24 June, 2016
When
we visited Taipei in May for The
Taipei Exchange, we quickly realised it was an incredible city
– smaller and more manageable than neighbouring Hong Kong and
Tokyo, but equally vibrant and exciting. The city had something for
everyone – from ancient temples and Japanese tea houses to a
thrilling culinary scene (on both street corners and in trendy
restaurants)
foot massage parlours,
design cafés and concept stores.
If you don’t know where to start, W Taipei is a safe bet.
Located in the buzzing modern district of Xinyi, this
design-focused hotel is the most fashionable stay in the city. The
W is a stone’s throw from Taipei’s most famous landmark Taipei 101
and a host of shopping malls (check out Eslite next door) trendy
restaurants and nightclubs. But there’s also a sweeter side to the
neighbourhood where warm steamed buns are served on leafy side
streets. Nearby is also Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (the
city’s hub for creatives) with its cute design cafés and souvenir
shops.
Made up of 405 rooms across 31 floors, W Taipei puts new meaning
into the phrase ‘a room with a view’. The views aren’t only from
your bedroom – eat incredible dumplings 31 floors up at YEN Chinese
while looking over the city, workout at the FIT gym against a
backdrop of the city’s skyline, or grab an artisanal cocktail at
the rooftop Wet Bar and sip it poolside. The best part? The staff.
Service here is second to none, and they know how to experience the
best of the city. Want a local foot massage? They’ll send you to
the chicest spot – Relaxing Trip. Want to skip the buffet and try a
Taiwanese soya milk breakfast? There’s a famous place just around
the corner off Zhong Xiao E. Road. They won’t send you to the
tourist traps, unless you want them too.
Make no mistake, W Taipei is a sleek, five-star establishment
meant for the jetsetters of the world. But they also understand
that people want to explore the city like a local. So whether you
want to chill by the pool or sweat it out at a roadside noodle
spot, this is where to start your journey.
There are 405 rooms across 31 floors. Rooms are modern, sleek
and stylish with huge floor-to-ceiling windows that look out across
the sprawling cityscape of Taipei. Our favourite room? The Extreme
Wow suite is exactly what it says on the tin – Lady Gaga stayed
here when she visited Taipei (if you were considering it).
The hotel’s ground floor (which is actually on the 10th floor so
you still have a view) is home to the Kitchen Table restaurant
which serves up breakfast buffet style. The buffet has everything
you would want and more – Taiwanese dumplings, noodle dishes,
unbelievable fresh fruit and an egg bar.
There are two main restaurants – the kitchen table and YEN
Chinese Restaurant. The former is a laid back affair with both
local and international dishes served throughout the day. YEN
Chinese Restaurant, on the 31st floor, is reserved for fine dining
in a sleek and stylish setting. It’s a modern take on traditional
Chinese dishes and you’ll have some of the best dumplings in the
city.
There are a few! Drinking is serious business at the W. You’ll
find the best bartenders in the city whipping up concoctions every
night of the week in WOOBAR, one of the most popular bars in the
city, and YEN BAR.
W Taipei is pumping with activity most hours of the day. If you
want a quiet escape, this isn’t it (although rooms are pretty much
soundproof and the rooftop pool is a pretty sweet respite).
Songshan Cultural and Creative Park – housed in
an old tobacco factory, you’ll find a number of galleries,
exhibition spaces, small shops and the cutest bookshop called Yue
Yue. This is where the cool kids hang out in Taipei. The
Eslite Spectrum Songyan – a shopping centre directly next
to the W with a famous bookshop on the top floor. We love the one
inside the Cultural and Creative park too. The Taipei
101 – one of the tallest buildings in the world and
Taipei’s most famous landmark. Dine at S.T.A.Y, a French restaurant
by Yannick Alleno inside.
