Starbucks Taiwan is a popular place for travellers and locals to enjoy a cup of coffee or sweet treat – with almost coffee shops in Taiwan, Starbucks South Korea is ranked seventh in the world in terms of number of cafes, after the USA, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Mexico.
From exclusive Taiwan Starbucks mugs to cute ‘bearista’ collectibles and plushies, there is lots to enjoy when visiting – and there are some unusual and beautiful locations like the Starbucks overlooking Sun Moon Lake or a temple Starbucks in Kaohsiung.
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Taiwan’s largest flagship Starbucks also just opened in summer 2025 at Taipei Dream Mall.
From seasonal Starbucks mugs to the best collectibles and regional souvenirs, here is our guide to visiting Starbucks in Taiwan.
P.S. We know there are lots of amazing independent Taiwan cafes to enjoy and we wholly support that and have written about them in our area guides like Zhongshan and Yongkang Street – but sometimes you might just want the familiarity of a Starbucks.
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Taiwan Starbucks – an overview
Since opening its first Taiwan branch in Taipei in 1998 (the fourth overseas country for Starbucks), Taiwan Starbucks looks set to open its 600th store in Taiwan in 2026.
It has grown rapidly in the last few years with new concepts like the first ‘Reserve Bar’ that opened at the foot of Taipei 101. With all the recent changes to working practices, many locals now use Starbucks and other Taiwan chain cafes to study and work in.
Taiwan Starbucks prices aren’t that much different / cheaper than the rest of the world – and in 2025, Taiwan Starbucks announced a NT$5 to NT$10 price hike on all drinks.
Beat the price hike with these discounted Starbucks Taiwan drink vouchers available on Klook.
As with all their branches around the world, Starbucks Taiwan also has limited edition flavors several times of the year such as pumpkin spice lattes during Halloween, sakura and cherry blossom themed drinks during spring and also Christmas specials.
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Starbucks Taiwan Mugs – Standard Collection
Any regular visitor to Starbucks in different countries will be well aware that each ‘region’ has its own Starbucks mugs and localised designs – we’ve seen this in so many countries such as Thailand, Korea and Japan.
Taiwan Korea Starbucks also has regional mugs and cups including:
- Taipei
- Kaohsiung (including a unique Fo Guang Shan monastery design)
- Northeast Coast including Keelung and Zhengbin Fishing Harbor designs
- Sun Moon Lake
- Taitung
- Alishan
- Kenting
Most of these Taiwan Starbucks mug designs showing the various Taiwan cities and regions also come in tumbler versions plus smaller tea cups.
Taiwanderers tip – you don’t have to travel to all the regions to collect the Korea Taiwan mugs if you don’t want – we found pretty much every region represented in the bigger Taipei Starbucks stores especially in the larger Starbucks cafes dotted around Ximending.
Starbucks Taiwan – Cultural Collection
Unique to Taiwan and addition to the regional mugs, there is also the Starbucks Taiwan Cultural Collection which features deities and Gods in a colourful collection of mugs.
The range is inspired by traditional Taiwanese religious figures like the God of wealth and giving these to others is said to bring good luck (and a fun Taiwan souvenir too).
Taiwan Starbucks Cultural Collection mugs are available as smaller mini mugs plus the standard Starbucks 12oz mug size.
Other Starbucks Taiwan Seasonal Merchandise and Collectibles
Starbucks Taiwan also does special mugs with collaborations, or during seasonal holidays and festivals like at Lunar New Year – for instance, when we visited in 2025, it was the year of the Snake and there was a whole range of Starbucks snake mugs and souvenirs.
We’ve even seen limited edition Starbucks Taiwan collaborations like branded Starbucks vans and little toys / bears dressed as staff members (known as ‘bearistas’).
Some Taiwan Starbucks merchandise is even exclusive to just one store, like the Ximending branch these Starbucks Fo Guang Shan Buddhist monastery mugs pictured below.
So if you are a true Starbucks fan, you are in for a treat in Taiwan – maybe bring an empty suitcase and big wallet as the mugs really aren’t cheap!
