I recently had the opportunity to visit Taiwan with a tour group. Having never been, I was super excited and am thrilled to say I had the best time. While most people who visit China never take the time to get off the mainland and go to Taiwan, it is definitely worth a visit. There is much to do, see, taste and enjoy. And as the Taiwanese like to say: “The most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is the people” which, although many don’t speak English, is actually true. I found everyone to be incredibly kind, and even made a few friends! Here are some highlights and recommendations:

Where to Stay: We stayed at the Howard Plaza Hotel which is in the Daan district, the modern commercial district. In other words, it’s the area with lots of shops, restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The Howard has 10 restaurants so if you are too tired to go out you can eat at the hotel. Dining Traveler Tip: Stay on the top floor and you will be treated to a complimentary happy hour every night in the Rosewood Lounge from 5:30-7:30. Drinks and a buffet of snacks are limitless.
What to Do: There is a great deal to see and do in Taipei, but here are the not-to-be-missed places to visit:
• National Palace Museum: This is one of the top ten most visited museums in the world. It is a massive, beautiful building, housing epic pieces of Chinese Art. Most notable is the jade art collection, a much-revered stone in the Chinese culture.
• National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: Taiwanese history is incredibly interesting, and this memorial is dedicated to the most famous Chinese president of Taiwan, who served as president from 1928 until 1975.

• Eslite Spectrum Songyan: This upscale building is located in the most modern part of the city. Peruse the bookstore, shop for knickknacks in the Asian design stores, sample tea in the elegant tea shop, or grab a glass of wine and dessert in the chic First Restaurant on the top floor.

Where to Eat: Ah the most exciting part. the most popular types of food available in Taiwan include classic Chinese fare, Japanese food as result of the Japanese occupation from 1895-1945, and Taiwanese food, a combination of Chinese and Japanese flavors and ingredients. Wherever you go, expect to be served tea throughout your meal. No matter what kind of cuisine, tea is an important element of dining in Taiwan.
• For Taiwanese fare, head to Shin Yeh Restaurant: Start with an order of the pan-fried turnip cakes. They are crispy little omelets which are the perfect opener to your meal. Next share the braised tofu, pan-fried mushrooms, and sauteed greens with your dining partners. The tofu is served in a savory sauce with veggies, and the mushrooms dish features amazing, chewy nuggets of shiitake mushrooms cooked with garlic, ginger, star anise, soy sauce, and lemongrass.

• For classic Chinese dumplings, visit DinTaiFung Dumpling House: This dumpling house actually has a Michelin star, which is pretty remarkable. The venue is casual, fun, and always crowded with a constant flow of dumplings coming to all the tables. Sample steamed veggie buns, taro buns, mushroom dumplings, noodles served in a sesame and peanut sauce, and more. No matter what kind of dumpling you want, they will have it. Wash down your food with some Taiwanese beer and this will be one of your best meals in Taipei.

• For Japanese food, check out Yu Shan Ge Restaurant: You can choose from several different set menus, the best being the Japanese curry pot menu. The tasting menu opens with salad and includes sticky rice and soup, but the real highlight is the curry pot. A fondue pot with its own burner is placed before you, filled to the brim with a silk, delicious milk-curry broth. Next, you are brought a huge bowl of vegetables, rice, and tofu which you then cook in your curry pot. It is fun, interactive, and delectable.  The restaurant is pristine and elegant, with wonderful service.

Nightlife: Sure, there are bars, but what you really want to do at night is visit what Taipei is famous for: The night markets! There are two night markets I would recommend: the first is the Raohe Night Market, which is one of the oldest night markets in Taipei. It features stall after stall of local treats like cups of fresh fruit, crispy cookies, okonomiyaki, which are Japanese omelets, fried dumplings, and nougat bars. There are items like bags and shoes and umbrellas and candy and pretty much anything else your heart could desire for sale. This night market is also interesting because there is a Taiwanese temple at the entrance, which anyone can enter. Taiwanese temples are beautiful, with lots of gold and color and floral decorations. The second market I would recommend is the Shilin Night Market, the biggest one in Taipei. This night market is HUGE with rows and rows of different vendors and even an underground food court, where you will find the bizarrest food you have ever seen. Open containers are allowed in Taipei, so grab a beer and stroll the streets of the shilin night market for hours. There is no better way to soak up the Taiwanese culture than to hang out with locals at a night market.

