What It Is
波麗路餐廳 is Taiwan's oldest continuously operating Western restaurant — founded in 1934 by 廖水來 (Liao Shui-lai) — and the first Western restaurant in Taiwan founded by a Taiwanese person rather than a Japanese colonial-era operator. The name is a transliteration of Ravel's Boléro; Liao was an amateur music patron who decorated the restaurant with artworks and played records during service. The building and menu have changed little since the postwar reconstruction.
Why It Is Unusual
In Japanese-era Taipei (1934), Western restaurants were almost exclusively catering to Japanese expatriates. Liao opened Bolero in the Dadaocheng area — the commercial and cultural centre of Taiwanese Taipei — specifically for local Taiwanese diners. Within a decade it became the meeting point for the city's Japanese-era Taiwanese intelligentsia: the composer 江文也 (Chiang Wen-yeh, the only Taiwanese composer to win an award at the Berlin Olympics), the writers 翁鬧 and 楊雲萍, and others in the resistance-aligned cultural circle. The postwar period continued that function: Bolero is recorded as a gathering place for writers, painters, and musicians through the 1950s–70s.
The physical interior — heavy wood fixtures, framed oil paintings, white tablecloths — retains its mid-twentieth-century register. The signature dishes have remained largely unchanged across nine decades of service.
Location and Access
Nearest MRT: Beimen (O11), walk north on Yanping N. Road then west along Minsheng W. Road (~15 min). Alternatively, taxi from Taipei Main Station (~NT$120, ~5 min by road).
Hours and Reservations
Hours vary by service period; the restaurant takes telephone reservations and advance booking is strongly recommended. Reservation line: (02) 2555-0521. Official site: bolero1934.com. Confirm hours and closing days before visiting — information varies across third-party listings.
What to Order
— 咖哩雞 (curried chicken) — red curry, carrots, potatoes; a founding-era recipe
— 鴨子飯 (duck rice) — braised duck with bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and glass noodles; the dish most associated with the restaurant in Japanese-era Taipei
— 燻牛舌 (grilled beef tongue) — served with English mustard sauce; mid-century Western technique applied to Taiwanese service style
Set meals include bread, soup, and a beverage; estimated NT$350–600/person (confirm current pricing when booking).
Price Range
Set meals approximately NT$350–600/person based on historical records and comparable operators; current pricing unconfirmed — request when reserving.
Verification
Confirmed operating Sep 2026: active website bolero1934.com with reservation system; Facebook @BoleroFirst; Instagram @bolerofirst; travel.taipei listing ID 677. Reservation telephone answered. No evidence of closure or relocation.