Taipei by Night

At night, Taipei transitions from a day of commerce to a time of relaxation and fun. Though lacking the distinct and frenetic nighttime atmosphere of Hong Kong or Tokyo, Taipei has its own unique nighttime attraction.

To get a true flavor of Taipei, the night markets around the city are a can’t-miss because of their shopping, dining, and atmosphere. Shilin Night Market is the biggest, in terms of stalls and atmosphere. The complex has stalls selling everything from food to shoes to textiles. There are plenty of places to eat, most good, if not better, than restaurant fare, and at a cheaper price.

For those who can’t get enough of malls during daylight hours, Core Pacific Living Mall has many shops which are open 24 hours and also houses a popular nightclub and a large cinema.

Brown Sugar, Taipei’s famous jazz club has live jazz every night of the week, except Sunday, when Latin music can be heard. The atmosphere can only be described as “cool.” The food, American barbecue fare, is good too.

The Wall Live House offers local music acts while Luxy’s has DJs and bands from the U.S., Europe, and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Taipei’s live music scene is growing by leaps and bounds. The city is a stopping off point for INternational acts on the Asian leg of their tours.

The beer hall adjacent to the Taiwan Beer brewery has cheap suds and snacks. Backpacker types will feel at home there, but not at Zaga Zaga, the priciest and trendiest place in town. It is located inside the Hyatt Hotel and offers some good Italian cuisine to go along with its dress code.

Most nightclubs are open pretty late, some are just getting out when the sun comes up.

For a quieter time, there are many cafes near Taipei’s National University. There is even a load of, -sigh-, Starbuck's. Also patroned by students are some of the Taipei’s many low-key pubs. Jr. Caffe and Roxy 99 are college student hangouts where anyone is welcome and you’ll surely end up in a friendly conversation by night’s end. There are several expat bars on Tianmu Street.

And of course, there is opportunity for some night sightseeing. The light of the skyscrapers and buildings like the National Concert Hall are quite beautiful at night.

More traditional attractions like The Chinese Opera performances at the National Junior College for Performing Arts. Advanced Students put on shows of Opera as well as chinese Acrobatics. The National Theater offers more polished (but more pricey) performances from both local and international performers.

Overall, Taipei is a safe and exciting place to enjoy an evening out.