The Verdict: Taipei is a fun, vibrant city with a thriving tourist industry. You can easily spend three or four days in the city eating, drinking, and sightseeing.

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Although the W Hotel brand is known for its nightlife, I decided to head to W Taipei Yen Bar for afternoon tea after spending the morning at the National Palace Museum.   When I arrived at Yen, I was smitten with the design, plush chairs, delicate glass fixtures, and boom! there it was, Taipei 101 staring back at me as I sat at my window booth.

Although the experience is labeled as “afternoon tea,” I was told about the extensive cocktail list and their variety of mojitos (the bartender, Jacky, told me they can make 100 variations!).  Needless so say, I went straight for the cocktails! I had a gorgeous mojito with Ti Kuan Yin, a traditional Taiwanese tea.  The blend of the bitterness of the tea, mint, rum, and simple syrup  sounds chaotic but went down like a beautiful melody.  Cocktails were paired with an intricate tower resembling Taipei 101.  It was a collection of sweet and savory treats.  When I went to bite into a sweet sesame ball, I noticed a hair.  I immediately called the server over, and he was horrified.  He notified the manager who took the time to apologize and send me a beautiful set of creme-filled sweet buns dusted with chocolate.  What I truly admire about an establishment is how they bounce back from embarrassing situations of this kind.  Although it was an unfortunate incident, the grace in which the management handled it reiterated the professionalism of their staff. 

I appreciated how the bartenders, Farrah and Jacky, took the time to chat with me and give tips about Taipei.  I visited the bar by myself (the perils of solo travel) and enjoyed how they made me feel at home in their space.  If you are in Taipei, make sure to add tea time at the W Taipei Yen Bar to your itinerary. Tip: tea time is way less crowded than their evening service. You won’t have to share the view with that many people, and the staff has the time to craft you the perfect cocktail.  Not only do you get the view but great service and cocktails as well. Reservations highly recommended.

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Day 1: I arrived late morning, checked into the Mandarin Oriental Taipei and had a long lunch at their Ya Ge restaurant.  As I lunched with the PR Manager, Luanne, I asked her for tips on what to see and where to eat. So many places to experience and savor during 72 hours in Taipei. These were my highlights:

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated with electronics. When I read there was a market exclusively dedicated to this, I made it my first stop.  When I entered the Guang Hua Digital Plaza, my inner six year old beamed with joy.  It was a Best Buy on steroids.  As you enter it is digital sensory overload with small shops lined with computers, cameras, mobile phones, and everything in-between.  This is a 5-story indoor market with every electronic piece and accessory imaginable.   I did not find the prices much cheaper than the US (expect 5-10% less for most items) however, what struck me was the variety.  I was not in the lookout for electronics, but I was taken with the selection of accessories.  Mobile phone cases, selfie sticks, camera cases/straps were made in creative designs from super kitsch to modern.  I walked away with a cute leather and fabric camera strap for $12.

All this shopping sparked my appetite so I headed to one of the most popular night markets, Raohe Night Market.  Entering the market was a sensory explosion too.  The scent of the stinky Tofu, the masses of people eating and shopping, music, vendors using their microphones hosting demonstrations, bright fruits lined up to be made smoothies, cooked chicken feet, and crab which had recently met its fate at the market.  I ended up going for the crab smothered in chili sauce and a papaya smoothie for desert. I ended my excursion with an hour foot massage for $10. By that time it was almost 1am!

