Taipei/East District

As home to the Taipei City Hall, Taipei Convention Hall, the Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei 101, Taipei City Hall, and various shopping malls and entertainment venues, the East District is considered the most modern and cosmopolitan district of Taipei.
Much of the district used to be wetlands, explaining the abundance of space for construction projects as this was one of the last places in Taipei to be developed.

The East District is fully or partly served by MRT red, blue, green and orange lines, depending on the line. In addition it is also served by a number of bus lines.

• Daan Forest ParkThe park rests on 26 hectares in central Taipei bordered by Xinyi Road, Jianguo South Road, Heping East Road, and Xinsheng South Road. Due to its size and location, it is also known as Taipei Central Park. Bus lines 15, 52, 235, 278, 284, 20, 22, Xinyi Main Line service this park.

• Discover Center Of Taipei

  phone: +886 2 2757-4547
  address: 1 Shifu Rd
  Located just inside the main entrance of Taipei City Hall, this is a good place to know the history and culture of Taipei City.

• Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

  phone: +886 2 2765 1388
  address: No. 133, Guangfu South Road, Xinyi District
  in 2011, the park turned into a full fledged art center. Now it is a hub for cultural activities and exhibits. You can walk around the park and see the old structures as well as the new exhibits, restaurants, and the Eslite mall. Within the Eslite mall you can participate in various activities including glass blowing, jewelry and soap making.

• Sun Yat-sen Memorial HallConstructed in the memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen who is the founding father of the Republic of China. The construction of the Memorial commenced in 1965 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth. It was opened on 16 May 1972, with the majestic architecture and placid landscape covering an area of some 115,500 m². The park named Zhongshan Park marks the front yard of the Hall. On the inside, there is a 19-foot bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, watched over during the day by motionless military honor guards, along with a library of 400 seats storing over 1.4 millions books. The 100-m long Zhongshan corridor links the main hall to the four large exhibition buildings where contemporary arts and historical articles are frequently on display. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall has grown into much of a community center, and is much less touristy than the newer and larger Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. There is an auditorium which has weekly lectures and seminars on aspects of art and life. It is also a popular site for public concerts.

• Taipei 101(臺北國際金融大樓) is rich in symbolism. This 101-floor, 508-meter high skyscraper is designed to resemble bamboo rising from the earth, a plant recognized in Asian cultures for its fast growth and flexibility. The building is divided into eight distinct sections, with eight being a number associated with prosperity in Chinese culture. The internal architecture of Taipei 101 is similarly awe-inspiring. Pay attention to ornate details on the structural beams, columns, and other elements. It was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010, but was soon overtaken by others willing to splurge for bragging rights.

• Taipei 101 Indoor ObservatoryThe world's second fastest elevators will zip visitors up to the 89th-floor observation deck in a mere 37 seconds. It's worth taking a ride up, as the views are stunning. The best time to visit would be in the late afternoon when you spend a couple of hours and see both day and night views of Taipei. Don't forget to look toward the middle of the Indoor Observatory, where you'll see the world's largest spherical tuned mass damper (one of three) that keep the building steady. Also, it is probably best to come early (around 08:55) or you will have to stand in line for 15–60 min.

• Taipei 101 Outdoor ObservatoryYou can also go up to the outdoor observatory on the 91st floor (while it's possible to go to the outdoor observatory in a wheelchair, the view is negligible, as the concrete railing is too high to see over). Often only the elevator side remains open and you cannot walk a circle—if this is important to you, ask ahead.

Yongkang StreetThe lanes and alleys around Yongkang Street and Yongkang Park are packed with specialty restaurants, gift shops selling Taiwanese handicrafts, and distinctive cafes. A great place to spend a few hours strolling around.

• Elephant Mountain Hiking TrailA short walk from Taipei 101 in Xinyi District. Very steep steps lead up into a shaded, forested hill overlooking the city. Elephant Mountain, about 200 m high, is one of the Four Beasts Mountains, and paths from here go up to higher peaks in Nangang.

There are a variety of department stores in this area since this is the financial centre of the city.

Shopping malls

• Eslite Mall

  address: 245 Dunhua South Road
  An upscale market-style shopping center with a 24 hour book shop (with a good English selection) on the second floor and ethnic music store in basement.

• Eslite Flagship Mall

  phone: + 2 2723 2220
  address: No 11 Songgao Road
  The flagship store of the Eslite Company is an eight-storey building devoted to books and creative and innovative products and music. Up-scale food court in basement. Cafes on various floors. Worth a visit even when not shopping.

