Nestled in the misty, mountainous region north of Taipei, YMS by onefifteen unveils its latest culinary aesthetics brand, Restaurant 12, located within the historic U.S. military housing complex, H-2 Zone, on Yangmingshan. Centered around flavors from Taiwan’s coastal waters and nourished by the island’s rich mountainous terrain, Restaurant 12 brings to life its culinary philosophy: “Treasures of Land and Sea, Island’s Essence on a Plate.”

At the helm is Executive Chef Jonatan Motos Ferrán, a Madrid-born talent with an impressive global background. Prior to arriving in Taipei, he was head chef at Celebrities in Dubai—part of the culinary empire of Mauro Colagreco, a French-Argentinian chef whose restaurant once topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. In 2023, Chef Jonatan was named one of the Top 5 Chefs of the Year by Gault & Millau UAE. His journey spans across Spain, the UK, Mexico, China, and Qatar, shaping a refined yet eclectic culinary worldview enriched by diverse cultural influences.

After over a year of preparation, Chef Jonatan traveled the length of Taiwan, engaging with local farmers and producers to intimately understand the island’s bounty. This immersion allowed him to craft a clear, seasonal-driven culinary direction—featuring Taiwan’s finest ingredients from both sea and land. Drawing deeply from his Spanish and Southern French roots, he fuses the finesse of French cuisine with the bold spirit of Spanish gastronomy, resulting in a uniquely expressive menu at Restaurant 12.

The restaurant’s interior was envisioned by Alexander Moh, founder of SURV Architecture Studio, who reinterprets the historical site with a modular design language that blends function and beauty. The space features three distinct zones: a sun-drenched solarium, a private dining room with outdoor terrace access, and a main dining hall connecting an open kitchen and wine cellar—each offering a layered and intimate dining experience. Carefully curated designer furniture, art pieces, and décor breathe contemporary life into the heritage setting, embodying a seamless dialogue between old and new.

Dining at Restaurant 12 feels like a gentle escape—a sensory micro-journey away from the city’s hustle. As you ascend the winding roads from downtown Taipei into the forested hills of Yangmingshan, your senses begin to unwind. At the edge of the YMS by onefifteen campus, nestled under swaying trees, stands a tranquil white structure—this is Restaurant 12.

The culinary experience curated by Chef Jonatan and his team begins with delicate, elegant dishes paired with fine wines. Each plate builds on the last like rippling waves across the palate, culminating in a full-bodied, five-senses feast.

As the final flavor lingers, you realize: the most beautiful journeys don’t always lie far away—they exist right here, between mountains and sea.