By Teddy Tsai
I met Zoei a few years ago during a University of California alumni event. She was the niece of the organizer and a young jazz singer at the time. A few years passed, and via social media, I came across the announcement of her new jazz café. Kaohsiung has been undergoing a revitalization, drawing new tourists and travelers to the city through its pop music concert economy efforts. However, jazz is still mostly a niche music genre with a passionate but small fanbase in the city. Her new jazz café, Kissa Nova, provides a new community hub where guests can come hang out, listen to music, share ideas, and enjoy a chill afternoon.
The place is called Kissa Nova (星悅爵士喫茶), a jazz and record café located at No. 363, Dashun 2nd Road in Sanmin District, near the Kaohsiung Industrial High School (C28) stop of the Circular Light Rail. I asked Zoei about the name, and she explained that she loved stars, hence the Nova reference, and wanted to pay tribute to the jazz kissa culture of Japan.
A jazz kissa is a type of specialized Japanese coffeehouse dedicated to deep, focused listening to recorded jazz played through hi-fi sound systems. When I visited, another guest was looking closely at the speakers and turntable, clearly an audiophile.
The building where the café is located is owned by Zoei’s family and was previously her grandfather’s home. Kaohsiung is filled with many of these hidden gems: repurposed older buildings brought to new life with cafés, shops, and new energy, while retaining older architecture and memories worth holding on to.
During my visit, another guest from New York, who was in Taiwan for a wedding in Taipei, had taken a trip to Kaohsiung and found Kissa Nova via social media. It was her first time in Kaohsiung, and she thoroughly enjoyed the trip, the weather, and visiting Kissa Nova, talking with Zoei and hanging out in this communal space.
Zoei has a vinyl record display case on the street and picks out a record of the day to share with guests. In addition to sharing her love of jazz music, Zoei mentioned that her intention in building Kissa Nova was to provide a space where people could come and relax. In contrast to other restaurants and cafés, Kissa Nova does not have any time limits, and guests can enjoy the feeling of a comfortable living room where people can come together, chat, and enjoy music. She has a wide collection of vinyl records and CDs, all available to play. She also invites guests to bring their own records to share through the high-end sound system.
I spent a relaxing morning at Kissa Nova, enjoying the conversation and music and meeting people from different walks of life. As a jazz lover, it was also great to see another venue playing a small part in promoting jazz music and musicians. Zoei mentioned that possible future events might include live music as well. For a relaxing morning or afternoon, a visit to Kissa Nova is well worth it. Reservations through its Instagram account are highly recommended.
https://www.instagram.com/jazzkissanova/
No. 363, Dashun 2nd Road, Zhengshun Village, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City, 807
Opening days: Friday through Monday. Please check its Instagram account for any changes.
