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Shann Garden 34, YouYa Road (02) 2896-5700 / 2896-5709 Hours: Restaurant Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm; weekends/public holidays 11:30 am-3 pm, 5:30-10 pm Tea House 1-10 pm Credit cards are accepted, plus 10% service charge.

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By Dionysus Translated by Cara Steenstra

As you make your way down the winding stone steps, you'll get an up-close view of Shann Garden's old architectural style, be able to admire its roof tiles and the steamy Beitou hot springs, then look afar to the spacious views of Guan Yin Mountain and Guan Du plains. This place gives you a feeling of peace and serenity. Inside, you will find the simplicity of early Japanese architecture, something that most pseudo-antique tea houses cannot easily recreate. Shann Garden has over a hundred years of history under its roof. It was once the premises of the Shin Gao Hotel during the Japanese occupation period. In 1920, it was a Japanese Officers' Club and, during World War II, it became a reception place for Japanese kamikaze pilots. It was also where the famed "Young Marshal", Zhang Xue-Liang, was kept under house arrest. In order to preserve this historical ambiance, every brick and tile here has been carefully maintained by removing the rotten ones and supporting them with new ones. Clearly, a visit to Shann Garden not only provides a great view, but also a strong dose of history. Fine cuisine: Apart from the Mongolian barbeque and buffet available here, celebrity gourmet Liang You-Xiang has also designed a "calligraphy banquet" that is filled with an air of antiquity. Among the dishes is a plate of Lobster Spring Rolls with ancient poems written over it using cuttlefish ink. This creative menu must be booked in advance and costs NT$880 per set. Sipping tea at the Fei Qui Xuan Tea House is another great idea, especially when the weather is good, as you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the evening view and an entirely different atmosphere.