City of tea and terrazzo: the best boutique hotels in Taipei that you’ll definitely want to stay at

With its wellness resorts and winter hotels, Taiwan is a jewel of a place to take a holiday. From properties praised by the likes of Wallpaper* and Forbes to those included in the taste-making Michelin Guide, Taipei has a host of aesthetically pleasing hotels created with design firmly in mind. Influential design firms like Neri&Hu, Mecanoo, and Ray Chen + Partners are attracted to the city’s unique blend of high-tech living and old-world charm. Set out for a day of hunting tiny speakeasies and Japanese vintage stores in winding urban alleyways, safe in the knowledge that you’ll be laying your head to rest in individually crafted accommodation. Without further adieu (and in no particular order), let us introduce you to the best boutique hotels in Taipei.

The best boutique design hotels in Taipei, Taiwan

1. KIMPTON DA AN | Da’an District

Hotel: Kimpton Da An
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Da’an District, near Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station
Rooms: 129 rooms
Style: Contemporary boutique luxury by Neri&Hu, with an urban-alleyway-inspired layout, greenery and a light-filled lobby
Family-friendly: Connecting or larger rooms may suit families; confirm availability and children’s amenities
Wellness: Urban sanctuary atmosphere, rooftop terrace and in-room relaxation
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: The Tavernist, serving creative cuisine influenced by Taiwan’s organic food movement, plus a bar
Best for: Design enthusiasts, couples and travellers who want boutique luxury with convenient MRT access
Prices starting from: Approximately US$200 per night

Designed by Shanghai-based Neri&Hu and pictured above, it’s not surprising that Kimpton Da An was named in Wallpaper*’s 2019 Best Urban Hotel Shortlist.

Tucked around the corner from the main road and just a few steps away from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station, this boutique luxury hotel is as convenient to Taipei’s clean and efficient subway system as it is for car pick up and drop off. Arriving guests are often taken aback at the double-height lobby. Filled with plants and running water, it’s an urban sanctuary.

The hotel boasts 129 rooms spread throughout a hotel layout that takes its cue from the city’s labyrinthine alleyways. Sunlight beams into once-dark corridors through skylights, illuminating them with warmth. Beds are fitted with plush mattresses and luxurious 400 thread count linen, TOTO fixtures, design-led Bolon carpet, and Atelier Bloem bath amenities.

Looking for a hotel that you can cosy up in? Experience Taipei’s iconic skyline and buzzing urban energy from the rooftop terrace or relax morning or night in the cosily fitted out lobby with a quality wake-up coffee or a sleep-inducing nightcap. Restaurant and bar The Tavernist was conceptualised by James Sharman and features tasters from Taiwan’s burgeoning organic food movement.

Click through for details on Kimpton Da An or Book through Booking.com

2. ESLITE HOTEL | Xinyi District

Hotel: Eslite Hotel
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Xinyi District, beside Songshan Cultural & Creative Park
Rooms: 104 rooms, each with a balcony
Style: Contemporary design by Toyo Ito and EHS ArchiLab, incorporating Taiwanese craft, art, terrazzo and traditional brickwork
Family-friendly: Spacious rooms and balconies may suit families; confirm suitable room configurations
Wellness: A calm setting with green views and space to unwind
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: The hotel offers dining options and a lounge; check current restaurant details before booking
Best for: Design lovers, book lovers, culture-focused travellers and creative-industry visitors
Prices starting from: Approximately US$250 per night

A list of the best deign hotels in Taipei would not be complete without this stalwart. From the moment of its conception, Eslite Hotel was destined to attract design aficionados. This luxury accommodation offering is housed in a curvaceous exterior shell crafted by Pritzker-winning Japanese architect Toyo Ito. Once inside the property, guests are surrounded by local design touches.

For the interior, local design firm EHS ArchiLab drew on the legacy of traditional Taiwanese crafts. Innovative terrazzo tile patterns are scattered throughout the bathrooms, reception area, and main lobby. They commissioned master bricklayer Zhan Jingcheng to create a red brick feature wall separating the restaurants. He used patterns commonly seen in Taiwanese farmhouses and mansions of yesteryear. Sculptures and paintings by local artists have pride of place in guest rooms, hallways, and public spaces.

