WHEN AN OLD SOUL MAKES AN EXCEPTION FOR A MODERN HOTEL: MY REVIEW OF 5* LUXURY HOTEL W TAIPEI
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of W Hotels - on Posh, Broke, & Bored alone I’ve reviewed W Amsterdam, W St Petersburg, W Hong Kong, and dipped my toes into the the pool of W Barcelona. My gravitation toward their brand of ultra-modern cool may however come as a surprise knowing that my personal taste in hotels leans towards the classic, the traditional, and the historical. So for me to happily go out of my way to stay in a hotel that is as unabashedly modern, cutting-edge and futuristic as W Hotels, what they have to offer must be truly above and beyond. Read on to learn what distinguishes the W TAIPEI from its foreign counterparts and why this luxury hotel should be the site of your stay in Taipei, Taiwan.
First and foremost, the location is unbeatable. Smack bang in the middle of the Xinyi business district, W TAIPEI is in the heart of the action - the hotel is surrounded by boutiques, malls (including a department store connected to the hotel by its own entrance on the W TAIPEI ground floor lobby) and is a 15 minute walk from the iconic Taipei 101. Exploring the city from W TAIPEI couldn’t be easier, with Taipei City Hall MRT station just around the corner. Of course, if your plan was to never leave the hotel - not that anyone could blame you - the W TAIPEI has all your needs covered. Social butterflies flutter toward the lively WOOBAR on the 10th floor, the watering hole of choice for the city’s work hard, play hard tribe. Introverts seeking a more intimate vibe would prefer the YEN bar on the 31st floor.
By day, the WOOBAR is as much a culinary destination as it is a cocktail centre. WOOBAR will serve up anything from the restaurant menu so that you can indulge yourself with a view of the pool (above). If there’s only one thing you’ll eat at W TAIPEI, it has to be the hotel’s famous take on that quintessential Taiwanese dish - beef noodles. Here, this comfort dish (below) is elevated to a decadent level, served with extraordinarily tender wagyu beef slices and a darker-than-usual aromatic broth tinged with what tastes like black tea. For a more international selection, THE KITCHEN TABLE adjacent to the WOOBAR hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets throughout the day, featuring fare from all corners of the globe. YEN on the 31st floor offers dishes closer to home - nouvelle Cantonese cuisine such as dim sum and Peking duck with playful twists and creative presentations.
As is the standard across all W HOTELS, the the 'Whatever/Whenever' concierge service will take care of anything as long as it’s legal. Likewise, staff are fluent in English and typically tend to be young, trendy, and attractive - lending to my theory that W HOTELS only employs people easy on the eyes and ears.
And then there are the facilities and amenities that are nothing short of indulgent. On the 12th floor, W’s signature AWAY SPA offers treatments beyond the usual scrubs and facials but also services pandered to the more beauty-conscious such as tummy tuck wraps. Of course there is the adjoining FIT GYM, but let’s be honest, I don’t work out when travelling - although the gym does boasts an excellent range of workout facilities with fascinating views of the city.
The other social centre of W TAIPEI is also one of its biggest attractions - the WET BAR (above, below) on the 10th floor. With views of the city, a huge swimming pool fringed by sun loungers, a DJ deck, swinging chairs, and sculptural art; the WET BAR is the place to see and be seen. This is especially true in the summer months, when W TAIPEI hosts some of the city’s most happening pool parties.
That said, while W TAIPEI exudes the hotel’s signature brand of fun - you see it in the dark and sensual “disco decor” and hear it in the beats of the hotel’s night club-esque soundtrack - the W TAIPEI is just a bit more mature than its counterparts across the region. The focus is on understated luxury, which seems appropriate given that the hotel’s clientale during the week are mostly business travellers (the party animals tend to descend closer to the weekend).
The 405 rooms of W TAIPEI range from Wonderful to Extreme Wow suites. Even at the entry-level, the rooms aren’t short on wow factor - my Wonderful room had a stunning view of Taipei basin, a panorama of the city and the mountains beyond thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that also let in an abundance of light.The Spectacular 101 rooms (above) are especially popular for their view of the Taipei 101 skyscraper, while the L-shaped Cool Corner Rooms look down onto the pool.
Double rooms start from 8,756 New Taiwan dollars (£212) in low season; and from 10,022 New Taiwan dollars (£242) in high.
While the bathrooms were a tad too orange for me, I couldn’t complain about the amenities - the usual toiletries by Bliss AND the added luxury of the Japanese-style smart toilets. I always say that once you use a Japanese toilet, you’re spoilt for life. A toilet with a seat that automatically rises as you approach, plays a flushing around when you are seated (to conceal any embarrassing noises), and has a cleaning system from bidet to dryer that you can adjust (because not all bottoms are built equal)...? Oh, and heated seats for those frosty winter nights. Honestly, I don’t know why these smart toilets aren’t the standard in luxury hotels everywhere.
The bathrooms are open-plan, which can be odd for some. But unlike some W HOTELS (I’m looking at you, Amsterdam) the W TAIPEI bathrooms at least have sliding doors for optional privacy.
The rest of the room is no less well-appointed. Little nooks are cleverly carved out for different functions, be it lounging, working, or pre-gaming. A chill lounger beside the floor-to-ceiling windows is the perfect place to read, whether by natural daylight or under the tree-shaped reading light. The full-length, tri-fold mirror is a welcome addition for the sartorially-inclined, as is the two way open closet. Techies would appreciate the iPod docking stations and the Bose 2.1 Sound System. The Mixologist laboratory with glass rack and in-room cocktail kit is handy for a quick tipple. W-Animal sculptures inspired by Chinese Zodiac Characters (I got a rabbit!) add a cute touch to the sleek decor.
The beds of course are extremely comfortable and come with a bedside white noise machine (above). Needless to say I had several nights of fantastic sleep. The only bout of restless sleep I experienced at W TAIPEI was thanks to an earthquake at 4:03am. Quite the funny story really...I was dreaming that I was shopping for a chandelier for my bathroom. The dream was especially welcome because I do need a bathroom chandelier. In the dream, I had already chosen the perfect chandelier. It was being wrapped for me when the scene started shaking before the chandelier rolled off the counter and smashed. Then, I jolted upright when I realised that the whole building was shaking (albeit safely, as it was designed to be earthquake-proof). Two seconds later my phone blared an emergency alert. No harm was done: the earthquake was merely 3 on the Richter scale, but I am annoyed that my dream was interrupted and now I don’t remember what the perfect chandelier looked like.
I have always enjoyed my stays at W HOTELS wherever I am in the world. I am happy to report that W TAIPEI offers the same exemplary service, luxurious amenities, and achingly-cool “it factor” that the brand is so well-known for. I would definitely recommend W TAIPEI for a stay in Taipei; be it a long or short, business or pleasure, and even if you’re a fan of older and more traditional hotels like I am.
Do you have a hotel that’s so different to your personal style, but you love anyway and will make an exception for?