In Wanhua, the bars are its main attractions. If you’re on the West side of town and craving a drink, check out our top recommendations for the very best the Wanhua night scene has to offer. Most of the bars are gathered in one area, near Ximen station, just behind the Red House Theater.
Bear Bar
Bear Bar is a gay bar, for bears. If the word bear conjures up images of Alaska or Winnie the Pooh, then think again. In the gay community, a ‘bear’ refers to a large, husky man with a lot of body hair. A good party atmosphere and very welcoming staff and clientele can be found at Bear Bar.
This Arabian restaurant and bar spreads over several floors and serves great Thai fare, but the real appeal comes from the extensive hookah flavors paired with the sumptuous setting and long drinks menu. As well as staple beers and wines, Nakhla Shisha has a large-sized cocktail list with tempting drinks, such as their midori honeydew concoction or cassis and grapefruit.
Cafe Dalida
Bar, Cafe, Restaurant, Taiwanese, Cocktails, Wine, Beer
Cafe Dalida is an open front bar, decorated with hanging plants and a large patio which altogether create a somewhat continental scene. Therefore Cafe Dalida has a slightly more low-key vibe compared to the other bars in this area. Food is available but not just the typically underwhelming bar snacks offered elsewhere; here, you can have fresh pizza brought directly in from the popular Taipei pizza restaurant, Alleycat’s, just next door.
Tingba
Tingba is the ideal venue for drinks in a sophisticated setting; here, customers can enjoy the view from the seventh floor of the newly opened Amba hotel. Tingba lounge sells itself as somewhere to ‘discover the latest music selected exclusively by Street Voice, a popular cultural platform for Taiwan’s young talents to showcase their creations.’ See and be seen in the trendiest of Taiwan’s new hangouts here. Every Monday is cocktail night: customers can enjoy speciality cocktails, buy one get one free. Ginger-pina mojito | Courtesy of AMBA
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Sometimes we all need to let our hair down and Jack’s Studio gives you the opportunity to throw caution to the wind and dive into the mosh pit. This rock concert venue is ideal for those who want to escape the daily tedium of city life with a beer and some live music. Performers change constantly so if you want more than just a beer, and live rock music suits your taste, then check out Jack’s Studio for individual showtimes. Performers | Courtesy of Jack’s Studio
Finding Burger
Bar, Cafe, Pub
Enter the Shinjuku Plaza and on the ground floor you will find an open-front cafe bar with simple, yet stylish decor. Despite the name, the focus at Finding Burger is not on the burgers but on the drinks. The menu offers a good selection of craft beers, as well as creative soft drinks, which is great for when customers want to try some Taiwanese brewed ales. They also serve mini peanut and sour cream burgers which is a very unique and tasty creation. The cafe bar is situated just next to the Amba Hotel, which is an ideal location if you’re on a pub crawl or just want to explore as many venues as possible. Courtesy of Finding Burger
New CB Party
If you’re looking to get on stage yourself or want to break the ice with new friends, you’re in the right part of the city.When you’re in the mood to sing along to old classics, perhaps even in Mandarin, your first port of call in Wanhua should be New CB Party where for around NTD450 you get a buffet and almost four hours of singing time. KTV | Courtesy of New CB Party
Ximen Jimmy
This trendy little Japanese restaurant and bar is nestled in the maze of hipster lanes that make up the trendiest part of Wanhua. The food menu is lengthy and features high-quality food. There’s a great selection of Japanese and other alcoholic beverages. Here, customers can start or finish their nights with some Japanese whiskey and sake, set in a funky, yet relaxed setting. Look out for the sign which is only written in Chinese: 西門靖 .
This gay and mixed bar lies in the vicinity of the Red House Theater, just a few minutes walk around the corner from the main drag area. Sol presents a more artsy facade and customers can enjoy tapas or pizza on the terrace. This is a great bar for a romantic meal followed by drinks.
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