

A cultural guide to Taipei
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
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
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
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

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