{"id":1205,"date":"2015-04-16T02:35:14","date_gmt":"2015-04-16T02:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=1205"},"modified":"2015-04-16T02:35:14","modified_gmt":"2015-04-16T02:35:14","slug":"mandarin-oriental-taipei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2015\/04\/mandarin-oriental-taipei.html","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Luxury: Mandarin Oriental Taipei"},"content":{"rendered":"
After six long weeks of working in Okinawa<\/a>, I was ready for a getaway. \u00a0I was looking for a destination close to Japan and chose Taipei since I have been wanting to go there for a while. \u00a0I was also looking for a luxurious experience and I found it at The Mandarin Oriental Taipei<\/a>. The hotel opened its doors less than a year ago and it has soon become the place for travelers throughout Asia and beyond come to experience the ultimate luxury. I preface this post by stating that a. this experience was not sponsored (I’m eating sandwiches all month) and b. I tried to look for points of improvement to be objective but was unsuccessful<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0So this is all about my rainbow and unicorns experience:<\/p>\n The Hotel:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 When you arrive to\u00a0the Mandarin Oriental Taipei, you are taken to a side street where the entrance is located. \u00a0The staff says this is done to preserve the privacy of their guests.\u00a0\u00a0Upon arrival,\u00a0 you are welcomed by dapper bellmen who already know your name and enter a magical room topped with layers of glimmering Czech crystal. \u00a0After check-in I was accompanied by the receptionist to receive a tour of my room and answer any questions about the hotel and amenities.<\/p>\n The Room:<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0I stayed in a club room on the 17th floor of the hotel with a beautiful view of Dunhua Rd. \u00a0One of the things that I loved about Taipei upon descending into the city is how green it is. \u00a0Dunhua Rd is lined with large green trees making it an oasis in a busy city. \u00a0The room is large and plush. As much as I want to dive into the city and explore, the comfortable bed, natural light, and relaxing tub seem to draw me in. \u00a0It is apparent the theme of the hotel is details. \u00a0You can also see this in the room from fresh orchids, \u00a0carved leather headboards, and Diptyque Paris toiletries. \u00a0I slept like a baby in the plush bed and the light controls of the blinds are perfect if you are jetlagged and need a mid day nap.<\/p>\n The Food:<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0For the sake of brevity I will be posting a blog exclusively about the culinary offerings of the Mandarin Oriental Taipei in the near future but for now I will share a brief summary. \u00a0I began with lunch at Ya Ge<\/a>, a Cantonese restaurant with a modern twist. \u00a0The menu walks the line between traditional and experimental. \u00a0One of the highlights of the meal was a egg\u00a0white, crab, and truffle steamed dumpling. \u00a0The melange of flavors fell beautifully on the palate. \u00a0For breakfast I took turns between\u00a0the Club Lounge and Un Deux\u00a0Trois. \u00a0Although I loved tea time at the Club Lounge with foie gras filled waffles, I preferred the breakfast experience at Un Deux Trois. \u00a0The breakfast has a buffet lined with local fruit and pastries and you can also order a la carte. \u00a0The a la carte menu has both traditional Chinese items and western breakfast staples such as eggs Benedict. \u00a0I enjoyed eating dim sum for breakfast with Ruinart Champagne which is included in the breakfast.<\/p>\n The Experience:<\/strong> <\/em>\u00a0The hotel is not just a hotel but an experience for out of town guests and locals alike: you can see stylish locals indulging in guava macaroons at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei Cake shop. \u00a0The shop executive chef is world pastry champion\u00a0Frank Haasnoot and he has merged flavors from around the world to make perfect confections. \u00a0The hotel is also tied to a luxury shopping area lined with designer shops to augment your luxury experience. \u00a0Every staff member seems to know your name as they greet you upon entering any area in the hotel. \u00a0If I ever wondered how it feels to be a celebrity, this is probably it.<\/p>\n The Service:<\/em><\/strong> I’ve had my share of luxury travel experiences, but I must say my best experiences have been in Asia. \u00a0The customer service is unparalleled. \u00a0After being away from the region for eight years, my opinion was taken to the next level with this experience. \u00a0It’s a place where the staff gets to know you. I enjoyed my chats with Ryan at the Club Lounge where he gave me tips about what to see. \u00a0When I left my passport at the hotel<\/a>, the business center receptionist sat with me to help me find the most efficient way to get home.<\/p>\n The Verdict:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Whether it is the fresh flowers lining the hotel or a receptionist taking the time to write a sightseeing itinerary for you, the hotel’s attention to detail is impeccable. \u00a0Despite the luxury of the decor, the glass chandeliers, or the soft linens, what I will remember the most is the fabulous staff at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei.\u00a0\u00a0A hotel can be fabulous but the people running the show, making the place tidy, and creating the food are what makes it an unforgettable experience. \u00a0What is the most luxurious stay you’ve ever had?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After six long weeks of working in Okinawa, I was ready for a getaway. \u00a0I was looking for a destination close to Japan and chose Taipei since I have been wanting to go there for a while. \u00a0I was also looking for a luxurious experience and I found it at The Mandarin Oriental Taipei. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":1219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,237,2,56,1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1205","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hotel","8":"category-hotel-review","9":"category-travel","10":"category-travel-tip","11":"category-uncategorized"},"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
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