Into the Wee Hours at 117

By C. Donovan Smith Translated by Sharon Yang

      Too many Spanish brandies and we had passed the point of no return; the night had to continue to its end. La Bodega was closing down for the night and we needed a late-night haunt to keep us on our roll. Looking for a new place to try, La Bodega's owner led us near to People's Square, around the corner from Ala Saxophone Pub and right down from The Spice Shop. It was there we found 117.

      Throwing caution to the wind, and knowing that a hangover would be greeting us with the dawn, we embarked on an exploration of various beach-style cocktails for some reason that I am not sure I even understood at the time. I have no recollection of whether they were good or not but, by that point, it hardly mattered.

      Our immediate need for drinks satisfied, I looked around the place. A crowd of around 30--about a quarter of this female--kept the place pretty full for a Tuesday night, even though it was well past the witching hour. Friendly people invited me over for a few drinks that I probably didn't need to add to the mix.

      Clusters of friends played dice, laughed, played drinking games and raised their glasses. Open for over two years, 117 now has a fairly large group of regulars who, like us, undoubtedly came to keep the party going late. The official closing time is 5 a.m., though apparently their official hours were 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. at one time. Perhaps, in those days customers went straight to the office after their night out.

      Despite the fact that the establishment's name includes the word "restaurant", there isn't any actual food on the menu. Beer is NT$120+ and cocktails clock in at NT$200+. Apparently, food can be ordered in.

      If you plan on being out late and are looking for a place to go, add 117 to the short list of possibilities in Taichung.