• Taipei 101 MallAttached to the tower is a large, upscale mall. While the stores are unremarkable in that they offer the same brand-names as stores in other major cities around the world, the open and spacious design of the structure itself definitely makes it worth a visit. A supermarket specializing in imported food items is located in the basement.

Specialty items

The Yongkang Street area is one of the best places in Taipei for souvenirs and handcrafts. The area is also home to a number of shops specializing in natural soaps and balms.

• Fingertip Art

  phone: + 2 3322 6136
  address: No11, Lane 6, Yongkang Street,
  A two-storey (first floor and basement) handicraft and local souvenir shop. Stylish and affordable goods. Friendly and very helpful staff.

• Jianguo Holiday Jade MarketLocated under an elevated expressway, reaching from Renai Road & Jianguo South Road intersection down Jianguo Road, till Xinyi Rd. In addition to jade, flowers and many other kinds of handcrafts and jewelry can be purchased. There are actually three different markets, the Weekend Jade Market, Weekend Flower Market and Weekend Handicrafts Market in this same location. As the names suggest, they are open only on weekends until 18:00.

• Potala

  phone: +2 2741 6906
  address: Lane 51, Da'an Road.
  A wide selection of Buddha statues, prayer flags, Buddhist chanting CDs. Staff speak English.

• Xunyilu Art Boutique

  phone: +2 2393-0900
  address: No.12, Lane 2, Yongkang Street
  An interesting and eclectic mix of traditional handicrafts with contemporary souvenirs. Helpful staff.

Night markets

• Tong Hua Night Market

  address: Alley 1, Lane 40, Linjiang Street, Da’an District
  This night market caters for the more adventurous eaters. The market featuers not only local foods but dozens of exotic delicacies, including inexpensive Malaysian, Japanese and Taiwanese snacks.

Budget

• AiYu's Dream Journey Grass Jelly

  phone: +886 2 2706 1257
  address: Tonghua Street No. 56 (臺北大安區通化街56號)
  Great Ai Yu Jelly, Grass Jelly, and Tofu Flower desserts. Recommendations: 愛玉綜合冰 (ai yu zong he bing)；仙草綜合冰(xian cao zong he bing)；豆花綜合冰 (dou hua zong he bing warning: this contains peanuts, but you can ask for it without them -- "不要花生" (bu yao hua sheng)). Ai Yu is only found in Taiwan.

• Kiki Restaurant

  phone: +886 2 2752-2781
  address: 28, Fuxing South Road Sec. 1
  This restaurant serves authentic Szechwanese peppery hot pot.

• Mani Mani

  phone: +886 2 2771 2569
  address: 19, Lane 233, Dunhua South Road, Sec 1
  Innovative vegan meals. Chic and warm environment.

• Minder Vegetarian Restaurant

  address: Basement of Xinyi and Dunha Eslite Malls
  A buffet style restaurant offering a wide rage of Chinese vegetarian dishes.

• Thanh Ky

  phone: +886 2 2321-1579
  address: 1, Lane 6, Yongkang Street
  Always busy and popular with Vietnamese expats and locals. Rice noodle soup with spicy beef and curried beef or pork is a specialty.

• The Pengs' Traditional Hong Kong Cuisine

  phone: +886 2 2772-9839
  address: Guangfu South Road, Lane 240, No. 49
  Opened in the 1980s, the food and the decor of the restaurant have not changed since. Known for being more authentically 1980s Hong Kong than most restaurants in Hong Kong today.

• Yin-Yih Restaurant

  phone: +886 2 2341-7799
  address: 2F 18 Jinshan South Rd Sec. 2
  Dedicated to old style Yangzhou cuisine.

• Yongkang Beef Noodle

  phone: +886 2 2351-1051
  address: 17, Lane 31, Jinshan South Road Sec. 2
  One of the top-twenty beef noodle shops in Taipei. Yongkang Beef Noodle occupies the former location of Lao-Zhang Beef Noodle, which is now located next to it.

Mid-range

• Alleycat's Pizza

  phone: +886 2 2321-8949
  address: 6-1 Lishui St B1
  Generally considered by expats to be the only edible and best traditional Italian pizza in Taipei.

• Din Tai Fung

  phone: +886 2 2321-8928
  address: 194 Xinyi Rd Sec. 2
  Famous for its steamed pork dumplings. Worth a detour. Several locations in Taipei and worldwide. Gets very crowded even on weekdays so book in advance, or go to other branches such as the one under Taipei 101

• Niu Ba Ba (688 Beef Bowl)

  phone: +886 2 8791 7187
  address: No. 149, Section 6, Minquan East Road, Neihu District, Taipei City, Taiwan 114
  The most expensive beef noodle soup to be had in Taiwan. On average this dish costs N$120. Owner Tony Wong has bowls ranging from a few hundred all the way to $10,000. The simple decor belies the intricate process Wong uses to deliver beef noodles for Taipei's foodies.

