T-Bar MRLC is housed in the beautiful Tainan County Magistrate Residence in the centre of Tainan city, making it a must-see when visiting this amazing city. It’s no secret, through the many posts written before, that I love Tainan. Whether it’s staying in the incredible Silks Place Tainan, eating at the unforgettable Robin’s Teppanyaki, savouring some of the best that Tainan has to offer in the Infinity Restaurant, or sampling some of the best local cuisines throughout the city in places such as beef soup at either XiLuoDian, WenZhang or even amazing eel fried noodles at A Jiang.
The food in Tainan is nothing short of inspiring. So many restaurants keep true to their history, while some like T-Bar push the boundaries with inventive new flavours in culturally significant locations.
T-Bar MRLC serves up inspiring cocktails, and whether you sit at the bar or in the quiet side room, you’re guaranteed to savour cocktails using specialist tea-infused alcohol made on site, in addition to a whole host of other amazing alcohol infused with a variety of different seasonal fruits throughout the year. What is unquestionable is that the balance of each cocktail is perfectly executed by skilful staff, allowing you to taste all of the key parts, with each complimenting the other perfectly.
However, what is of equal importance is to ensure that you have delicious food to pair with those innovative cocktails. In this respect, T-Bar MRLC does not disappoint. Delicious savoury food, great desserts, and excellent snacks will keep you going as you work your way through the extensive cocktail menu. I don’t often go hunting for cocktails in Tainan, so I was really happy to pair up with the staff at T-Bar MRLC on behalf of Silks Place Tainan to taste some of the best dishes and cocktails that they have to offer. Read on to see my top recommendations.
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Tainan County Magistrate Residence 知事官邸生活館
Arriving outside the Tainan County Magistrate Residence (which is, by the way, less than a 10-minute walk away from the amazing sushi at MaoDon – one of my favourite sushi restaurants in all of Taiwan!), I was struck by just how beautiful the building was.
Yes, we were there on a day when the weather was in our favour, but you just can’t help but marvel at this beautiful building. At the time of writing this, Tainan County Magistrate Residence is 124 years old, which in itself is massively impressive, but what struck me the most is the cleanliness and upkeep of the building. While they have renovated in the past, they have tried to maintain as many original features as possible.
Upon entering the front door, you are greeted by lovely staff at the information desk who are happy to help, in addition to a high ceiling and lots of key artefacts from the time periods dotted throughout the house itself.
1st Floor
T-Bar MRLC is housed on the first floor, but we will come back to that a little bit later. The information staff at Tainan County Magistrate Residence are keen to point out that during the renovations that have happened over the years, they have really tried to retain the character and essence of the building. This is shown in the cross-section of the wall that is pictured above.
It’s been covered by plexiglass, showing a cut-out section of the wall, exposing the original structure format when built all those years ago – the wall is made up of wood that has been reinforced by metal wire netting. Concrete has then been put on top to damp-proof the walls, which have then been painted over.
This attention to detail in retaining the character of the building is key to all that they do here at Tainan County Magistrate Residence, and is admirable.
2nd Floor
This is the original staircase of Tainan County Magistrate Residence, meaning that it is also 124 years old! While some of the bannister elements may have been replaced/upgraded over the years, the majority of the staircase itself is completely original.
The amazing thing here at Tainan County Magistrate Residence is that all of the exhibited artifacts are for sale. Some of the ceramics are designed by Taiwanese creators, but most are all made in Japan, allowing you to see contrasts between Japanese and Taiwanese design in elements such as the gloss and the texture of the pottery itself. You really can find some amazing things in here, whether that’s an espresso cup, an elaborately decorated bowl plate, or a fine cup and saucer combo.
The residence holds workshops from time to time, which can be a great way to connect with some of the amazing history of this building, and Tainan itself. You can check out their website for up-to-date information about which workshops might be available when you visit Tainan.
One of the most unforgettable and indulgent experiences you could have here at Tainan County Magistrate Residence is the elaborate 14-course meal that looks to replicate the banquets held here by previous royal dignitaries in the Japanese colonial period. You’ll need to book this 1 month in advance, but you can expect nothing short of opulent indulgence in every dish. Book your meal here.
T-Bar MRLC 茶薈知事官邸
Back down on the 1st floor, you will see the red banner over the wide door frame welcoming you to T-Bar MRLC following a tour around the beautiful building.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at T-Bar MRLC, then this is the post for you. See below for How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
3 Fast Tips on How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
The Menu at T-Bar MRLC
The menu has enough food options for you to pick from, in addition to plenty of drinks to pair with the meals.
Whether you're looking for a curry, a hot pot, some truffle fries, or something more filling like a burger steak with egg, you won't be disappointed by what is on offer here.
The expansive wooden bar and thoughtful lighting are great pairings here, with plenty to draw the eye.
