by Le Concierge Orient
discovering taiwan through its famed
hospitality addresses in
taipei, tainan and kaosiung
Taiwan has long been a popular travel destination with a healthy balance of classy and earthy attractions. It is the spot to visit for boisterous night markets and sizzling street eats but the island also comes with a bevy of upmarket retreats one can disappear into when desired. As luxury hospitality developments crescendo into an accelerated pace with many new openings expected over the next two years, we speak to some key decision makers from Taiwan on what is driving the rise in tourism and optimism on the Treasure Island, as well as discover the best hotels and restaurants there.
For years now tourists have enthusiastically poured into the rowdy streets and trendy avenues of Taipei with good eats and great shopping on their minds. The destination practically sells by itself as the bastion of Chinese popular culture via the film, music and entertainment industry the island is so famous for. The city is both an escapade and a touchstone for the knowing wayfarer — there is a gritty glamour in the polished side of town where celebrities and the well-heeled stake out and there are also the olden districts and vernacular neighbourhoods harbouring local-cherished dining experiences well worth a trip for. For the longest time this spectrum of leisure attractions within its capital city defined a trip to Taiwan, but new expansions are expected over the horizon.
Taipei, Taiwan
Almost furtively, developments within Taipei and other Taiwanese cities like Tainan and Kaohsiung are changing the dynamics of the tourism industry for the island. Whereas in the past one would be content to stay put in Taipei for its kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, increasingly visitors are spilling out onto the other parts of the island where the attractions are more local and unique in nature.
At the heart of this progression are the hospitality operators who saw the potential in these destinations before the masses started their treks towards them. One such operator is the Silks Hotel Group (formerly FIH Regent Group). Founded in 1990, the group owns and operates the international luxury hotel Regent Taipei and five diverse hotel brands in various parts of the region. Veteran hotelier Steven Pan, Executive Chairman of the group, shares some insights on the impetus of growth for the sector in Taiwan.
“My optimism in Taiwan’s hospitality sector stems from several key factors including the resilience of our economy and the government’s proactive measures to boost tourism, including infrastructure improvements and strategic marketing campaigns. We now see a steady influx of visitors from regional markets like Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia because Taiwan offers a rich tapestry of attractions that appeal to a diverse range of travellers,” he says.
“The island’s natural beauty, from its lush mountains to stunning coastlines and vibrant cities offer a unique blend of experiences. Recently we have observed that there is a rising trend for bleisure travel – the practice of extending business trips for relaxation that is helping us leverage Taiwan’s growing status as a business hub to boost international tourism.”
Aaron Chan, Chairman of Riant Capital, the venture outfit that is raising a spanking new spire housing the impending Park Hyatt and Andaz in the heart of Taipei’s Xinyi District, concurs.
“I’m optimistic about Taiwan’s luxury hospitality sector due to the lack of high-end products at present. This gap, combined with rising demand for luxury experiences, positions Taiwan as an emerging destination with strong growth potential. Park Hyatt Taipei and Andaz Taipei are some exciting developments at The Sky Taipei that will cater to the diverse tastes within the high-end market. When it opens, it will introduce a completely new lifestyle concept to both the locals and visitors to Taipei,” says Chan.
“Taiwan’s main attractions, its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and vibrant city life, are highly congruous with luxury hospitality. These elements provide a unique blend of authenticity and sophistication that aligns perfectly with the expectations of luxury travellers today.”
Riant Capital also recently announced that it will be raising an intimate Capella Resort at the island’s remote Kenting location a few years down the road. The Capella Taipei will however precede the Kenting opening in January 2025. Cristiano Rinaldi, president of the Capella Group, explains the move: “The decision to operate two Capella hotels in Taiwan is a strategic, long-term move that reflects Capella’s commitment to establishing a strong presence in Asia and to tap into the region’s potential.”
He adds: “These two properties are meticulously designed to complement each other: Taipei serves as the sophisticated gateway, while Kenting offers a deeply immersive, hyperlocal experience that’s distinctly Capella.”
Likewise, IHG is another operator that is optimistic about developments in Taiwan. The group comprising luxury and lifestyle hotel brands like Regent, Indigo and Six Senses, is however exercising caution even as it is anticipating to double its portfolio over the next 2-3 years with openings on various tiers that will also introduce new brands to the Taiwanese market. It currently has 14 hotels in its portfolio across cities like Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung.
“The significant growth in the luxury and lifestyle portfolio of IHG in Taiwan is derived from our confidence in the mid and long-term potential of the island, as well as the global demand growth for these hotel styles and tiers. Still, we are exercising caution as Taipei has seen a comparatively lower number of luxury hotels compared to the other regional destinations. The competition in the ultra-luxury segment will be significant, requiring a strong positioning and marketing of the destination to drive incremental traffic,” shares Robbert Manussen, IHG’s area general manager for Taiwan.