Uniquely, each of the hotel’s 104 rooms has a balconied view that overlooks the historic Songshan Cultural & Creative Park. Once a derelict Japanese-era tobacco factory, the site is today home to the Taiwan Design Research Institute, design library Not Just Library, and an array of exhibition spaces, cafes, and retail outlets dedicated to Taiwan-made design and craft wares.

Read our full review on Eslite Hotel here.

Discover what Eslite Hotel has to offer or Book through Booking.com

3. LES SUITES HOTEL | Songshan District

Hotel: Les Suites Hotel
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Songshan District, near Nanjing Fuxing MRT Station
Rooms: Guestrooms in a boutique hotel established in 2002; confirm the current room count
Style: Minimalist interiors with 1960s-inspired furniture and patterned furnishings
Family-friendly: Suitable for city stays; confirm room capacity and family amenities
Wellness: Lounge access and a breakfast buffet; no dedicated spa is listed in the guide
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: Buffet breakfast and lounge drinks during happy hour
Best for: Business travellers, couples and visitors who value convenient public transport
Prices starting from: Approximately US$120 per night

Launched in 2002, Les Suites Hotel has been delighting guests with a penchant for style for years. Conveniently located just by the Nanjing Fuxing Station, it’s a favourite for both business and leisure travellers.

Rooms blend a minimal aesthetic with artistic additions including 60s-style furniture and patterned furnishings. Head to the lounge for unlimited drinks during Happy Hour and be sure to indulge at the lavish buffet breakfast.

Find out more about Les Suites Hotel or Book through Booking.com

4. HOME HOTEL | Da’an and Xinyi Districts

Hotel: Home Hotel (Da’an and Xinyi branches)
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Da’an and Xinyi districts, depending on the branch
Rooms: Guestrooms across two properties; confirm the current room count for the chosen branch
Style: Taiwanese residential design, with natural wood, earthy colours, locally crafted furnishings and indigenous cultural references
Family-friendly: A comfortable option for city stays; check room capacity and family amenities at each branch
Wellness: Relaxed, home-inspired interiors and occasional arts and cultural events
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: Coffee and locally designed tableware feature in the hotel experience; confirm current on-site dining options
Best for: Design-conscious travellers interested in Taiwanese culture and contemporary local craftsmanship
Prices starting from: Approximately US$120 per night

With two unique branches in bustling Taipei centres, Home Hotel takes its design inspiration from the comforts of a Taiwanese home.

Celebrated interior designer Ted Su transformed a bland office building into a series of fascinating spaces waiting to be discovered inside Home Hotel Xinyi. The font for the room numbers is inspired by Chinese calligraphy strokes, bathroom amenities feature blue and white porcelain, and the colour palette comes from a local traditional parasol: wood and crystalline stone.

Taiwanese indigenous culture is front and centre in Da’an. From the facade of the building to the interior decoration of the rooms, wood and earth tones abound. Custom furniture is spaced in a way that mimics gathering around a life-giving fire, hanging table lamps are inspired by torches, and the door numbers are based on indigenous ways of counting. Home Hotel Da’an was fitted out in a brand new building by Dynasty Design Corporation.

In both hotels, guests will experience the best in Taiwanese design first hand. Your mattress comes from sixty-year-old bedding company Teh Tai, LED fixtures are created by lighting specialists Meta Design, shower products are crafted from tea by boutique beauty brand Cha Tzu Tang, and coffee cups crafted by The Shu’s Pottery.

Home Hotel regularly hosts art events and design projects, from theatre and mixology collaborations to hotel room art exhibitions. Check their website to see if anything is on when you plan to stay.

Find out more about Home Hotel or Book through Booking.com

5. Grand Victoria Hotel | Zhongshan District

Hotel: Grand Victoria Hotel
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Zhongshan District, in the Dazhi area near Jiannan Road MRT Station
Rooms: Guestrooms and suites, including family suite options
Style: Victorian-inspired architecture paired with contemporary comforts and spacious interiors
Family-friendly: Family suites are available, including configurations with additional beds
Wellness: Outdoor swimming pool and opportunities to relax in the landscaped garden
Pool: Yes, an outdoor rooftop-level pool for hotel guests
Dining: Chinese cuisine, steakhouse dining and other restaurant options
Best for: Families, couples and travellers seeking spacious rooms, dining choices and a pool
Prices starting from: Approximately US$140 per night

Blending Victorian architecture with all the mod cons, Grand Victoria Hotel is a beautiful place to call home while staying in Taipei. We love the fact that they have a gorgeous rooftop swimming pool to cool off in on a hot summer day.

