Taipei needs no introduction as a great place to enjoy our favourite Singaporean past-time-eating. While the city is most famous for its street food, quite a few stylish restaurants and bars have taken up residence, transforming the city into a place that goes beyond night markets.
Taipei needs no introduction as a great place to enjoy our favourite Singaporean past-time-eating. While the city is most famous for its street food, quite a few stylish restaurants and bars have taken up residence, transforming the city into a place that goes beyond night markets (though no one’s stopping you from hitting those up post-dinner!). Inspired by the country’s wide range of fresh produce and heritage, these restaurants have got the city buzzing.
Raw
Raw is one of the hottest tables in the city at the moment, so book in advance if you can. The menu is seasonal and takes inspiration from Taiwan’s fresh produce. The food is all about “bistronomy,” a combination of bistro and gastronomy cooking, which means you get fine dining cuisine in a casual setting. Having said that, the restaurant is gorgeous, with custom-designed wooden tables that feature drawers holding the cutlery.
No. 301, Lequn 3rd Rd, Zhongshan District.
The Diner
Sometimes you just need a good hearty brunch and theDiner in Taipei has this American tradition down to an art. The menu features everything from waffles to omelettes to the unmissable smashed avocado toast.
No. 12, Songshou Road, Xinyi District.
Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles
Probably everyone who’s ever been to Taipei has their favourite beef noodle store. This unofficial national dish is well-known for its balance of hearty broth and al dente noodles. Lin Dong Fang beef noodles has been around for 40 years. They make their own noodles and the soup is brewed for 12 hours, giving it a savoury, peppery taste that goes perfectly with the chewy noodles and soft beef. No. 274, Section 2, Bade Road, Zhongshan District.
Indulge Experimental Bistro
This cozy resto-bar has put Taiwan on the cocktails map, coming in at #5 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list this year. From their list of tea-inspired and infused cocktails, to the more Taiwan-inspired ones, like the Formosa Dragon Punch, you’ll be happy spending an evening here testing out your tastebuds. No. 16, Lane 11, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District.
East End
Perched within boutique hotel PROVERBS, East End is a gorgeous bijoux bar that offers beautiful views of the largely low-rise area that surrounds it. The bar is a collaboration between Taiwan’s bartending pioneer, Nick Wu and Tokyo’s Hidetsugo Ueno who, is famous for opening Bar High Five. This makes it the perfect place to sit back and try something a little different like the Longan Old Fashioned, which uses bourbon infused with this Taiwanese fruit, combined with cube sugar, Angostura bitters and Chocolate bitters.
56 Da’an Road, Section 1, Da’an District
Mountain and Sea House
Set in a gorgeous, Japanese-Colonial style house, this restaurant pays homage to Taiwanese cuisine with a strong emphasis on farm-to-table. Produce is sourced from a farm in Hualien which results in some very special dishes such as the salt-baked pork, which uses sea salt and egg white so the pork keeps its natural flavours and juices.
No. 16, Lane 11, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshaan District.
Images 123RF.com, Karen Fong, East End and Indulge Experimental Bistro Text Karen Fong.