Ambitious plans and optimism aside, no commercial ventures can be taken without risks and much remains to be seen if Taiwan will indeed evolve into the luxury bastion it currently aspires to. In the meantime, for a fabulous week around Treasure Island’s diverse destinations, here are some of the best hotels and restaurants in Taiwan one simply should not miss.
The Launchpads, Taipei
Capella Taipei
Capella Taipei is a contemporary mansion overflowing with familiar luxuries. The gist of playing house in such a resplendent mansion is of course to get acquainted with the neighbourhood and Capella Taipei is taking local exploration fairly seriously. Culturists will be delighted to show guests the heritage precincts around the city, for example strolling down Dihua Street, Taipei’s famed Chinese New Year market widely considered to be the city’s oldest street, to understanding its history and attractions.
Closer to home would be the Songshan district, one part charming old residential enclave and one part rising commercial heart. And if the stars are aligned, General Manager Dennis Laubenstein may even play guide on a walking tour through the quaint streets harbouring surprising cafes, tranquil parks and retail boutiques old and new, all part of the charming patchwork of social fabric in this relatively unexplored neighbourhood in Taipei.
Capella Taipei, No. 139 Dunhua North Road, Songshan District, Taipei 105021
Grand Hyatt Taipei
The grand dame of luxury hotels in Taipei, Grand Hyatt Taipei is a storied institution within Taipei that is still the preferred spot for celebrities and dignitaries to host their soirees and celebrations despite holding on to the dubious distinction as one of the most haunted hotels in the world. The hotel is massive even by Grant Hyatt standards — 850 rooms and suites are installed with signature Xinyi district vistas and milieu, and eight restaurants and bars offer guests a wide variety of posh dining experiences. The laksa and bak kut teh we sampled at Cheers are indeed deserving of their good reputation.
Planted right next to the iconic Taipei 101 and World Trade Center places it in an unbeatable locale right in the thick of the action, which accounts significantly for the unceasing popularity of this splendid hotel. The Grand Executive 101 Suites boast of the best views in the complex; they point to the striking 101 landmark and command alluring vistas (especially from the bathtub) of the surprisingly verdant surroundings of the property.
Grand Hyatt Taipei, 2 SongShou Road, Taipei, Taiwan, 110061
The Regent Taipei
Another grande dame of the city, The Regent Taipei holds court within the Zhongshan district, one of the earliest enclaves for luxury retail within the city. Proffering 538 rooms and suites, this classically furnished hotel’s recent claim to fame was its role as a backdrop in the Luc Besson movie Lucy, which saw the title character played by Scarlett Johanssen dragged in and swaggering out of its confines in style.
Nostalgia is a good reason to visit and revisit the property, and with eight restaurants and watering holes, a sumptuous spa plus floors of luxury retail outlets under one roof, the hotel is practically a self-contained destination. Classicism isn’t going to be a favourite trend for Taipei moving forward, but the alluring accents at The Regent Taipei will still work its magic in the city so attuned to sentimentality.
The Regent Taipei, No. 3, Ln. 39, Sec. 2 Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei 104, Taiwan
Episode Taipei Daan
A modish young thing staking out at one of the city’s oldest, and richest, neighbourhoods, Episode Daan is quite the antithesis of what the olden establishments of the city stand for — the rooms are smallish, the hotel operates no restaurant of its own, and service is kept to a ‘call when necessary’ mode. This calibration is also an apt fit for the modern notions of ‘scaled-down luxury’, a fuss-free, comfortable venue that is posh without being boring.
With views that are reflective of its somewhat downcast neighbourhood, a sunken tub and shower installed at the balconies of its Balcony Deluxes make for highly Instagrammable moments indispensable to the new age of travellers.
Episode Daan Taipei, No. 219-2, Sec. 1, Fuxing S. Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan
Just Sleep Ximending
Ximending is one of Taipei’s most popular tourist districts with attractions that are more mass than upmarket. Still well worth a visit for an initiation into a vernacular Taipei neighbourhood, Just Sleep Ximending is one of the best perches to set up camp within the vicinity both for its proximity and the comfort it offers for its class of accommodation.
Thoroughly renovated to keep up with the times, the rooms at this inn are sprightly and cheerful, and reflect the boisterous neighbourhood with commissioned artworks and colourful accents. Even as a lifestyle hotel straddling between genres, the services rendered here are remarkably poised and effective.
Just Sleep Ximending, 5F, No. 41, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd., Taipei 10042, Taiwan
The Restaurants
Silks House (The Regent Taipei)
One of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Taipei, Silks House serves authentic and delicious Cantonese cuisine amidst an elegant setting befitting a Regent establishment. The roasts here are particularly scrumptious, as are the dim sums and double-boiled soups that have been refined for fastidious palates more accustomed to the rigours of fine dining.
