How To Spend The Weekend In Taipei City

Taipei City is a vibrant hub of culinary culture. The capital city of Taiwan is famous for its street food, and it’s a well earned reputation thanks to its abundant and shockingly cheap street food. But there’s so much more than just night markets here; read on for how to take advantage of everything Taipei has to offer. —Sara Harowitz

Stay

The Shangri-La Far Eastern provides ample room for relaxation after a long flight. A gorgeous rotunda-style lobby gives way to the hotel tower, which features a spa (including a decadent sauna), a truly excellent workout studio (there’s one room for exercise machines and an entire separate space for sweating it out on a yoga mat), and multiple restaurants and bars—most of which offer stunning views of the sprawling city below. Grab a cocktail and some vegetable dumplings at Shanghai Pavilion and take in the skyline before tucking into a plush king bed. (And for those whose flights land in the wee hours of the morning, as this author’s did, not to worry: the hotel offers early check-in, pending availability, for a very reasonable add-on price.) The rooftop pool area is also not to be missed; featuring almost 360 degrees of city view, it boasts a lap pool as well as a hot tub, with loungers dotted around the perimeter. It would be easy to spend the day here, that’s for sure.

Eat

The breakfast buffet at the Shangri-La’s Cafe Far Eastern is well on its way to becoming the stuff of legend, and is a must for guests of the hotel (and even those who aren’t, but who want an early-morning feast). It’s truly a smorgasbord of delicious things, featuring everything from a traditional Western section (bacon, potatoes, sausages) to an array of Asian delights that change daily. There are always some hot noodle dishes, many dumplings, and lots of steam buns, as well as Indian curries and Japanese dishes. There is also fresh fruit and fruit juice, a charcuterie section, and a wide selection of breads and pastries. Arrive hungry, leave very full and satisfied.

Already the stuff of legend are Taipei’s night markets, of which there are many, each with its own array of offerings—including some Michelin-recommended stalls. Unnamed Clay Oven Roll at the Nanjichang Night Market is a must: crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside dough is wrapped around peppery meat within, resulting in a perfect snack. Or there’s Good Friend Cold Noodles at the Shilin Night Market, which features its namesake cold noodles covered with a generous helping of sesame sauce. For something sweet, look for one of the many vendors selling red bean pastries: sweet red bean paste or custard is stuffed inside a thin, chewy, waffle-like dough.

For an excellent coffee when the jet lag just won’t let you sleep, Louisa Coffee is a local chain serving up some of the best beans. Or there’s Moonshine Coffee, a local roaster and cafe boasting a gorgeously minimalist vibe. On the tea side of things, because Taiwan is also famous for its milk tea, consider Oolong Tea Project or Cozy Sun Day Cafe. And be sure to check out one of the locations of Bafang Dumpling, which offers an excellent array of doughy delights for very reasonable prices.

Do

For something active, consider the short walk up Elephant Mountain. This hike features a set of stairs that ascend to a few noteworthy viewpoints overlooking the city—think of it like Taipei’s Grouse Grind, only way less intense and long. Plus, the payoff is pretty great.

And to get a dose of culture, the Museum of National Taipei University of Education is a short walk from the Shangri-La, featuring rotating exhibits from important artists such as Japan’s famed Yayoi Kusama.

Huashan 1914 Creative Park is also not to be missed: this former factory has been turned into a creative hub, featuring various design shops and other art- and food-based ventures. For even more shopping, visit Chifeng Street, which is an area known for its vintage shops and contemporary clothing boutiques. It’s enough to convince just about anyone that Taipei is more than just a food town.