• Shinyeh's Table

  phone: +886 2 2778-8712
  address: 2F 201 Zhongxiao East Road Sec.4
  Taiwanese food. Menu has English.

Splurge

• Flavors restaurant

  phone: +886 2 2709-6525
  address: Ren Ai Rd. Sec.4 No.13 Alley 26 Lane 300
  Located on a back street of busy Renai Rd with a lush garden in front and warm and cozy atmosphere inside. Flavors serves great grilled steaks including rare meat like venison, amazing selection of appetizers in a casual fine dining way.

• Jimmy's Kitchen

  phone: +886 2 2711-7750
  address: 77 Ren Ai Rd, Sec. 4 B1
  Kobe steak, rib eye, filet mignon, and many other cuts.

• Pearl Liang

  phone: +886 2 2720-1200
  address: 2 Songshou Rd 2F
  Offers unique, fresh, live seafood and dim sum.

• Peking Do It True

  phone: +886 2 2720-6417
  address: 506 Renai Rd Sec. 4
  This is the place to go if you crave good Beijing cuisine. Visitors may be surprised to see a large photo of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush on the wall, taken when he ate at the restaurant during his trip to Taiwan in 1994.

• Shang Palace

  phone: +886 2 2378-8888
  address: 6F, 201 Dunhua South Rd Sec. 2
  Specialize in Cantonese and regional Chinese cuisines. Dim sum is available for lunch only.

• San Niu

  phone: +886 2 2708-3959
  address: Da An Rd, Sec. 1, Alley 169 #3
  Fresh sashimi and tempura shrimp. Less expensive than most Japanese restaurants of this quality. Clean, comfortable environment.

• Whalen's

  phone: +886 2 2739-3037
  address: No. 145, Section 2, Ānhé Rd, Daan District
  Whalen's offer delicious Canadian cuisine such as Poutine and Quiche Lorraine, as well as breakfast omelets and waffles. They also offer a variety of beers. Reservation is recommended since the restaurant is considerably small.

Coffee

There are a numerous cafe in the lanes around Yongkang Street.

• Cafe Moda Taipei

  phone: +886 2-8771-7608
  address: 1F, No 11, Lane 49, Sec 1, Anhe Road, Daan District
  For people who prefer the new concept of a boutique cafe, the specialty of this place by far are the 100% Organic Guatemalan quality coffee beverages they offer in a cozy ambient mixed with art fashion and great music. A small but fancy terrace is perfect for enjoying beverages on a fresh day. They also have imported beer, wine, tea, juices and other snacks in their menu, including cheese and Italian fruit cake. They have a multicultural staff fluent in Chinese, English, and Spanish (German and Japanese depending on the day you go), so feel relaxed if Chinese is not your mother tongue as this place is geared for expats and locals that prefer a stronger kind of gourmet organic coffee.

• Green Steps Cafe

  phone: + 2 2392 3719
  address: No27, Lane 243, Jinhua Street
  A pleasant and airy cafe in the Yongkang Street area. Good coffee and desserts. Outdoor seating.

• Minimal Cafe

  phone: +886 2-2362-9734
  address: 106台北市Taipei泰順街2巷 Tai4Shun4 Jie1 Lane 2, #42, Daan District
  This cafe is famous for having many resident cats living inside of it (49, according to the wait staff). In fact, the owner of this cafe loves cats so much, stray ones are adopted, spayed/neutered, then allowed to live in the cafe. Thus, as you drink your beverage, don't be surprised if cats are checking you out. This cafe is indeed clean despite all the cats, and has tasty mid-range priced desserts and coffee, as well as salads/meals. The cats are friendly, if not always looking for a warm lap to sleep on. The younger cats might jump from lap to lap, just to find a playmate, even if the wiser, older cats do not care for such shenanigans.

Alcohol

• Carnegies

  phone: +886 2 2325-4433
  address: 100 Anhe Rd Sec 2
  With an outdoor patio, it's perfect for those who prefer a quieter and less smoky atmosphere. The scene is geared toward the 30+ expats and locals.

• Club Myst

  phone: +886 9 5891 4777
  address: No. 12, 9F, ATT4FUN Building, Song Shou Rd, Xinyi Dist
  One of the hottest night club in Taipei. Often cited as having the best view of the Taipei 101 building. Large and active dance floor. Open all nights, Wednesday night is ladies night with free entry.

