Boléro was a Spanish dancing song in triple time. The most famous piece in this genre was a version for strings produced by the French composer Maurice Ravel. In 1936, restaurant chef and Western classical music aficionado Liao Shui-lai opened a western restaurant in bustling Twatutia. The restaurant was named Boléro. Elegant décor and the best stereo system at the time in Taiwan playing melodious music attracted many of the literati. Renowned artists Guo Xue-hu, Chen Cheng-bo and Yang San-lang, as well as the writers Lu He-ruo and Zhang Wen-huan, all frequented the establishment.
From 1960-1980, Boléro was at the peak of its business. Starting in the 1980s, newer restaurants began opening and Boléro’s business tapered off. Despite this, it is still in its original location on Minsheng West Road to this day.
The Boléro Western Restaurant in Taipei
- NCL Special Collection / Chen Bo-xin / Japanese Colonial Period (1895-1945) / 15.7×11.4cm / 《Visual Feast》