Shilin Night Market

Shilin Night Market is often described as the largest and most famous night market in Taiwan, and for many visitors it is the first taste of Taipei after dark. Its roots go back to the daytime Shilin Market, established in 1909 and inaugurated in 1913; as crowds came, food vendors and other businesses followed, and the night market grew around it. Today it fills a grid of streets in the Shilin District each evening.

The market has two main parts. One spreads through the streets and alleys around the old Yangming Theatre towards Chicheng Temple on Danan Road, packed with snack stands and shops selling clothing and accessories. The other is a centralised food court in the rebuilt Shilin Market building. The original market hall was demolished in October 2002 over safety and sanitation concerns, vendors moved to a temporary site beside Jiantan Station, and the renovated market reopened in 2011 with hundreds of stalls in its food court.

Food is the main event. The tourism office lists oyster omelettes, stir-fried cuttlefish, sausage wrapped in glutinous rice, herbal-stewed ribs, Shanghai-style buns, scallion pancakes, shaved ice and huge fried chicken cutlets among the local specialities, and you will also find stinky tofu, grilled king oyster mushrooms, papaya milk, bubble tea and lemon aiyu jelly. The best approach is to share: buy small portions from several stalls and graze as you walk, rather than sitting down for one big meal.

The market comes alive from late afternoon, and the tourism office lists hours from 16:00 to midnight. Early evening, around opening time, is less crowded, while weekends after dark are packed. Bring cash in small notes, which makes buying from stalls quicker, carry tissues or wet wipes, and keep bags in front of you in the thickest crowds. Bargaining is normal in the clothing and accessory shops, though not for food. Allow at least two hours. It suits budget travellers, families and anyone who enjoys street food, but it is not ideal if you dislike crowds.

The nearest MRT station is Jiantan on the Tamsui-Xinyi (Red) Line, close to the market streets. The National Palace Museum is in the same district, so it is easy to spend the afternoon among its galleries and then head to the market for dinner.