• Elektro

  address: 6F, ATT4FUN Building, Song Shou Rd, Xinyi Dist
  Another large and popular nightclub, previously was called Spark but was closed down due to some police controversy.

• Fourplay Cuisine

  phone: +886 227083898
  address: 67 Dongfeng St
  A quiet bar/restaurant with creative drinks. Your shot may include a helium balloon, a water pipe, fire or dry ice.

• Luxy

  address: 5F, 201 Zhongxiao E. Rd Section 4, Daan District
  One of the most well-known clubs in Taipei. Luxy has two levels: the lower level has a side room playing house/techno and a main room playing hip-hop; the upper level is a lounge with a small dance floor overlooking the main room. Cover charge goes up after 23:00. Get there early to avoid a line.

• Ziga Zaga

  address: No.2, Song Shou Road Grand Hyatt Taipei
  This club specializes in cocktails and Italian cuisine - both the service and food are excellent. It's popular with locals and expats. Ladies Night is on Wednesday nights.

Tea

• Hui Liu

  phone: +886 2 2392-6707
  address: No 9, Lane 31, Yongkang Street
  Hui Liu is a modern style tea house. In addition to serving Chinese tea, Hui Liu is also famous for its organic vegetarian meals and hand made pottery.

• Teng

  phone: +886 2 2321-9089
  address: 29, Lane 61, Linyi Street
  A rustic tea house and art studio in the heart of Taipei.

• Wisteria House

  phone: +886 2 2363-7375
  address: 16 Xinsheng South Road, Sec 3
  Wisteria is set in a traditional house, complete with tatami mats, and is a great place to spend an afternoon relaxing with friends and soaking up the atmosphere of Taiwan.

Juice

• Happy Fruit Juice Bar

  phone: +886 2 2343-2393
  address: 53 Yongkang Street
  Happy Fruit Juice Bar is a fresh fruit juice bar decorated with a Greek cafe interior. The store is family owned and run by a mom and four sisters. They serve tea, fresh fruit juice, milk pearl tea and other drinks. It's a great place to grab something cool and refreshing on a hot day. Also, Happy Fruit Juice bar's right beside the Mofo burger joint, so it's a perfect place to get a healthy drink to wash down that burger afterwards, or to simply sit down at after a trek through Yongkang St!

Budget

• Fu-Hau Hotel

  phone: +886 2 2325-0722
  address: No.9, Sec. 2, Fuxing South Rd

• KDM Hotel

  phone: +886 2 2721-1162
  address: No.8, Sec. 3, Jhongsiao E. Rd., Da-an District
  Decent, standard budget hotel without trimmings, but in a desired location, near all the commercial businesses and entertainment avenues.

Mid-range

• Les Suites Daan Taipei

  phone: +886 2 8773-3799
  address: 135 Daan Road Sec. 1
  Calming ambiance is felt throughout this hotel, with soft lighting and muted colour palette adding to the mood. Staff are helpful and professional, and a complimemtary afternoon tea is served downstairs in the internet terminals, making it a perfect stay for the business traveller.

• Royal Best Suites

  phone: +886 2 2729-5533
  address: 385 Xinyi Rd, Sec. 4
  Spacious and comfortable rooms decorated in a Victorian style decor.

• Taipei Fullerton Fu-Xing South

  phone: +886 2 2708-3000
  address: 41 Fuxing South Road, sec. 2
  Tastefully decorated and geared toward business travelers. Very polite and attentive staff. Free wifi in the lobby only, not in the rooms (but rooms do have ethernet ports and cables for laptops, and there is a good business center in the lobby). Surrounded by restaurants and convenience stores.

Splurge

• Le Méridien Taipei

  phone: +886 2 6622-8000
  address: 38 Songren Rd
  One of Taipei's newest international hotels.

• Grand Hyatt Taipei

  phone: +886 2 2720-1234
  address: 2 Songshou Rd
  Next to Taipei 101 and Taipei World Trade Center, at the very heart of the New Taipei, a burgeoning business, shopping and entertainment district. Stunning, top end hotel with sleek and modern furnishings. Room service is prompt and delicious.

• Howard Plaza Hotel

  phone: +886 2 2700-2323
  address: 160 Renai Rd, Sec. 3
  Centrally located and convenient for MRT. Rooms are spacious with walk in closets and fresh fruit and water is provided for daily. Internet access is fast and free.

• Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel

  phone: +886 2 2378-8888
  address: 201 Dunhua South Rd, Sec. 2.
  Asian-inspired interior design that impresses with the attention to detail. 5-star hotel.

• W Taipei

  phone: +886 2 7703 8888
  address: 10 Zhongxioa East Road, Sec. 5
  Opened in 2011.