The Cocktails
If you're looking for delicious cocktails in Tainan that are carefully put together by skilful bartenders, then T-Bar MRLC is the place the come. They do seasonal specialities, with many of their cocktails becoming staples on the menu, driven by customer demand.
Vodka + Oolong Tea
Refreshing Sky Vodka was served over ice with a dash of a special oolong tea from Tainan - 木燙青茶, then topped with sparkling water to add a refreshing carbonated texture. The result was a vodka sparkling tea that hummed with beautiful oolong tea flavours, known for their grassy green initial flavours and their milky finishes.
AD 1923
Wow, this was something special. The presentation is killer, but I can't tell you how good the flavours are inside this cocktail. Dark rum, plum wine, charcoal roaster oolong tea, Formosan black tea, brown sugar, matcha, and red bean water all go into this cocktail. The balance of flavours is perfect, with a punchy plum wine flavour initially coming through with a sweetened oolong tea flavour. The foam on top of matcha and red bean water is just incredibly thought-provoking.
I am used to having matcha with red bean in things such as the amazing desserts at this Japanese matcha place at Taipower Building station, or this spot at 108 Matcha Saro in Taipei, but in a cocktail? I am certainly not used to that!
The texture of the matcha and red bean water foam is just like biting into a matcha ice cream foam, but the hint of red bean that follows is unusually tasty. The cocktail itself hums with plum and rum flavours, and definitely goes down as one of the best things to have passed my lips over the weekend we spent down in Tainan.
Litchi Cocktail
After talking to the knowledgeable bartender for quite some time (and enjoying LOTS of cocktails!), we were recommended to try a litchi cocktail that she had been developing. This is a gin-based cocktail that has a litchi and oolong-infused flavour that washes over your tongue at the end.
Kombucha Highball
As much as I love a cocktail, I appreciate that not everyone will be drinking. You should consider the Kombucha Highball for your mocktail requirements. You'll get that familiar sour tartness that makes Kombucha so popular, as well as that fizzle on the tongue. This was refreshing, tasty, and well worth getting for those who aren't drinking on the day.
Toast with Curry
Toast with curry was actually a dessert, but as there was curry it confused me quite a lot. A bowl of curry is served here with individually cubed and cooked French toast and is a nod to the Tainan County Magistrate Residence's past, as this was a classic pairing meal in the Showa Era. We were encouraged to dip the French toast cubes into the curry, and I was quite happy that I continued to do so until they were all gone. The French toast was spongy, soft, crunchy, and flagrantly buttery all in one. I really enjoyed pairing it with the Japanese-style curry. For a dessert? Not so sure. But worth ordering to soak up all the cocktails.
Soy Milk Hot Pot
With soy milk specifically brought in from the Sanxia Districts HIDEKAWA shop, it's clear to see that T-Bar MRLC are keen to bring in only the most natural ingredients into their food. Poured over the hot pot ingredients and then allowed to bubble away imparting flavours, this sugar-free soy milk brought an earthy natural sweetness to the food. The fresh seafood and tasty tofu are great if the hot pot is what you're into.
Burger Steak
In my opinion, this was the stand-out dish that caught me off guard. This burger patty was juicy, meaty, and well-seasoned. The Japanese sauce on top was balanced nicely between sour and sweet, and served on top of these sweet onions as they continued to cook on the hot plate, I was quite happy to pair it with a tasty bowl of rice.
Dessert
One thing that really struck me here was the wonderful welcome that we got from the professional bartender. She took us through the menu, and the drinks, and explained how everything was thoughtfully curated, from the drinks to the food. Here, the pudding was delicately balanced between rich eggy goodness and light vanilla fragrance. A foamed cream was served on top, with a thin slice of on-site air-dried apple. They dry all of their fruit used in the dishes and in the cocktails on-site, and we were lucky enough to get a slice of their toasted pineapple from their most recent batch.
I got talking to the bartender about how tasty the plum wine cocktail was, and she took out her secret jar of alcohol-infused plums to share with me. To my surprise, she gave me an entire plum, and it about blew my head off with alcohol flavour. But, it wasn't a harsh alcohol flavour, it was a deeply rich plum-infused flavour that brought lots of alcohol with it. Not for the faint-hearted, but sincerely appreciated.
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? A weekend, a week, a month. No matter how long you are in Tainan for, you should make a concerted effort to go to T-Bar MRLC. If you are looking for cocktails in Tainan, then this spot hidden inside the Tainan County Magistrate Residence is the place to be.
What is the best dish? The best cocktail was the matcha and red bean plum wine cocktail, and the best food was the burger. However, I would order everything again.
Are there other places like this? I've never been to a cocktail bar hidden inside a colonial architecture building such as this one in Tainan. I would say that this is one-of-a-kind.