Taipei nightlife a whole other world

by Leila Hanaumi on September 13, 2009

In a bustling, big city that has culture seeping from every corner, good food available on the streets until past midnight and music leaking from every direction, Taipei nightlife is also bound to be exciting.

Not only is Taipei the capital of Taiwan, it’s also home to National Taiwan University and about 2.3 million residents.

Factor those into the equation, and you come up with a nightlife scene that’s ridiculously off the hook.

Taipei is incredibly accessible with the Metropolitan Rapid Transit, which can take you to any bar, club or hot spot happening on any night. Even when it closes at midnight, there are plenty of yellow taxi cabs you can hop into when your lush hotel bed calls your name.

There are many popular spots that attract a range of people who vary from the hardcore clubber to the old soul who prefers to sip coffee instead.

If you feel like working up a sweat by moving to funky beats, head over to Luxy or one of the Roxy clubs. Roxy has three branches: Roxy 99, a basement nightclub near the Shida University area that serves reasonably priced drinks; Roxy Jr., a more laid-back environment with sofas and billiard and foosball tables; and Roxy Vibe, an after-hours club where people go around 3 a.m. after the party at Roxy 99 dies.

If your feet aren’t up for dancing, but you still want to immerse yourself in music and cocktails, swing by Opus, a two-floored bar that reeks of elegance. Downstairs is a relaxed retreat from the busy nightlife, and upstairs is a bar where you can enjoy good music and Dom Perignon — which Opus considers the best wine in the world. If Opus is too high-class for your taste, check out Corridor Café, right in the middle of NTU. You can find good coffee, artistic vibes and live performances there. If that still sounds too sophisticated, 45 Pub is for you. Popular among students, it has no cover charge, no dress code and no behavior code.

You can find a combination of all these aforementioned different vibes in one place — the Wanhua District, known as Ximending to locals. There, you can munch on thin-crust pizza at Alleycat, people-watch and soak in the action at Shibuya, a pub, or get your groove on at Mudan. What Times Square is to New York, Ximending is to Taipei.

However lively and large Ximending may be, you can enjoy a smaller and cozier atmosphere. Chocoholic is a tiny and brightly colored café that serves great dessert and chocolate drinks for those craving to satisfy their American sweet tooth in a seafood-filled country.

You can find plenty of seafood and foreign-looking dishes anywhere, even late at night. Shilin Night Market is a must-see, as it’s considered the largest and most famous night market in Taipei. Shilin opens at 4 p.m. and doesn’t close until 1 or 2 a.m. Vendors’ wares vary from clothing to consumer goods, but a majority sells food. Polish up your negotiating skills!

Another (rather bizarre) night market that you can’t miss is the Huashi Street Market, also known as Snake Alley. You can drink snake blood or eat a meal prepared with it … or you can just eat an actual snake. It’s supposedly good for long life and health.

Indeed, food you consume in Taipei often won’t be what your body is accustomed to, unless you often cook cuttlefish and chow down on starfruit. The cultural shock may cause one to miss the familiarity of popular restaurants back home.

Remedy your homesickness by telling your taxi driver to push the pedal to Hard Rock Café. If you’re going there to get some actual grub, be sure to arrive before 10 p.m., because that’s when the kitchen closes and the live bands go on.

And finally, every deaf person involved with the Deaflympics — whether as an official, athlete or fan — can’t fulfill their Taiwan experience without going to Brass Monkey at least once. The bar, dubbed the “deaf club” of the 2009 Deaflympics, is where athletes, fans and just about anyone swarm to nightly. Located at 166 Fushing N. Road, Brass Monkey is filled with signing people keeping the place hopping until it closes.

The days may be filled with the excitement of victories won and new friends made, but the night is a world of its own — a world you can’t miss in Taipei.

45 Pub 2nd Floor, 45, Hoping East Road, sec. 1

Chocoholic 2 Lane 7, Yongkang St, Da’an

Corridor Café Sports Building, 312 Roosevelt Rd, sec. 4, National Taiwan University

Hard Rock Café Basement 100, Tun Hua North Road,

Luxy 201, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sect. 4

Opus 1 Fl., No. 104, Sec. 4, Civil Blvd

Roxy 99 Jinshan S. Rd, Sec. 2, #218, B1

Roxy Jr. (sign reads Café Jr.) Shida Rd, Lane 80, #1

Roxy Vibe Jinshan S. Road, Sec. 1, #155, B1

Disclaimer: USA Deaflympians signed a code of conduct during the duration of their stay in Taiwan to adhere to team rules. This article was intended for American fans and supporters, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USA Deaf Sports Federation or the USA Deaflympic Team.

Taipei nightlife a whole other world

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