Silks House, The Regent Taipei, No. 3, Ln. 39, Sec. 2 Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei 104, Taiwan
Azie (The Regent Taipei)
Taiwanese beef noodle is a signature dish visitors often relish in Taipei and if you are rather reluctant to brave the crowded streets for this comforting heritage nosh, Azie has formulated two award winning versions of the soup noodle dish, one featuring a light broth and the other a heftier braised one, that cater to varying preferences for the dish. An extensive menu featuring Italian pastas and Asian dishes like laksa and chicken rice is also available.
Azie, The Regent Taipei, No. 3, Ln. 39, Sec. 2 Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei 104, Taiwan
Yun Jin (Grand Hyatt Taipei)
Regional Chinese cuisines in Taipei isn’t yet a staple but is fast catching on across its fine dining plane where restaurants like Yun Jin, known for its comforting and authentic dishes curated from Yunnan, Szechuan and Beijing with a soupcon of flair. Think meats, seafood, fish and dumplings stuffed with cod fish, with more than a tinge of spices and copious amount of chilli oil and that pretty much sums up the delicious highlights here.
Yun Jin, Grand Hyatt Taipei, 2 SongShou Road, Taipei, Taiwan, 110061
Bel Air Bar & Grill (Grand Hyatt Taipei)
A refined steakhouse that hearkens to the days of classical fanfares and frequent celebrity sightings, Bel Air Bar and Grill has seen more glamorous days but is still a solid culinary address that takes its tartares and tenderloins seriously. The restaurant features its own marble fountain and natural skylight and there is a renowned “Proposal Table” by the said fountain that has over the long years sealed many a love deal.
Bel Air Bar and Grill, Grand Hyatt Taipei, 2 SongShou Road, Taipei, Taiwan, 110061
Yilan
Hotel
Wellspring by Silks Yilan
Raised as an intimate retreat featuring rooms and suites with private tubs within the Yilan hot spring enclave, Wellspring by Silks Yilan is a relaxing escapade into the bucolic Taiwanese countryside where old facades and traditional ways persist. Attached to its hip is the more family oriented Just Sleep Yilan which features a sizeable rooftop pool fed by thermal waters. The surrounding area showcases the old markets of Shuangxi, with morning scenes that really take one back. A short distance off the resort is the Yilan coast of east Taiwan where visitors can plan dive expeditions and beach excursions, primary island allures that allude the more urban parts of Taiwan.
Wellspring by Sllks Yilan, No.67, Wenquan Rd., Jiaoxi Township, Yilan Country 262, Taiwan
Tainan
Silks Place Tainan
Tainan, raised as the olden capital of the island, is often regarded as the cultural bastion of Taiwan. Folks head here for its temples and museums and in its midst, those more attuned to elegance and comfort will find the posh Silks Place Tainan the most suitable address to inhabit over the duration of their visit. Indeed the rooms and suites here are spacious and regally designed, with facets of scholastic refinements etched into their aspects. Bigger suites come with Japanese style sitting areas, which is no doubt a reference to the island’s penchant for all things Japanese as well as the historical links the two entities share. The central location of the hotel also makes for easy excursions to the nearby attractions, which the knowing, helpful staff will no doubt help to plan and stage.
Silks Place Tainan, No. 1, He Yi Rd., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
Just Sleep Hushan
Hushan is a new destination of Tainan that is somewhat removed from the old district and attractions. This is where the 10-drum Cultural Center (a converted sugar factory) and Chi Mei Museum — which houses the largest violin collection in the world — lend an artsy, cultivated air to this locale where old ways collide with new things. One of the new things here is Just Sleep Hushan, a lifestyle hotel that celebrates the said collision with many artefacts and accents curated from the precincts. The rooms here are zesty, modern and comfortable, the restaurant serves comforting nosh, and the hotel is altogether a great launchpad for one to explore the attractions and nostalgic appeal of the neighbourhood.
Just Sleep Hushan, No. 300, Sec. 2, Wenhua Rd., Rende Dist., Tainan City 717015 Taiwan
Restaurants
Robin’s Grill (Silks Place Tainan)
A sitting at Robin’s Grill is all the proof one needs that Taiwan has been nursing a predilection for Japanese Ryori for a while now and has finally come unto its own with its intrinsic versions of the cuisine. Teppanyaki, for example, is relished even in Tainan with fondness and the standards of execution and delivery at Robin’s Grill is high, as a sitting at the bar will showcase. The grill master here is capable of coaxing flavours and tempering textures from a variety of difficult seasonal produce, such as abalones and geoducks, and it is a joy to watch both his concentration and ease as he showcases his mettle right before the diners. Presentation takes centre stage here and is wrought through exacting technicalities and uncommon finesse.
