Taipei hotels that are perfect for exploring a city that never sleeps

Famed for both its sanctuary-like suites and epic pool parties during the summer months, W Taipei in fashionable Xinyi holds its own against designer boutiques, trendy nightclubs and high-end restaurants. From the moment you arrive at the 10th-floor lobby, you’ll be surrounded by futuristic design, plush fabrics and modern art pieces.

Stay in the Spectacular 101 room for an incredible view of the iconic skyscraper from your window-side chaise lounge. Or go all-out with the two-level Extreme Wow presidential suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a leather swing. You can mix yourself a nightcap with your in-room cocktail kit before sleeping easy on your signature W bed with 350-thread-count linens, goose-down duvet and white noise machine.

At The Kitchen Table, dig into pulled pork benedict with baby arugula and smoked chilli hollandaise. After breakfast, stretch out on a rooftop sunlounger or book in for a facial using SK products at Away Spa. If you’re feeling energetic, hit the gym with a personal trainer before blissing out in the sauna.

In the evening, rub shoulders poolside with Taipei’s most glamorous at WooBar, sipping on A Night in Taipei cocktail made with bubblegum-infused vodka. For something more low-key, head to Yen Bar on the 31st floor for Asian tapas dishes like seared crispy cod and drunken chicken with Shaoxing wine jelly.

The first five-star cultural hotel in Taipei, Palais de Chine fuses inspiration from the Song Dynasty and the Parisian era of Louis XIV. Art Nouveau-style rooms feature wood-panelled walls, furniture imported from France and stone bathrooms with opulent round tubs. If you’re staying on the Executive Floor, you’ll have access to Le Salon’s library, antique displays and light refreshments.

The lavish attention to detail continues at Le Palais restaurant, awarded three stars in the inaugural Michelin guide to Taipei in 2018. Savour dim sum and Chinese banquet-style dishes, or indulge in the chef’s set menu for lobster salad with dried radish and stir-fried Wagyu beef. For something more casual, head to the hotel’s Le Rotisserie, known for its extensive buffet and theatrical open kitchen. You’ll get your fill of decadent seafood here, with all-you-can-eat lobster and a sushi and sashimi bar. Afterwards, work off the extravagant meal with a turn around Vite fitness centre or a refreshing plunge in the outdoor pool.

This is one of most opulent hotels near Taipei Main Station, plus you’ll have easy access to the shopping and entertainment at Q Square. Admire the hanging botanical displays in this gleaming shopping mall before loading up on popcorn for a VIP movie.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly option, Roaders Hotel is a Taipei hotel near Ximending with enough going on to keep kids and teens entertained. The impressive lobby area is filled with quirky design features from the American West, plus fun activities like foosball, basketball and arcade games. Keep your energy levels up with free cup noodles, popcorn and soft drinks, or sink into a leather sofa to watch one a film, or capture a memory in the photo booth.

You’ll find 68 sleek, minimalist rooms stocked with mod cons, and some come with views across the city. In the Wow VIP Triple Suite, young travellers will delight in the in-room teepee before bringing toys into the large tub for end-of-day splashes. In the common areas of the hotel, you’ll find a toy-filled children’s area and a fitness room for adults looking to let off some steam.

The hotel is a 10-minute walk from bustling Ximending’s Red House Theatre, which though an antique is flanked by LGBT-friendly cocktail bars with colourful disco lighting and outdoor tables. For a cultural fix, you’re only a 25-minute walk from Longshan Temple, the largest in the city. To stay local, wander the Ximen night market or pop into a hotpot restaurant to cook your own seafood, meat and veg in steaming pots of fragrant, spicy broth.

Don’t let the name fool you: Humble House Taipei is a sophisticated, modern hotel in the heart of downtown. Its name comes from its philosophy of caring for people, linked with a focus on art and design. A member of the Design Hotels group, Humble House has 600 paintings, illustrations, installations and sculptures as well as a lush, 6th-floor garden with views of 101.

In your high-ceilinged room bedecked in neutral, earthy tones, feel inspired by English artist Alexander James’ ‘Butterfly’ series as you gaze through huge windows over the city. If you splash out on a suite, your own butler can book you a Rose Hydrator treatment at Espace Beauté, which uses damask rose oil to repair and soothe your skin. Or, stretch out on a poolside sunlounger to soak up some urban sunshine.

Italian restaurant La Farfalla has more than 3,000 bottles of premium alcohol on the menu, and traditional dishes like homemade mushroom ravioli with asparagus and black truffle cream. Grab an armchair next to the sky garden at The Terrace and nibble on an antipasto platter of grilled squid, cold cuts and Caprese salad.

