Situated on the western tip of Nangan Island (南杆) in Taiwan’s Matsu Islands, Furen Café (夫人咖啡), also known as Madam Café, is a cozy coffee shop on the island’s Xiwei Village (四維村), also known as Furen Village (夫人村).
The front door of Furen Café. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
The café is the namesake of the village’s nickname, which is so-called because of various distinct legends. Some said that it was so named because all the housewives in the village defeated a pirate invasion while their husbands were away from home to catch fish in the sea.
It’s great to sip a cup of coffee while taking in the spectacular views of the sea and sunsets. (Image: Julia Fu via Nspirement)
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Others said that it was because pirates once arranged for some abducted madams to live in the village. Still, others said that the village was so-called because an elegant Japanese madam enjoyed the scenery there very much when she paid a visit to Furen Village a long time ago.
The coffee shop is on the first floor and the front yard of the café. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
Furen Café is 100 years old
This used to be an abandoned 2-story stone house built about 100 years ago. The owner started to renovate the granite stone house at the end of 2003 with painstaking efforts, and it was finally turned into a café with a simple homestay on the second floor in the summer of 2004.
The café is decorated with some traditional items and mementos. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
Not only does the establishment have a romantic name, but it is also nestled at a perfect location where visitors can take in spectacular views of the Port of Fuao (福澳港) and Beigan (北竿).
Visitors can purchase handmade mementos from the café. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
In fact, upon arriving at the narrow entrance with a small national flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan), visitors are often enchanted by the unique decoration with a wide variety of beautiful flowers and plants.
Furen Café was once a photo studio. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
While enjoying the magnificent view of the peninsula and the beautiful surroundings of the café, visitors can taste the aromatic coffee/drinks and the unique meals in a relaxed ambiance. The most popular dishes served there are hand-made fish noodles, fried rice, hot pot, mussels, fish balls, sautéed seashells, fresh fish, and various kinds of cakes, etc.
The fried rice served at Furen Café on Matsu’s Nangan Island. (Image: via Furen Café)
Additionally, there is Matsu Islands’ old wine, handmade delicacies, an array of snacks, and crafts on display. They are perfect items for visitors to bring back as gifts or souvenir mementos.
The finger-shaped seashells and wild mussels served at Furen Café. (Image: Courtesy of Furen Café)
Over the years, this has become one of the most popular tourist spots in Matsu Islands’Nangan. In 2019, the coffee shop was voted as one of Taiwan’s top 100 guesthouses from the 457 guesthouses participating in an online poll conducted by Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau.
Attracted by its reputation, many famous figures have patronized this establishment, and among them is Taiwan’s former First Lady Zhou Mei-qing (周美青), the wife of former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). Therefore, many said that this is a destination that visitors can’t miss out on when visiting the Matsu Islands.
Furen Café has been patronized by many famous figures, including Taiwan’s former First Lady Zhou Mei-qing (周美青). (Image: Billy Shyuvia Nspirement)
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