GuidesTaiwan
July 2024
GuidesTaiwan
July 2024

A cultural guide to Taipei

July 2024

With its ancient shrines, next-gen art galleries and a high-low mix of some of Asia’s best restaurants, Taiwan’s largest city is both forward-facing and steeped in history

July 2024

KEY NEIGHBORHOODS

Xinyi 

THE VIBE

Pinned at the center by the bamboo-shaped Taipei 101 tower, high-glam Xinyi is Taipei’s commercial heart. It’s home to sparkling office towers, hip cocktail bars and chichi fine dining restaurants such as L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. But know where to look, and you’ll find glimpses of a humbler past. The timeworn remains of Village 44, a 1940s military dependents’ village, now live on as cafés, galleries and craft ateliers, while artists and designers have turned a former tobacco factory into the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park arts hub (where you’ll also find the Taiwan Design Museum). 

Where to stay

W Taipei

10 Zhongxiao East Rd, sec 5, Xinyi Dist, Taipei, 110

Grand Hyatt Taipei

2 SongShou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei, 11051

Da’an 

THE VIBE

Leafy Da’an feels like all of Taipei condensed into a single district. Foodies flock to café-packed Yongkang Street for Tian Jin’s flaky scallion pancakes, mango-topped shaved ice at Smoothie House, and soup-filled xiaolongbao dumplings at the original Din Tai Fung outpost around the corner. Nearby, the Daan Forest Park delivers a hit of fresh air and comes to life around dusk, when joggers circle the running trails and tracksuit-wearing seniors practice tai chi on the lawns. 

Where to stay

Kimpton Da’an Taipei

No. 25, Lane 27, Section 4, Ren’ai Road, Da’an District, Taipei, 106

Hotel Eclat Taipei

No. 370, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Taipei, 106

Ximending 

THE VIBE

Neon-glowing Ximending is Taipei’s answer to Tokyo’s Shibuya. As the city’s epicenter of youth culture, its streets deliver a kaleidoscopic jumble of billboards, trend-setting locals and graffiti-scribbled walls. At its heart, the early 20th-century The Red House has been turned into the district’s cultural cornerstone and is now home to cafés, indie boutiques and craft studios. Unsurprisingly, this youthful corner of town is a nightlife hub, including standouts like Hanko 60 speakeasy and Driftwood, which has a rotating line-up of Taiwanese craft beers on tap. 

Where to stay

citizenM Taipei North Gate

No. 3, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei, 100

Roaders Hotel Zhonghua

No.68, Yanping S. Rd, Taipei, 100

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