Walking into 2.31, one is immediately encircled by stark, whitewashed walls and drawn to the drum 'n' bass tunes that fill the cafe's air.
The cafe, located at 27, Alley 86, Hsinyi Rd., Sec. 2, (信義路二段86巷27號), attracts a small crowed of frequent customers, most of whom work in the art field and who come for an easy evening of undisturbed reading and thinking.
The only decoration in the cafe's minimalist white-walled interior are the bundles of similarly-shaded white ballons on the windowsill. Quiet on the weekends as on weekdays and under fluorescent lights, 2.31 is a space for those who want to remain sane and sober even in the after hours.
One attraction of the cafe is the small record shop next to the bar, where one can find obscure records in all categories, from indiepop to contemporary jazz, everything except mainstream pop hits. Its specialties are Japanese imports and indie rock CDs.
Another features is a small library of books and magazines. The magazines, in three languages, cover design, music, media and fashion and are a main reason many customers visit the cafe.
Items on 2.31's menu are not as intoxicating as those at other nightspots. Customer favorites are the latte and parsifal tea. Drinks all cost less than NT$200. Opening hours are from 7pm to 3am.
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