Robin’s Grill, Silks Place Tainan, No. 1, He Yi Rd., West Central Dist., Tainan City 700, Taiwan
Kaohsiung
The Launchpads
Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung Central Park
Kaohsiung as a tourist attraction is lagging behind the other high-profile destinations in Taiwan principally due to its lack of unique attractions and character. The city draws in a sizeable business crowd though, and from time to time out-of-towners will flow in to catch the concerts at its National Stadium, which has hosted international acts like Coldplay, Blackpink and Bruno Mars. In this respect, Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung, true to its branding, presents itself as a purveyor of all things local, from its street-styled decor to the renderings of the city etched into all its rooms and suites. The views from some rooms vividly capture the essence of the city, with colourful buildings screaming for attention in a patchwork of urban gloom, as well as vast swathes of greens from the nearby park.
The King Premium comes with a plush bathtub drenched with views and that is the room to inhabit on a visit here. There is a restaurant experimenting with local-international culinary alchemy on the ground floor, and the rooftop bar Pier No. 1 is currently the hotspot in cool-chasing Kaohsiung.
Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung Central Park, No. 4 Zhongshan 1st Road, Xinxing District Kaohsiung, Taiwan
InterContinental Kaohsiung
A business hotel through and through, InterContinental Kaohsiung is a newish establishment catering to a largely business crowd with functionality and classical appeal. That being said, as the international entrant with the highest average daily rate (ADR) to date, most visitors to the city can find themselves rather drawn to the comforts of the hotel, especially its roomy accommodations and five restaurants and bars that sets it apart from the other establishments in the neighbourhood. Some of the rooms point towards the city but many overlook the Kaohsiung harbour. Though the tourism landscape is ever morphing, it will probably take a bit of time before something heftier and glitzier comes along and dethrones this Intercontinental from the city’s top spot.
InterContinental Kaohsiung, No. 33, Singuang Rd, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 806
Silks Club Kaohsiung
By conception and design Silks Club Kaohsiung should find itself in pole position in the city’s top league — not many hotels have rooms and suites that are decked with such fine materials and accents like the ones here, and even less can boast of a lobby invested with a kinetic sculpture by the German firm Art + Com Studios (the same outfit behind Singapore Changi Airport’s famed Kinetic Rain installation). There is so much potential to this property but the provincial reverberations may not be for everyone — some of the rooms and open areas are embellished with overly flamboyant art and details, while service on the whole can be better aligned with international 5-star expectations here.
Silks Club Kaohsiung, No 199 Zhongshan 2nd Rd. Qianzhen Dist. Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Restaurants
UKAI Tei (Silks Club Kaohsiung)
UKAI Tei is a successful chain of upmarket restaurants based in Tokyo and there are two overseas offshoots in Taipei and Kaohsiung. In the latter city, UKAI Tei serves both teppanyaki and seasonal cuisines, and we sampled the former with relish. Installed with Japanese chefs at the teppanyaki bar counters, the standard delivered here did not disappoint with fresh premium ingredients like wagyu steak and live abalone, sizzled to perfection before the diner. With uncommon mastery over techniques and presentation, a sitting here somewhat transports one to the sophisticated teppanyaki parlours of downtown Tokyo.
UKAI Tei, Silks Club Kaohsiung, No 199 Zhongshan 2nd Rd. Qianzhen Dist. Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Zhan Lu (InterContinental Kaohsiung)
Aficionados of fine dining Chinese fare will be hard pressed for sterling representations of the cuisine so far down south in Taiwan, where earthy street eats constitute much of the city’s gourmet allures, but at Zhan Lu, one can still get that craving for traditional roasts and comforting dim sum satisfied over a sitting with friends. The Peking duck here is the restaurant’s signature offering, as are some other perennial favourites from its fish and seafood section updated for modern palates.
Zhan Lu, InterContinental Kaohsiung, No. 33, Singuang Rd, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 806
HAWKER Restaurant (InterContinental Kaohsiung)
Ever so frequently, a traveller from Southeast Asia might crave a little flavour from home whilst away from home, and it is over such moments that he’d be happy to learn that regional signatures have become something of a popular genre in Taiwan, popular enough to have an entire restaurant dedicated to laksa, carrot cake and chicken rice even in the the port city of Kaohsiung down south. A diehard Singaporean might confess that the flavours are not authentic enough, but a representation that is so sincerely and seriously wrought at the elegantly raised Hawker — which boasts interiors infused with Nanyang aesthetics — can even bring about a tear of appreciation from someone after a long spell from home.
Hawker, InterContinental Kaohsiung, No. 33, Singuang Rd, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 806
