The Best Hotels for Foodies in Taipei

Surrounded by lush mountains and natural hot springs, the Gaia Hotel in Taipei’s northern Beitou district is designed for escape and relaxation. Situated at the foot of the Yangming Mountains, guests will find it easy to connect with nature here. Laze in a hot spring bath, soak in a hydrotherapy pool or indulge in a soothing massage. Then dine at one of three onsite restaurants that serve shabu-shabu and Chinese-and-Italian fusion cuisine.

Owned by the Taiwanese lifestyle brand eslite, this hotel in the Xinyi District inspires a love of the creative world through books, music and art. All of its elegant 104 guestrooms offer views of either the Yangming Mountains, Songshan Cultural Creative Park or Taipei 101 for some seriously Instagrammable city views. Throughout the hotel, photographs of Taiwan in various eras are showcased. Combined with artistically designed brick walls, high ceilings and Cassina leather chairs, the eslite maintains a sophisticated feel. Don’t miss the Library Suite, where hundreds of books decorate the walls.

This hotel in Taipei’s commercial Songshan District promises enthusiastic and professional service. Within walking distance of the underrated Liaoning Night Market and only a minute’s walk from Nanjing Fuxing MRT Station, reaching the rest of the city is a cinch from here. The seven onsite dining options at this family-friendly hotel embrace diversity and food lovers will be spoiled for choice as they sample a variety of Cantonese dim sum, Japanese specialities, classic Taiwanese dishes and more.

The 36 minimalist guestrooms at the Swiio Hotel Da’an occupy eight floors of an aesthetically pleasing white building with geometric windows in the Da’an district. It’s a short walk from Tonghua Street Night Market, a local favourite. Plus, the onsite restaurant, Le Blanc, is run by Long Xiong, an American chef who’s worked at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants around the globe. Head to Le Blanc for casual Chinese and Western breakfast options in the morning and return in the evening when it transforms into a casual steakhouse that specialises in two dishes: the certified Angus beef steak and Boston lobster, which are equally adored by local foodies.

The 56 bright and airy rooms at this Art Deco hotel are arranged over seven floors, with each guestroom decorated in tones of beige and white with pops of bright colour on both the ceiling and pillows ensuring a modern look. Head to the second floor for some downtime in the reading space and lounge area, or go sightseeing at the nearby Taipei Palace Museum and Taipei 101. Pick up souvenirs at Tamsui Old Street and in the evenings, sample street food at Shilin Nightmarket, which houses the city’s largest collection of street food.

Die-hard street food lovers will appreciate the location of this three-star hotel: right inside the Ningxia Night Market in Taipei’s Datong District, where you can gorge on oyster omelettes and grilled sausages every night. Spend the day visiting nearby Dadaocheng Pier for a walk along the water and Xiahai Chenghuang Temple to pay your respects. Then head back to one of 20 inviting guestrooms at the Ningxia No. 2 Hotel, each of which is equipped with a jetted bathtub for a relaxing soak.

The aptly named ArTree Hotel is stylishly designed with a tree theme to create a dreamlike environment evoking a sense of tranquillity. Each of its 139 contemporary guestrooms embodies one of five themes: orient, forest, lovestone, sand and rock. Incorporating elements of stone and wood in its design, along with neutral colours and clean lines that blend modern comforts with nature, guests can feel at peace here. The addition of a bathtub in each room provides the ultimate relaxation.

Parisian-inspired Palais de Chine Hotel, in Taipei’s Datong District, elegantly blends Chinese and Western cultures. This five-star hotel houses 284 soundproofed rooms while its premium bedding and pillow menu guarantees a good night’s sleep. Plumping for an internationally-focused, fusion style, each guest room is embellished with customised furniture imported from Europe and the reading area on the executive floor has books on both art and history.

Just a minute’s walk from Dongmen MRT Station, guests at the Ark Hotel have easy and convenient access to the rest of the city. There are 24 modern guestrooms – some with large windows for a city view – and others, like the Japanese-style quadruple room, come with a balcony for some street watching. Food lovers are spoiled for choice here because of its close proximity to Yongkang Street and the famed Din Tai Fung Dumpling House. For leisurely evening strolls, head to nearby Da’an Forest Park, a 64-acre (26ha) public park with ficus, maple and camphor tree-lined pathways.

This luxurious five-star hotel sits in the vibrant Xinyi District, just around the corner from the glitzy Taipei 101. The Grand Hyatt Taipei is home to 853 sleek and contemporary guestrooms, each with skyline views and a spacious marble bathroom. Eight restaurants serve everything from American to Mexican to Japanese fare, catering to a wide range of preferences and moods. Plus, their Baguette Bakery features a selection of freshly made bread, sandwiches, cakes and tempting chocolates. Cap off a day of eating with a dip in the hotel’s heated outdoor pool.