Hotel
Mandarin Oriental, Taipei
A luxury hotel on Dunhua North Road with a full spa, the Cantonese restaurant Ya Ge and quick access to Songshan Airport.
A boutique design hotel in Taipei's East District by architect Ray Chen, with a third-floor terrace bar, an outdoor pool and the restaurant L'Idiot.
Good to know
Hotel Proverbs Taipei is a boutique alternative to the city's large international hotels, aimed at travellers who value design and a central location over a long list of facilities. It is a member of Design Hotels, a collection now affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, and it sits on Da'an Road in the East District, a busy shopping area in the heart of the city.
The design is the calling card. The hotel was created by the architect Ray Chen, whose name is a draw for design-minded guests. Rooms and suites are bookable through the Marriott website, where you can compare categories and rates. As a boutique property it suits couples and solo travellers who prefer a smaller base to a large tower hotel.
Food and drink are handled in-house. L'Idiot, the on-site restaurant, is overseen by culinary director Fudy Chen, and East End, the bar on the third floor, has an outdoor terrace that is pleasant on warm evenings. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and offers room service, and Marriott Bonvoy members receive complimentary Wi-Fi. Families can stay here, but the boutique scale makes it a better fit for couples and adult travellers.
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is at 12:00, which gives you a relaxed final morning. If you are arriving early on an overnight flight, contact the hotel in advance to ask about early arrival arrangements. Book directly through the Marriott website to collect points if you are a member of the programme.
The location is the hotel's other big advantage. Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station is listed as nearby, which puts the shopping streets of the East District within easy reach. Taipei Main Station, for the high-speed rail, is a short MRT or taxi ride away. Within the wider Da'an area you will find Little Tree Food, the Bib Gourmand vegetarian bistro on the same road, VWI by CHADWANG for pour-over coffee and Really Good Seafood on Fuxing South Road, so it is easy to eat and drink well without travelling far. For sightseeing, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the original Din Tai Fung are a short ride away.
At No. 56, Section 1, Da'an Road, in the Da'an District of the East District.
The architect Ray Chen.
Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00.
Yes, the hotel has an outdoor pool.
Yes, the East End bar on the third floor has an outdoor terrace, and L'Idiot is the on-site restaurant.
Zhongxiao Fuxing Station is listed as nearby.
It is a member of Design Hotels and can be booked through Marriott Bonvoy.
It suits couples and adult travellers best, though families can stay.
Restaurant
A three-Michelin-star Cantonese restaurant on the 17th floor of the Palais de Chine Hotel, known for roast duck, Peking duck and refined dim sum.
Thing to do
Taipei's best-known night market spreads through the lanes of Shilin, combining a large food court with street snack stalls and clothes shops.
Café
The Huashan flagship of Simple Kaffa, the speciality coffee company founded by 2016 World Barista Champion Wu Tse-lin.
Attraction
The observation floors of Taipei 101, the 508-metre Xinyi tower, offer views across the Taipei Basin and a close look at its giant tuned mass damper.