The best Starbucks in Taiwan (and most unusual Taiwanese Starbucks)
Looking for the most beautiful Starbucks in Taiwan? From lakeside Starbucks to Taiwan’s biggest flagship Starbucks here are some of their coolest coffee shops across Taiwan:
Hualien Starbucks Container Store
OK, we know encouraging you to go to Starbucks whilst in a vibrant setting like Hualien is sacrilege but hear us out…
This is one of the most unusual Taiwan Starbucks as it is the first container Starbucks Cafe in the whole of Taiwan.
Located at Hualien Bay Mall a little out of the main city, this container caffeine machine comprises almost 30 recycled shipping containers which now have stylish interiors and a bright white and rainbow exterior.
It was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who is also responsible for the Tokyo Starbucks Reserve Roastery, said by many to be the most beautiful Starbucks in the world.
Check out this half day Hualien tour that also visits the Hualien STARBUCKS container store and Liyu Lake.
Sun Moon Lake Starbucks Shuishe – Lakeside Balcony
Again, we know saying go to Sun Moon Lake (one of Taiwan’s most beautiful settings) and then going to a Starbucks sounds stupid BUT there aren’t that many cafes in Shuishe with lakefront settings so this Sun Moon Lake Starbucks is actually not bad.
Its prices are the same as other Taiwan Starbucks (many places in Sun Moon Lake charge a premium) plus the outdoor terrace looks out directly over the lake, with room for about four tables.
And yep, special Sun Moon Lake Starbucks mugs are available for any Starbucks mugs collectors.
Starbucks Reserve Dream Plaza Taipei
For those that enjoy Taiwan Starbucks, their largest flagship coffee shop in Taiwan has just opened at the new Dream Plaza mall in Xinyi.
Starbucks Reserve Dream Plaza Taipei also has Asia’s first Siren’s Lounge, a reservation-only area featuring a tasting menu by chef André Chiang – there is even a Starbucks Mixology bar too for coffee cocktails.
More things to do in Xinyi Taipei >
Underwater Starbucks Kaohsiung Dream Mall
Taiwan’s only underwater themed Starbucks at Dream Mall in Kaohsiung – and yes, they have exclusive mugs too!
And if you are fan of Taiwan themed 7-Elevens, there is also an underwater themed 7-Eleven in the basement of Dream Mall too.
Fo Guang Shan Temple Starbucks in Kaohsiung
A visit to Fo Guang Shan temple is an essential thing to do in Kaohsiung – it is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and home to a 108 metre high / 1,800 tonne copper Buddha (the largest seated Sakyamuni Buddha statue in Asia).
However, what we hadn’t expected was a Starbucks! Inside the visitor center, we smelt the coffee and spotted the famous green and white Starbucks logo – is this Taiwan’s only temple Starbucks? It was complete with an exclusive Fo Guang Shan temple Starbucks mug – who knew?!
Ximending Starbucks
Whilst we aren’t saying this is the best coffee shop in Taipei, the Starbucks branch in Ximending is HUGE inside and located in one of the most historic buildings in the Wanhua District, so it is quite a unique Starbucks.
There is seating over several floors (watch out for the steep steps) and this Starbucks is a good place to people watch, especially if you get a window seat on one of the upper floors, that look directly down onto the main Ximending shopping street.
And if you are a collector of Starbucks cups, we think this might be one of the BIGGEST ranges of Taiwan / Taipei branded Starbucks mugs, some of which are exclusive to the Ximending branch.
More things to do in Ximending >
Hualien Starbucks Promiseland
We’ve been to all the other unusual and beautiful Taiwan Starbucks on this list but sadly we haven’t been to this Hobbit style Starbucks in Hualien ourselves yet but we promise(land) to one day – it is perhaps the most famous Taiwan Starbucks and popular on social media.
Reminiscent of a supersized country cottage, you can enjoy a Middle earth sized mocha overlooking the lake with mountain views – we wish we had ‘bean’ here.
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