With just five guest rooms, Play Design Hotel in the Datong district feels more interactive art gallery than a place to rest your head. Each room is unique, with soft furnishings and artworks made by more than 100 local designers. You’ll delight in the urban vibe of the polished concrete walls and floors and gleaming flatscreen, best admired from your pillow-top bed with luxury linens.

Curious types should try the Future Lab room, curated by three artists around the theme of critical thinking and imagination. You’ll get hands-on with microscopes and petri dishes, and drink your tea out of a beaker cup! If you find yourself really inspired, visit the on-site gallery store for signature design items to take home with you.

Ningxia Night Market and Zhongshan shopping area are only a few minutes’ walk away, and Taipei Main Station is about 10 minutes by foot. Make sure to explore nearby Dihua Street, one of the oldest in Taipei, for shopfronts dating back to the 1850s.

The lobby at Éclat Taipei sets the tone of the hotel with grand chandeliers, plush velvet and Salvador Dali sculptures. The opulence continues to rooms with a choice of six pillows, goose-down duvets and blackout drapes for a luxurious night’s sleep. If you have work to do, drop into your Philippe Starck desk chair and pick up the featured Montblanc pen to feel like a swanky CEO.

Located in the Da’an district, you’re a 20-minute walk from Taipei’s version of Central Park. Take a stroll through bamboo groves and around two ponds filled with lilies, turtles and white egrets. You can pack a picnic to eat in one of the traditional pavilions, or hold out for Linjiang Street Night Market (15 minutes’ walk) for fried chicken dusted in white pepper and sticky sweet dumplings.

If you’d rather eat at the hotel, you’ll get smoked salmon quiches, raisin scones and mini macarons at high tea in the Éclat Lounge. In the evening, try the roasted cherry duck breast with red wine sauce – a dish as fine as the artworks on display.

From the rooftop of the Taipei Garden Hotel, spot iconic landmarks like Taipei 101 from your Balinese Jacuzzi. The Sky Garden has three tubs filled with water treated with rose rock salt and mixed with more than 20 traditional Chinese herbs.

If you’ve booked the Garden Suite, you’ll get the same views from your own Jacuzzi and living room. Regardless of room choice, you can freshen up for dinner in your sleek bathroom with feature tub and separate shower. Head down for your pick of the on-site restaurants, like Prime One Steakhouse, where chefs expertly prepare steaks dry-aged in Himalayan rock salt and grilled over wood fires to ensure flavour and tenderness. For something more traditional, order dim sum at Jade Restaurant before finishing the night with a glass of wine at La Fusion Bar.

Right in vibrant Ximending, you’re only moments from historic sites like the 18th-century architecture of Bopiliao Historical Block. Huaxi Street Market, also known as Snake Alley, is a 15-minute walk (if you’re feeling brave, try the snake soup!).

The Okura Prestige is a high-rise Taipei hotel set in a vibrant, modern part of the city. A five-minute walk from Zhongshan metro station, you’re well placed to explore famous sights like Taipei 101 and the famous Ximending shopping district. Up on the rooftop, shade yourself from the sun under a canopied daybed or lie back on a sunlounger before taking a cooling dip in the pool. You can head up to the Health Centre for a workout with floor-to-ceiling city views, or steam up in the sauna before relaxing in a Japanese-style hot bath.

After working up an appetite, foodies will be treated to authentic Chinese and Cantonese dishes at Toh-Ka-Lin, while Japanese favourites like melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, fresh teppanyaki and crisp tempura are served up at Yamazato. For something extra special, grab a good spot at The Pearl Lounge & Bar and order 20-year Nikka whiskey.

In your contemporary room, feel yourself relax among soothing beige tones and European-style furniture. Watch a Taiwanese soap opera on your flatscreen, or if your room has a balcony you can switch off and take in the view over the city’s skyline.

Just steps from Nanjing East Road Metro Station, Les Suites Taipei Ching Cheng is a calming oasis in the heart of Taipei’s financial district. Ideal for a city break or for a few days of downtime after closing a successful business deal, this boutique hotel promises an escape from the hustle and bustle.

Fuel up with a sumptuous breakfast buffet filled with Asian and Western favourites before strolling over to Huashan 1914 Creative Park for the latest exhibition. Make sure you’re back in time to enjoy Tini Hour at the bar, with complimentary drinks and homemade canapés.

The hotel’s 84 rooms are decorated in shades of comforting grey and burgundy, with dark wood and minimalist furniture. Settle in for a film on your flatscreen, or dim the lights and throw on a playlist using your bedside music dock to make your own personal party. When night falls, head out to the vibrant Liaoning Street Night Market, a 10-minute walk, for delicacies like stinky tofu, roasted duck and crispy scallion pancakes.