If you didn’t know better, you might be tempted to brush off Le Buno’s signature fruit gelato as a gimmick. After all, packing gelato and sorbet back into the fruit to serve is undeniably photogenic. But Taiwanese people take their produce seriously, and Le Buno honors the fruit executing on style and substance, and transforming each fruit into it’s ideal not-too-sweet dessert form.

The fruit selection changes depending on the season and general availability, fluctuating to the weather patterns on the countryside. The dragon fruit version was delicate, the soft fragrance and sweetness of the fruit shone through in sorbet form, like a more vivid version of the otherwise mild fruit. The passionfruit and the expected tartness up front, but mellows into a smooth creamy sweetness afterwards.

While most gelato shops are a grab and go type of establishment, Le Buno invites you to sit down for the indulgence like a minimalist salon du thé. Against a backdrop of shaved ice desserts and cake and pastry cafés, Le Buno is a distinct addition to the Taipei dessert scene. Plus, they partnered with The Matcha Tokyo, almost operating as two complementary establishments in the shared space.

PS: there’s a real cute cafe cat to keep you company