Skip to content

The Public House

Bar · Cocktail bar in a British pub style$$$Da'an, Taipei

A British pub-inspired cocktail bar on Xinyi Road from bartender William Wu, ranked on Asia's 50 Best Bars lists in 2022, 2025 and 2026.

At a glance

Type
Cocktail bar in a British pub style
Area
Da'an, Taipei, Taiwan
Price
$$$ · Upscale
Official site
instagram.com

Good to know

  • Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 (No. 92)
  • Late opening
  • Hand-carved ice

Why we recommend it

The Public House takes the idea of a British pub and turns it into one of Taipei's most respected cocktail bars. It was opened by William Wu, a bartender who previously worked at Le Petite Chambre and Side Bar, and its premise is playful: instead of the warm wine and flat lager of a stereotypical pub, guests get carefully made cocktails served with precision. It debuted on Asia's 50 Best Bars list at No. 68 in 2022, climbed to No. 43 in 2025 and was ranked No. 92 on the extended list in 2026.

The welcome sets the tone. Service traditionally begins with a gin and tonic made in the Ginza style, with hand-carved ice, a small ritual that shows the care taken over every drink. The menu is short and focused, built around five signature cocktails, named Public#1 to Public#5, alongside the classics. If you like to explore, start with one of the signatures and then ask the team for a classic made their way; if you prefer something familiar, the gin and tonic is a fine benchmark for the bar's technique.

The bar is relaxed rather than formal, which suits a pub-inspired concept. It is a good place for couples, small groups of friends and solo drinkers who enjoy watching bartenders at work, and it is lively without being a nightclub. As at most serious cocktail bars, expect to pay more than at a standard pub, with the guide giving an average of around US$12 a cocktail.

According to the guide, the bar opens in the evening from Tuesday to Sunday and stays open until 4am, which makes it one of the more useful late-night options in the city. It is closed on Mondays. At weekends, arrive earlier in the evening for the best chance of a seat, or check the bar's Instagram for the latest information and any booking arrangements. Allow at least an hour to try two or three drinks.

The Public House is on Section 4 of Xinyi Road in the Da'an District. It works well as a final stop after dinner in Da'an, for example at Really Good Seafood or Little Tree Food, or after an evening on Elephant Mountain and in Xinyi. Taxis are easy to find late at night and are the simplest way back to your hotel.

The Public House FAQs

Is The Public House on Asia's 50 Best Bars?

Yes, it debuted at No. 68 in 2022, reached No. 43 in 2025 and was No. 92 in 2026.

Who founded The Public House?

Bartender William Wu, formerly of Le Petite Chambre and Side Bar.

What should you order?

Start with the Ginza-style gin and tonic or one of the five signature cocktails, Public#1 to Public#5.

When is it open?

In the evening from Tuesday to Sunday, until 4am, according to the 50 Best guide.

How much are the cocktails?

The guide gives an average of around US$12 per cocktail.

Where is it?

On Section 4 of Xinyi Road in the Da'an District.

Is it a traditional pub?

No, it is a cocktail bar inspired by British pubs.

How do you get the latest information?

Check the bar's Instagram account, thepublichouse_taipei.

Also in Taipei

Taipei travel guide

Restaurant

Le Palais

Cantonese fine dining$$$$Taipei Main Station (Datong)

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.

Hotel

Mandarin Oriental, Taipei

Luxury hotel$$$$Songshan (Dunhua North Road)

A luxury hotel on Dunhua North Road with a full spa, the Cantonese restaurant Ya Ge and quick access to Songshan Airport.

Thing to do

Shilin Night Market

Night market$Shilin

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

Simple Kaffa Flagship

Specialty coffee$$Zhongzheng

The Huashan flagship of Simple Kaffa, the speciality coffee company founded by 2016 World Barista Champion Wu Tse-lin.