The ever-evolving metropolis of Taipei, Taiwan, hits many traveler sweet spots. It’s a prime destination for foodie pleasures, natural beauty and ancient culture, and it also possesses the worldly aspects of cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo.
When choosing accommodations in Taipei, clients have a diverse range of aesthetic-driven hotels that offer various styles, locations and price points for all tastes and preferences. Here are some of our favorites.
Mandarin Oriental Taipei
A Fit for: Luxury travelers, couples, pop-culture enthusiasts
Located in Taiwan’s Songshan District, the 303-room, five-star Mandarin Oriental Taipei resembles a majestic mansion. Despite its outward appearance, however, this 2-year-old property evokes an utterly modern and plush style. Guestrooms boast sparkling chandeliers, a gold-and-blue color scheme and elegant, modern furnishings.
The on-site Jade Lounge is a photogenic spot for afternoon tea, while restaurants Ya Ge and Bencotto are stunningly artful, serving top-tier Chinese and Italian cuisine, respectively. The property also boasts the largest hotel spa in Taiwan and a temperature-controlled outdoor pool, and it’s a favorite spot for visiting celebrities. (Madonna stayed here in 2016 and famously walked down the street to her gig at the nearby Arena Stadium.)
www.mandarinoriental.com
S Hotel
A Fit for: Design and art lovers, young professionals, business travelers, bargain hunters
Taiwan’s first property from superstar designer Philippe Starck, this boutique hotel in Songshan District — which is anticipated to open in mid-April — was built by businessman Wang Xiaofei as a tribute to his wife, Barbie Hsu, a Taiwanese actress and singer also known as “Big S.”
The property’s basement level will boast a lounge and a restaurant with a menu from Mikkel Maarbjerg, the Michelin-starred chef of Ensemble in Copenhagen, Denmark. The hotel is also located just down the block from the Mandarin Oriental.
www.shotel.com
W Taipei
A Fit For: Fashionistas, fitness and sports buffs, families
This Taipei hotel is brimming with energy and offers five-star service and unique design. Conveniently located in the upscale entertainment district of Xinyi, the 6-year-old property sits above the City Hall MRT subway station on the blue line.
Rooms are smartly designed — for example, the shower handle is located on the opposite wall from the showerhead, so you can remain dry while turning it on and adjusting the temperature — and the cross-cultural buffet selections at The Kitchen Table is changed daily.
The on-site Woobar is always lively; Away Spa is blissful; and new fitness and wellness programs, called Fuel, are featured at the sizeable gym, where guests can view the iconic Taipei 101 tower.
For those looking to venture off property, Debbie Chen — W’s “Insider” and the brand’s high-powered concierge — helps guests access some of the latest and greatest Taipei spots and trends.
www.wtaipei.com
The Grand Hotel
A Fit for: History and architecture buffs, vacationers seeking cultural immersion
Resembling a grand palace and juxtaposed against Yuanshan Mountain, the 65-year-old, 500-room Grand Hotel was first envisioned to accommodate visiting dignitaries during the 1950s. (Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher have all been guests of the property.)
The hotel is decked out in bold, sleek, red-and-gold Chinese-inspired decor, with massive columns and overhead lanterns. It served as a location for several movies, including “Yi Yi,” which was featured at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.
Clients staying at Grand Hotel will have access to Keelung River views, an on-site pool and a quartet of restaurants (three of which feature traditional Chinese cuisine).
www.grand-hotel.org
Grand View Resort Beitou
A Fit for: Honeymooners, spa lovers, families
Located along the city’s northern edge, the beautifully green Beitou District is known for its natural sulfur hot springs. The mountainside Grand View Resort offers well-maintained public hot springs facilities; semi-outdoor, gender-segregated pools of various temperatures are obscured by foliage and bamboo, and a Japanese-style outdoor, co-ed spring area also allows children. Both can be accessed for an admission fee.
Guests who prefer total privacy, however, can opt for one of the hotels’ eight private hot springs rooms, which also boast stunning vistas of the lush natural surroundings. In fact, the restaurant’s cinematic floor-to-ceiling, misty, mountainous view is alone worth a visit for a meal or tea.
www.gvrb.com.tw
Hotel Proverbs Taipei
A Fit for: Hipsters, young creatives, foodies, contemporary design mavens
With just 42 guestrooms, this Da’an district urban-contemporary boutique property attracts a young and hip crowd. Its exterior, which resembles a monolithic rectangle made of what appear to be stacked metal screen boxes and gaps, is the work of architect and designer Ray Chin. Once inside, warm wood, copper and leather surroundings give the contemporary look an edge of comfort.
L’idiot, the in-house Japanese-European bakery, and TK Seafood & Steak, a local farm and fisherman-driven restaurant, are sure to draw foodies, while mixologist Hidetsugu Ueno helps take bar East End to world-class craft cocktail status.
www.hotel-proverbs.com
