In many countries, once night falls, travelers start heading back to their hotels. In Taipei, however, the coming of night in no way means a day’s itinerary is done. Instead, another phase is just beginning. Even in the wee hours, fret not that you have nowhere to go, for there are many 24-hour businesses where travelers can enjoy premium services. From food and drink to leisure fun, from exercise to entertainment, the many pleasant venues and the city’s excellent safety ecord, even at night, have together led to many foreign travelers developing a deep affection for Taipei.
Late-Night Reading – Taipei’s Marvelous Round-the-Clock Bookstores
“What sort of culture is this, where people head out in the middle of the night to read books at bookstores?” Many a marveling foreign tourist has asked this question when visiting eslite Bookstore (誠品書店).
It’s three in the morning at the eslite Bookstore Dunhua Branch (誠品敦南店), and still the store is busy. The elegant and comfortable space has a cultured air – no need to wonder why this city’s denizens would be out at a bookstore in the middle of the night. Eslite started 24-hour operations in 1999; with an interior décor featuring partitioning, each section set up like a small bookshop – a creative approach for Taipei that has become the stuff of legend. The chain is a source of great pride for citizens, and for the traveler offers a novel experience and an unexpected look into the local lifestyle, perhaps making you want to get on Facebook in the wee hours to tell everyone “I’m sitting in a beautiful bookstore reading a book!”
The Dunhua branch is a must-visit spot for many visitors to Taipei. There are local and imported books on a comprehensive range of subjects, and the bookstore offers a prime look at the city’s reading and design culture, although sometimes it’s actually the ever-changing flow of people themselves that is most fascinating. This round-the-clock store of literary treasures has a charming, sophisticated atmosphere.
Leisure Pursuits Unlimited – Relaxation Ad Infinitum
In Taipei it’s even possible to find masseuses, hot springs to bathe in, and other relaxing ways to spend the long hours of the night. While it’s said that reading soothes the tired spirit, you’ll find a healthy nighttime massage and/or a soothing hot-spring bath even more refreshing.
A famous Chinese expression is often translated into English as “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step” (千里之行，始於足下). However, after walking a long distance your feet get tired, and it’s hard to appreciate even the most interesting surroundings. Thankfully, Taipei has many 24-hour massage parlors that provide head-to-toe service, including hand- and foot-care services; Thousand Miles (千里行足體養生會館) is an apt example. A favorite of many tourists, it’s a spacious venue, at over 1,250 square meters, with a natural, minimalist design. In addition to foot massages and full-body shiatsu massages, oil massages, gua sha (刮痧; Often translated as “scraping” or “spooning”), manicure, and pedicure services are also provided.
Many of Taipei’s massage centers make Japanese customers feel especially comfortable with personnel that can speak at least basic Japanese and provide detailed explanations of services in Japanese.
If the idea of a downtown massage isn’t quite what you were thinking of, zip up to suburban Beitou for a hot-spring bath. The Beitou hot-spring resort area, which has a long and intriguing history, has green, white, and iron sulfur spring waters. The different types of mineral water are useful in soothing various ailments – from skin diseases to arthritis to muscle aches and pains. Many local enterprises, such as Kawayu Spa Hot Spring Restaurant (川湯溫泉養生餐廳) and Samao Valley Spa Dining Hall Music & Food (紗帽谷溫泉音樂美食餐廳), provide 24-hour hot-spring bathing services.
A Never-ending Stream of Fragrances – Sumptuous Late-night Feasts
Eating delicious, freshly prepared, hand-made gourmet cuisine in the middle of the night is easy Taipei, and can be enjoyed every night.
Taipei enjoys a strong reputation abroad for the deliciousness and range of its food and drink. One of the things that most amazes visitors, however, is just how many 24-hour restaurants, cafes, fast-food eateries, and snack shops are found along its lanes and alleys. Add to this the ubiquitous convenience stores and one can see how in this city taste-bud satisfaction is guaranteed for anyone with late-night cravings.
Do you want to enjoy a cup of coffee or traditional soy milk late at night? Branches of 85°C Bakery Café in Anhe Road, and Guangfu North Road elsewhere, and Yonghe Soy Milk King (永和豆漿大王) in Fuxing South Road (復興南路) all host a legion of weary souls each night, handing them a cup of hot goodness and giving them a quiet oasis in the deep hours to mull over life’s events.
If looking for a late-night restaurant for a quick bite, beyond the fast-food chains a great place to fill up is Sweet Dynasty (糖朝), a large place at over 1,650 square meters, serving a delicious array of Hong Kong-style desserts and hot dishes. A renowned house specialty is tofu pudding in a cask (原木桶豆花), served in wooden buckets. No syrup or seasonings are used in this must-order treat, and the tofu is firm and substantial. In addition, the bagels at the Taipei branch of the famous N.Y. Bagels Cafe are made fresh each day using ingredients imported from the States, and the store welcomes night owls with a menu that also includes burgers, sandwiches, pasta and other dishes.
It’s not only bigger restaurants that offer fine food late at night. Down an alley off Bade Road (八德路) is Matsu Noodles (四鄉五島馬祖麵店), a round-the-clock joint that is popular with local gourmands. The food is simple and straightforward – sesame noodles, wonton noodles, meatball soup, and so on – turning out the authentic Taiwanese flavors that locals love. A bowl of good, steaming-hot home-style food on a cool winter’s night is guaranteed to warm the soul and chase away any late-night weariness.
In Taipei, sleepless nights are like being on sleepless flights. Find a good book and drift away in thought. Alternatively, relax mind and body in a health center until dawn. If hungry or just looking for a caffeine pick-me-up, entertain your taste buds with deliciously fragrant fine food or coffee. Taipei, this 24-hour city that never closes down, is dedicated to providing enriching sustenance for your body, your mind, and your spirit.
Information
eslite Bookstore Dunhua Branch 誠品敦南店
Add: 245, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd. (敦化南路1段245號)
Tel: (02)2775-5977
Thousand Miles 千里行足體養生會館
Add: 62, Sec. 2, Nanjing E. Rd. (南京東路2段62號)
Tel: (02)2531-5880
Kawayu Spa Hot Spring Restaurant
川湯溫泉養生餐廳
Add: 10, Ln. 300, Xingyi Rd. (行義路300巷10號)
Tel: (02)2874-7979
Samao Valley Spa Dining Hall Music & Food
紗帽谷溫泉音樂美食餐廳
Add: 42, Shamao Rd. (紗帽路42號)
Tel: (02)2862-6199
85°C Bakery Café 85度C咖啡
Anhe branch 安和店
Add: 52, Sec. 2, Anhe Rd. (安和路2段52號)
Tel: (02)2704-3299
Guangfu N. branch 光復北店
Add: 167, Guangfu N. Rd. (光復北路167號)
Tel: (02)2747-0855
Yonghe Soy Milk King 永和豆漿大王
Add: 102, Sec. 2, Fuxing S. Rd. (復興南路2段102號)
Tel: (02)2703-5051
Sweet Dynasty 糖朝
Add: 2F, 201, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd. (忠孝東路4段201號2樓)
Tel: (02)2772-2889
N.Y. Bagels Cafe
Add: 147, Sec. 4, Ren’ai Road (仁愛路4段147號)
Tel: (02)2752-1669
Matsu Noodles 四鄉五島馬祖麵店
Add: 7, Liaoning St. (遼寧街7號)
Tel: (02)2771-5406