When it comes to the rooms and suites, guests can expect comfortable and spacious spaces with a contemporary aesthetic. A selection of restaurants serve everything from Chinese to steak, plus you can’t miss a visit to the stunning garden on the first floor.

Learn more about Grand Victoria Hotel or Book through Booking.com

6. HOTEL PROVERBS | Da’an District

Hotel: Hotel Proverbs Taipei
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Da’an District, near Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station and Taipei’s East District
Rooms: 42 individually designed rooms across five room categories
Style: Contemporary design meets European luxury, with copper, wood, textured leather, silk and distinctive architectural details
Family-friendly: Best suited to couples and adult travellers; confirm room occupancy and family arrangements
Wellness: Rooftop pool and in-room bathing areas designed for relaxation
Pool: Yes, a rooftop swimming pool
Dining: L’IDIOT GRILL&PASTA and EAST END cocktail bar, which has been recognised by Asia’s 50 Best Bars
Best for: Design enthusiasts, couples, foodies and travellers seeking boutique luxury near Taipei’s nightlife
Prices starting from: Approximately US$200 per night

Expertly coiffed inside and out by one of Taiwan’s most influential architects, Ray Chen, Hotel Proverbs combines the best of contemporary hotel trends with classic European luxury.

Despite a dramatically rigid exterior, the architecture incorporates environmentally friendly elements. Mesh screens let in abundant sunlight to ensure the lush indoor landscaping thrives. Warm materials like copper, wood, textured leather, and elegant fabrics like silk contrast dramatically with Medieval iron ceilings and Austrian crystal chandeliers.

While each of the 42 rooms is divided into lounge, sleeping, and bathing sections across five types, the layouts are all completely individual. Quirks, like an Adamsez bathtub in the entrance to one room, are lying in wait to surprise and delight guests. Stay in any room and you’d never experience the same layout twice.

Other facilities include an exquisitely landscaped rooftop swimming pool, premium steak restaurant TK Seafood & Steak, and East End, named among Asia’s 50 Best Bars and Design Hotels™ international cocktail bars.

Read all about Hotel Proverbs or Book through Booking.com

7. HUMBLE BOUTIQUE HOTEL | Zhongshan District

Hotel: Humble Boutique Hotel
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Zhongshan District, near Songjiang Nanjing MRT Station
Rooms: Contemporary guestrooms and suites, including corner rooms and a junior king suite
Style: Sophisticated contemporary interiors, muted colours and understated luxury designed by AB Concept
Family-friendly: Twin rooms may suit small families, subject to occupancy limits; confirm children’s facilities
Wellness: Indoor heated swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna and steam room
Pool: Yes, an indoor heated pool
Dining: An on-site restaurant serving a selection of health-conscious dishes
Best for: Design lovers, couples and travellers who prioritise fitness and wellness facilities
Prices starting from: Approximately US$180 per night

Designed by AB Concept, this boutique hotel in Taipei is all about sophisticated tranquillity. An indoor heated swimming pool with luxe loungers can be found on the top floor, while a comprehensive fitness centre offers sweeping views of the neighbourhood.

All the rooms and suites here are contemporary in style with a muted colour palette featuring pops of colour. A restaurant on the second floor serves a selection of healthful options for dine in or takeaway.

Find out more about Humble Boutique Hotel or Book through Booking.com

8. THE PLACE TAIPEI | Nangang District

Hotel: The Place Taipei
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Nangang District, near the Nangang Exhibition Centre and local technology businesses
Rooms: Four room categories, including standard double and twin rooms, deluxe rooms and a suite
Style: Contemporary design by Mecanoo, inspired by Taiwanese tea culture, mountain landscapes and traditional tea houses
Family-friendly: The Place Suite accommodates up to four guests; confirm availability for your dates
Wellness: Fitness centre and relaxed communal spaces
Pool: No swimming pool listed
Dining: SOFT KITCHEN and communal spaces designed for gathering and unwinding
Best for: Business travellers, design enthusiasts and visitors attending exhibitions in Nangang
Prices starting from: Approximately US$100 per night

What could be more Taiwanese than tea? The island is, after all, home to some of the finest high mountain green and oolong teas in the world. Today, the mixed-use building that houses The Place Taipei is surrounded by high-tech companies and high rises. But in the Qing Dynasty, the area was at the centre of the global tea trade.

