xinyiSun to Thu 11:00 to 22:00, Fri and Sat 11:00 to 22:30Walk-in onlyCompetition-winning European loaves
Wu Pao Chun's Taipei store sits in the basement of Eslite Spectrum Songyan, baking the 2008 Coupe du Monde and 2010 Bakery Masters champion loaves daily.
Tip: Champion breads sell out by mid-afternoon; arrive by 14:00 for full selection.
Worth the queue: Lychee Rose Royale bread and Red Wine Longan bread
songshanDaily 08:30 to 20:30Walk-in onlyPineapple cakes and Taiwanese pastries
Chia Te Bakery has been baking pineapple cakes since 1975, winning the 2006 Taipei Pineapple Cake Festival's top prize and shipping global ever since.
Tip: Queue runs about 30 minutes. Pre-fill the order sheet in line. Cash and card.
Worth the queue: Original pineapple cake and cranberry pineapple cake
songshanDaily 10:00 to 18:00Walk-in onlyPineapple cakes
SunnyHills' Minsheng Park flagship greets every visitor with a complimentary pineapple cake and a cup of oolong tea, baked from Tu Feng native pineapple.
Tip: Free tasting on arrival. Open daily; pack the gift box at the counter for export-ready boxing.
Worth the queue: Tu Feng pineapple cake
daanTue to Sun 11:00 to 19:00, closed MondaysWalk-in onlyFrench viennoiserie and pastry
Le Gout in Da'an is one of Taipei's serious French pastry counters, run by a Pierre Herme-trained chef. Laminated croissants, Paris-Brest, seasonal entremets.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Hot croissants from 11:00; the Paris-Brest sells out by 15:00.
Worth the queue: Croissant and Paris-Brest
zhongshanDaily 09:00 to 21:30Walk-in onlyVegetarian bread
Nozomi is the vegetarian bakery downstairs from Yang Shin Vegetarian, run by the same group. Egg-free milk bread, vegan croissants and pineapple cakes.
Tip: Open 09:00 to 21:30 daily. Cash and card; busy at lunch with Yang Shin overflow.
Worth the queue: Egg-free milk bread
songshanDaily 10:00 to 22:00Walk-in onlyTaiwanese cake and pineapple cake
Mr Mark Bakery is a Taiwanese bakery chain with a flagship on Nanjing East Road's pineapple-cake row, the corridor that runs from Chia Te to Sunmerry.
Tip: Open daily until 22:00. Boxed pineapple cakes well priced versus the marquee names.
Worth the queue: Original pineapple cake