Zhubei, Family Pizza 手工柴燒窯烤比薩

Location: google map

Pros: nice atmosphere, children's books, blocks

Cons: drinks are kind of expensive. $50NT for a can of treetop apple juice?!

It's kind of an interesting place, you order at this little hut and then go next door into this building for seating. They have a lot of special flavors like stinky tofu pizza...(which we've never tried) but also the more normal ones like margherita and pesto & cheese. The pizzas are not to die for, but decent enough. Each pizza (about 8 slices?) is around $200~$250. For our family of 5 we ordered three and it was just right.

Hsinchu, Miller Breakfast & Brunch

Location: google map

Pros: it opens early - everyday!!

Cons: it's basically a glorified taiwanese breakfast joint

Breakfast and brunch is sort of a big deal in our household, and we are always struggling to find places that open early (before 8am) on the weekends. This place is new, clean, and the food is decent. But their food is basically like any of those Taiwanese breakfast places you find on the street. A little bit better? Maybe. But the main difference is that you can sit down at a place that's furnished and air-conditioned while you eat your breakfast instead of sitting on a cheap metal chair. 

Hsinchu, Confucius Temple Park 孔廟旁小公園

Location: google map (Corner of Dongshan Street  & Shipin Rd.)

Pros: three different play structure, big open area on the side in front of the temple

Cons: hard to find parking on the weekends after 12pm

This is a nice playground to come especially if you want to stay into lunch to visit the market nearby on the weekends. But that is also why the parking is HORRIBLE in the afternoon. There is an underground parking garage on Shipin Rd, and street parking is also available. So come here early if you want to check it out, and hit the food stands after! :)