When crafting the interior for The Place Taipei, world-leading design and architecture studio Mecanoo took inspiration from the tea houses that still to this day grace the winding city alleys and misty mountainsides of Taiwan.

The lobby is a tea house, a social space meant for gathering, chatting, unwinding. The corridor carpets are patterned with hoop-like shapes meant to resemble the curves of hillside tea plantations. The guest rooms feature a chevron wood floor that mimics the woven bamboo baskets used for drying tea leaves. Even the colour palette used throughout the hotel is inspired by the hues found inside a cup of freshly poured cha.

As well as the kinds of quality amenities expected in a luxury hotel, the rooms embrace a free-style functionality. Bedside tables are mobile and can transform into work desks. Holes embedded in the walls allow guests to hang clothing, bags, or other items within easy reach.

Look to book The Place Taipei or Book through Booking.com

9. W HOTEL TAIPEI | Xinyi District

Hotel: W Taipei
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Neighbourhood: Xinyi District, close to Taipei 101 and Taipei City Hall MRT Station
Rooms: Guestrooms and suites, including several premium suite categories
Style: Bold contemporary luxury, with dramatic interiors, glass architecture and signature W design details
Family-friendly: Larger rooms and suites may suit families; check room occupancy and children’s facilities
Wellness: AWAY Spa, FIT fitness centre, swimming pool and whirlpool
Pool: Yes, WET outdoor swimming pool with a poolside bar
Dining: YEN Chinese Restaurant, WOOBAR, WET Bar and other hotel dining options
Best for: Luxury travellers, couples, nightlife, shopping and stays near Taipei 101
Prices starting from: Approximately US$300 per night

With seductive interiors sculpted by renowned London-based architects G.A. Design International and a 31-floor radiant glass exterior conceptualised by famed Japanese architect Tadashi Yamane, W Hotel was designed for designers from the very beginning.

Rooms feature the signature W beds with 350-count linens, technology plug-ins, and a guilt-free Green Program aimed at conserving energy and water. You also can’t stay closer to the architectural marvel that is Taipei 101 anywhere else in the city. Get a full view of the gravity-defying, bamboo-inspired tower from inside every room.

WOOBAR had a revamp in 2018 and features wooden floors, leather furniture and brass decoratives. The bar is flanked at one end by a wall made of traditional green Koji pottery. A massive geometric paper art installation by Studio Sawada takes the centre stage in the space.

More recently, the hotel has joined forces with Taiwanese glass recycling company to create W Hotel branded products from the property’s discarded drinks bottles. Partnering with well regarded Taiwanese designers like Pili Wu, the hotel released a limited edition mooncake gift set featuring two upcycled tumblers.

Learn more about W Hotel Taipei or Book through Booking.com

PLAY DESIGN HOTEL | Datong District (Now Closed)

With just five strikingly different concept rooms, you can’t get more boutique than Play Design Hotel.

The brainchild of interactive Taiwanese designer Daniel Chen, this design-driven accommodation takes hospitality to connect Made in Taiwan craft, art, and products with international visitors.

“If we redefine or redesign a hotel as a gallery, a cultural portal, or an interface, then the result would be more likely to lead to something other than just a hotel,” says Chen. Play Design Hotel justifiably took home a coveted iF Design Award in 2018.

For those who want to dig deep into the design process, Play Design Hotel offers Guest Selection Rooms. Use virtual technology to choose the Made in Taiwan furniture pieces, lighting, and accessories (like clocks or coat racks) that you want to see in your room.

Other rooms include the Future Lab, where guests can predict future design trends; the Maker Room, decked out with working tools inspired by the maker movement; and other rooms featuring Taiwanese design products and cultural experiences.

Just a six-minute walk from Zhongshan MRT Station, this hotel is ideally located for weekend tourists and weekday business stays.

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