties, with rose seas blooming in spring and autumn and phytoncide-rich nature trails open all year. A pet-friendly restaurant serves salads, risotto, pizza, pasta, coffee, and ice cream, and parking is free. It is an ideal outing for families, couples, and pets to photograph, stroll, and savor both nature and good food.

Yangxie Renjia in Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, is a seasonal landscape restaurant known for its own-farmed hairy crabs (Chinese mitten crabs). Set among bald-cypress gardens and wide lawns, the restaurant is pet-friendly so furry companions can enjoy the outdoors too. It opens only during crab season (around September), and guests must reserve online in advance with a deposit. The menu centers on fresh hairy crabs, paired with local dishes such as ginger tea and vegetable rice, with seating options ranging from a glass-house room to umbrella-shaded outdoor tables and indoor air-conditioned seating. The farm has passed multiple inspections certifying the crabs are free of antibiotics and drug residues, and it has won the Excellent Award in the Miaoli County Hairy Crab Evaluation.