Eslite is epic! If you are shopping in Taiwan or looking for unique Taiwanese souvenirs, one of your best bets is the Eslite Taiwan chain of bookshops, stationery stores and department malls.
Some of the most beautiful bookshops you’ll find in Taiwan (and across Asia), Eslite (誠品) is one your one stop shop for unique gifts, cute collectibles and travel reading.
There are several types of Eslite malls from the larger Eslite Spectrums to the new EXPO stores plus some Eslite stores are even open for 24 hour bookshop browsing (like Eslite Spectrum Songyan).
From some of the best Eslite bookstores in Taiwan to what to expect in-store, here is our ultimate guide to Eslite Taiwan.
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What is Eslite / Eslite Spectrum Taiwan?
Eslite in Taiwan (and now in several other Asian countries) is a bookstore and department store chain founded in 1989.
Eslite is famous for their large Eslite Spectrum Taiwan stores plus their beautifully designed stores, each of which has their own unique identity.
Eslite Taiwan is also famous for their huge range of English language novels and reference book collections – if you are a foreigner in Taiwan, Eslite is one of the best places to buy books or English travel guides like Lonely Planet.
Eslite are renowned for their children’s reading sections too, which are often decorated in bright colors and offer in store reading sessions and meet the author.
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History of Eslite
Eslite Taiwan celebrates its 35th birthday this year in 2024 – Eslite opened its first bookshop in 1989 in Ren’Ai Roundabout in Taipei (Dunhua South Road in Daan District – now sadly closed) and was founded by Robert Wu Ching-yu.
They opened their first 24 hour Eslite bookstore in 1999 and Eslite Spectrum Songyan now even has Taiwan’s first Eslite Hotel.
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As of summer 2024, there are now over 45 Eslite stores across Taiwan and Asia including locations in Malaysia, Japan, China and Hong Kong, attracting over 200 million customers a year. There are around 14 Eslite Taiwan stores in New Taipei City alone.
We were lucky enough to visit the newest (and HUGE) Eslite Spectrum 480 Taichung branch on its opening weekend in spring 2024 and it shows no sign of stopping with bigger and better stores popping up all the time.
Check out our themed 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan guide >
Plus all our individual themed store guides:
• Hello Kitty
• Mofusand
• Snoopy / Peanuts
• Pokémon
• Ultraman
• STARLUX
• Sumikko Gurashi
You might also like our guide to why 7-Elevens in Taiwan are the best in the world!
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What can you buy in Eslite (Spectrum) in Taiwan?
As well as the incredible interiors and store aesthetics, Eslite Taiwan offers one of the best ranges of gorgeous gifts, sublime stationery, super-cute collectibles plus unique Taiwan souvenirs.
For instance in Eslite Songyan Spectrum in Taipei, there is a whole range of 3D cards and cute Taipei street-scapes that can be made from greetings cards (very cheap too).
Eslite also sells technology and creations from local Taiwan artists in their Eslite x platform original stalls (AKA Eslite EXPO) – here you can buy handmade goods, health foods, cool gadgets and so much more.
We also love the vinyl LP stores (‘Eslite Music store’) located in some Eslite Book Shops and malls; check out Songyan or the Eslite Underground Shopping Mall in Zhongshan District in Taipei for huge record selections and retro radios – music to our ears!
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Spotlight on Eslite Branches
With over 25 Eslite bookshops across Taiwan in cities from Kaohsiung to Tainan and Taipei, you’ll likely be visiting several Eslites whilst in Taiwan.
Here is a taster of some of the best Eslite stores and malls we’ve discovered whilst in Taiwan:
Eslite Spectrum Songyan
Located next door to Songshan Creative Park in the Xinyi District of Taipei, the Eslite Spectrum Songyan has one of the best bookshops in Taipei, located on the upper floors and looking out over the park.
There are several floors of retail therapy including an upmarket food court in the basement levels – there are also lots of craft and artisan stalls including a pottery and glass blowing shop where you can make your own ornaments.
In the summer months, there is a small outdoor terrace plus the Eslite Spectrum bookshop on the top floor has a nice cafe hidden amongst the books.
If you are a vinyl LP collector on the hunt in Taipei, this is one of the most fantastic plastic spots!
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Eslite Spectrum Taichung 480
Wow! We were lucky enough to be in Taichung for the opening weekend of Eslite’s newest Spectrum store, where there were lots of opening offers and live performances across the store.
With several floors of food courts, book-shops, restaurants and home-furnishings, this was one of the best shopping malls in Taiwan we experienced.
The bookstore part and gift section at Eslite Spectrum Taichung 480 was particularly good plus it is great to go shopping then eat at one of the cafes or restaurants inside.
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Eslite R79 Store / Zhongshan Underground Book Street
One of Taipei’s quirkiest shopping centers, this underground mall is home to several Eslite bookshops, which is one of Taiwan’s biggest and most beautiful bookstore chains.
A great place for all weather shopping and perfect rainy day activity in Taipei, Zhongshan Underground Book Street has hundreds of thousands of books, magazines and CDs / vinyl records across several stalls, plus cute stationery and loads of unique souvenirs to enjoy.
For us, the best and most quirky shop was Eslite x Platform Original (EXPO), showcasing the work of local artists plus some very unique and unusual gifts.
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Eslite Spectrum Pier-2 store in Kaohsiung
Located next door to Pier 2 Art Center and tourist information, the Eslite Spectrum Pier-2 Store has one of the best bookshops in Kaohsiung, located in an old warehouse.
Inside, you’ll find lots of gorgeous gifts and crafts like pop-up cards and nicely designed stationery.
There is also a Starbucks inside plus lots of English language books (so if you forgot your Taiwan Lonely Planet or vacation novel, you can get it here).
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