“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.” — Bill Patterson
While I do agree with this quote, let me introduce an even better way of enjoying a book to you: while travelling and drinking a cup of tea (or a beer?!) with an incredible view … in Taiwan.
Indeed, that is possible at Bleu & book at TPES!
Let’s start with a heads up: you will have to earn your way to the bookstore, as this place is near the famous Keelung sign (think Hollywood but fancier … it has LEDs and the colors are changing all night), on the mountain village Taiping. The bus doesn’t go all the way up, it’s a 9 minutes walk based on Google maps from the bus stop and it’s mostly stairs so it can take longer if you walk slow/stop along the way to take a breather (I know I did).
The Story Behind the Bookstore
The place used to be an elementary school. As there were too few students, the school had to close in 2017. But the building is very well placed, on top of the mountain, with a great view. For a few years, it was used for meetings by the government. The bookstore then opened in 2021. As the Keelung website states: “As one of the few open areas in this mountain village, Keelung City Government attempts to accommodate this place’s geographical features, making it the latest tourist attraction on the West Coast.” (https://tour.klcg.gov.tw/en/attractions/94453084/)
“The purpose of Taiping Bleu&Book is to become the “lighthouse of knowledge” on the mountain of west coast Keelung.”
First Impressions & Family Corner
As you arrive in front of the bookstore, you’ll see the door with the blue bird on it and a sort of statue of a bird. The bird’s wings are made to look like a book. On the top part, there is a sentence written but I will let you discover it by yourself and not spoil it here.
On the first floor (or ground floor), one of the thing that got my interest was the family friendly area/pit to sit in. It’s a place where you have to remove your shoes and can’t bring drinks in, though. But it has plushies and looks very cozy!
On the other side, you have the counter to order your drinks. It also has a small shop area for some gifts, either related to Keelung or with a cute design to it.
Second floor: The Quiet Reading Zone
The second floor was a really quiet area. Yet again, when I went there, it wasn’t very packed. We were around five people only. But with the low lights, the vibe was very relaxing and serene. It is a place where you easily shift to whispering with the person you go there with. The space has another counter to get some food or drinks. It also has three non-gendered toilets so you just have to find the curtains and go behind it to enter any available ones.
If you’re interested in the subject, they also have a pride section for their LGBTQIA+ books. Unfortunately, those books are in Mandarin only.
Compared to Sea to See, Bleu & book has an English books section, which I found useful. This floor also has a kid-friendly area where kids (or artists) can draw.
The chairs are rather low, though, so I would advise taller people to be careful when sitting. I don’t know how uncomfortable it can get, as I am pretty small myself.
Third floor: Books, Brews & City Views
“Book & beer”, “let’s drink and read”. When I went up to the third floor, I didn’t expect to read such words. As I visited the place at 4PM, the counter was closed but it was still possible to hang out on this floor. They also do sell beers on the 2nd floor. I find the concept very interesting and innovative, as I never saw it before.
While the second floor’s windows are directed towards the vegetation, the third floor allows you to get a stunning view of the city. And while I went there on a cloudy day, I personally don’t think that it makes the view any less beautiful.
If you would rather see such a view during a sunny day, do not hesitate to go up the hill, the bookstore has air conditioning and refreshing drinks. I’m the type of person who believes all types of weather brings something different to a place/destination.
Practical information of Bleu & Book
Location: No. 135, Lane 189, Zhongshanyi Rd, Zhongshan District, Keelung City
The bookstore is open from 10AM to 6PM on weekdays and 10AM to 2AM on weekends. It’s closed on Mondays.
They do not have much power outlets so I wouldn’t recommend going there to work (compared to Sea to See). For the wifi, I asked one employee about the password, as I didn’t find it anywhere else. The staff speaks basic English and was able to help.
The menu has both English and mandarin for the drinks on the first floor but only mandarin for the food on the second. The price range for the drinks goes from NT$110 to NT$170. I took a brown sugar milk for NT$120. Food price range goes from NT$100 to NT$150. I had a piece of lemon custard cake for NT$100. Once you’re done drinking or eating, they demand you bring the trash back to the first floor counter.
It also seems like pets are allowed, as I saw a dog walk around.
Leave a Reply