Day 2:  Had a lazy morning with a champagne brunch at the hotel (tip: take a few minutes to do a cost analysis of paying for a club level room, you may break even with perks such as inclusive breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails). By noon, I was ready to explore.  At the recommendation of a few friends, I headed to Aquatic Addiction, an upscale fish food hall.  I walked there from the hotel through the residential neighborhoods and caught a glimpse of life in Taipei.  What I really appreciate about the city is how cosmopolitan it is without losing its culture.  When I arrived at Aquatic Addition it was very busy with mostly locals indulging in their Saturday lunch.  Picture a fish market, Whole Foods, William Sonoma, and a wine bar all rolled into one.  Most food stands were overly crowded, however, I was able to get a seat at a wine bar and enjoy some bites with a few glasses of wine.

I walked back to the hotel and indulged in another glass of champagne and planned my evening.  Although a tourist-heavy attraction, I really wanted to go to Taipei 101.  Now the 6^th largest building in the world, it is a must-see while in the city.  When I arrived around 8pm, I got my ticket (around $12USD) and waited around 30 minutes in line to catch the elevator to the top floor.  It was worth it!  The views are spectacular with the bright lights of the city.  I had one of the specialties at the top: a mango sorbet beer float.  The sweetness of the mango with the sour beer was a pleasant surprise.  Will definitely try this on a hot DC night.

After the Taipei 101 experience, I went for a walk at its adjoining mall, populated with luxury shops such as Dior, Ferragamo, and Louis Vuitton to cater to the 1% of Taiwan.  I entered few of the shops but the items were at an extreme markup. Tip: for European luxury goods, best bet is to buy a ticket to EU and use the VAT exchange, you get a trip, the goods, and the experience at almost the same price!  After the sticker shock, I went for a walk in the shopping area of vicinity. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from.

Day 3:  Champagne breakfast… again! This time I changed it up with breakfast at the lounge with green tea pancakes and a crab egg white omelet.  Then I took a metro/bus journey to the National Palace Museum.  The metro and bus were impeccable in terms of time, price, and service.  There are plenty of people around who speak English available to help.  The National Palace Museum is another must-see.  Make sure to block at least five hours to experience it.  What makes this museum interesting is that it’s the largest collection of ancient Chinese art in the world.  During the cultural revolution of China, many ancient artifacts were destroyed.  Thankfully, many items made its way to Taiwan and are now showcased in the museum.  You can see a wide spectrum of art from calligraphy to sculptures, some as 1000 years old.

After experiencing the main museum, I discovered a hidden café which catered more to the employees of the adjoining government buildings.  There, I had a delicious beef noodle soup, (here’s a recipe if you’re interested in replicating at home) and took a little break before trying to get the most out of my last 24 hours in Taipei.  I spent a little too long taking photos in the beautiful garden, so I was running late to my tea reservation at the W Hotel Taipei (hotel high teas are quite popular throughout Asia).  Taxis are also very cheap and convenient to take in Taipei, 50% of my transportation that weekend was done via taxi.

At the W Hotel it was a lively festive mood on a Sunday afternoon.  I headed to their YEN Bar for afternoon tea and the first thing I noticed was the epic view of Taipei 101.  Although I did not have hot tea I did indulge in delicious tea-based cocktails (full review coming soon) such as jasmine tea mojito and a merge of western and Asian snacks placed on a tower resembling the iconic building which it faces.

Last activity of the trip:  the Shilin Night Market.  The Raohe night market was definitely more of a food market as Shilin felt more like a shopping experience.  Tons of clothing stores with electronics in the mix.  However, don’t worry, there’s still food!  The scent of the stinky tofu hijacks all the other food offerings at the market, however, there’s plenty to choose from.

The verdict: could I have done more with my 72 hours in Taipei? Yes, however, after an intense trip, I wanted to relax a little while taking in new a culture and cuisine. I did just that during the trip.  Most importantly, the trip planted a seed to return not only to the city but to discover the beaches and the mountains this beautiful island has to offer. Hopefully next time, I will spend more than 72 hours in Taipei.  Have you been? What should I add on my list for the next time?

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