Gay Taipei Taipei City Guide

Curation by Yasmina Rodríguez, words by Laura Tucker

A teeny weeny nation of down-to-earth people, dominated by lush mountains and a year-round humidity that soaks into your soul and dizzies your perspective, Taiwan is one of Asia’s most endearing and underrated travel destinations. The cosmopolitan capital of Taipei is the best jumping off point; a chaotic yet slow-moving city, modern yet deeply authentic with proximity to awesome hiking trails, natural hot springs and off-track waterfalls. The orderly roads of Taipei stream with scooters, upon which you’ll see whole families, pets and various health and safety hazards hitching a ride. Betel-nut stained teeth smile eagerly back at you as you shuffle through thronging street markets heady with the smells of exotic food stuffs, from stinky tofu to papaya milk. Decidedly not China, Taiwan is everything the motherland isn’t; democratic, gay-friendly and open to all – holding a loud and proud Pride Parade each October and recently becoming the very first Asian country to legalize gay marriage. Read our definitive Taipei gay travel guide to discover the secrets of this glorious island capital.

The best hotels in Taipei

For the traveller who holds design as a non-negotiable, the Kimpton Da An Hotel is an essential first stop. Designed by celebrated Shanghai duo Neri&Hu, this boutique property in the leafy Da’an District was conceived as an “urban sanctuary” — a former residential building transformed into 129 intimate rooms where oak wooden partitions and white ceramic tiles referencing Taipei’s alleyway vernacular create something genuinely residential in feel. The Tavernist restaurant, helmed by a Noma alumnus, adds culinary credibility, while the rooftop terrace delivers sweeping city panoramas. Kimpton’s famously gay-friendly culture makes it one of the most welcoming addresses in Asia for Mr Hudson’s readers.

Just as design-forward but with a wholly different narrative, Hotel Resonance Taipei draws its identity from the site’s past as a camphor tree farm — camphor being the essential raw material behind photographic film, of which Taiwan once supplied 80% of the world’s stock. Architect Kris Yao expressed this in a façade echoing frames of a film reel, while the vivid 8-metre lobby and film-themed interiors carry the story throughout. Located in Zhongzheng’s historic Happy Village, steps from Shandao Temple MRT station, it’s an intelligent, story-rich base with a wellness spa and 24-hour fitness centre.

Kimpton Da An Hotel

In Da’an’s East District, Hotel Proverbs Taipei cuts an unmistakable figure: Ray Chen’s black steel mesh exterior gives way to an interior of aged copper, dark wood, textured leather and hand-embossed iron panels from European castles. The 42 rooms are moody and immersive, some with private terraces, each with a complimentary minibar. East End Bar on the third floor — the only hotel bar in Taiwan honoured by Asia’s 50 Best Bars — is superb for an evening drink, while the rooftop reflecting pool frames views of Taipei 101 in a manner that feels genuinely cinematic. Discreet, round-the-clock butler service ties it all together.

For those who accept nothing short of perfection, the Mandarin Oriental, Taipei remains the city’s definitive grand hotel. Its European-inspired architecture in Songshan houses 256 rooms and 47 suites — the most spacious in the city, dressed in 480-thread-count linens and Diptyque amenities. The largest hotel spa in Taiwan spans two floors; six dining venues include the Michelin-starred Ya Ge, the Jade Lounge for afternoon tea, and the sophisticated M.O. Bar. This is Taipei at its most uncompromisingly elegant.