Alisha & Payman
Things To Do
National Palace Museum
Contains the biggest collection of Chinese artifacts anywhere in the world and is truly mesmerizing. You can easily spend an entire day here.
Taipei 101
This bamboo shaped skyscraper towers above the city and is impossible to miss. At one point it was at the tallest building in the world. If the weather is clear we suggest you buy tickets and head to the observation deck on the 89th floor, where you'll be treated to panoramic vistas of Taipei. Option 2: If you're not keen on waiting in possibly long lines for the observation deck, bring your walking shoes and take a brisk but brief hike up nearby Elephant Mountain, where you'll be rewarded with panoramic views that also includes Taipei 101 and its mountainous backdrop. And it's free.
Beitou Hot Springs
Just a 30 minute MRT ride north of Taipei, in the wooded mountains surrounding the city lie the soothing mineral hot springs of Beitou. I anticipate some serious partying on this trip, so a post revelry soak in the hot springs of Beitou might be the pro move.
Taroko National Park
Possibly the most beautiful place in all of Taiwan (of which there are many), a trip to Taroko is like walking into a Chinese painting. The crown jewel of the park is Taroko Gorge, soaring walls of marble rising above a bluish-green river amidst a misty landscape filled with lush vegetation and tumbling waterfalls. We will be organizing a group trip to Taroko after the wedding, so please let us know if you'd like to join!
Gēn Creative
Owned & operated by 3 talented chefs (and friends - hi Eric, Mel, & Han!) who draw on their respective backgrounds to highlight the bounty of their adopted homeland of Taiwan. Hot tip: sit at the chef counter for the best action and always (ALWAYS) save room for dessert here.
Mume
Recently awarded a spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list (woot woot!), the kitchen at Mume produces inventive dishes highlighting Taiwanese ingredients.
Addiction Aquatic Development
Terrible name for an awesome spot. Fancy fish market - think Eataly but for seafood. There's multiple concepts under one roof: dine-in, retail, fish market, standing sushi bar, oyster & wine bar, etc and they're all good. Cash only.
Raohe Street Night Market
Taiwan is known for its night markets and there are plenty to choose from. Raohe is one of our faves - we especially love the black pepper buns (worth the queue!), grilled shellfish (BYOB for anything other than beer), and all the crazy shops. Oh, it's also where Payman once had his fortune told and the dude was scarily accurate!
Din Tai Fung
Pay homage to the mighty soup dumpling aka xiao long bao by making a pilgrimage to the original location of Din Tai Fung. Despite numerous locations now in the states, we still manage to squeeze in a visit here every time we return to Taipei.
Yongkang Beef Noodles
Beef noodle soup is Taiwan's answer to pho or ramen (and we believe will soon be a craze in the states), and Yongkang has been serving it since 1963. Try their homemade chili oil <insert fire emoji here>
Sunny Hills
Taiwanese pineapple cakes are one of the must try foods of the island for those with a sweet tooth. Sunny Hills is the standard bearer, and their delicious treats make great gifts.
Ice Monster
The baddest and coldest of them all, Ice Monster's shaved snow treats are the way to go on a balmy tropical Taipei day. Creamy ribbons of shaved frozen flavored milk topped with cubed mangoes have made this place an institution.
Ounce Taipei
Although it has moved from its original location (where we first met!), the cocktails are still as good, and the speakeasy vibe is just as alluring.
Wa-shu
Cocktail bar owned and operated by the inimitable Japanese mad scientist Tomo-san, featuring a seemingly endless array of creatively infused shochu and Japanese whisky. There's simply no place like it anywhere.
Bar 小谷
One of the most surreal bar experiences ever. Small groups only (e.g. <4) and make sure your phone is on silent ;-)
MOD
A veteran of Taiwan's bar scene, MOD is the place to get your whisky fix. If Jush is behind the bar, ask for his Old Fashioned. It's arguably the best in town.
Draft Land
Inventive cocktails on tap downstairs with a testing lab for more intricate creations upstairs by a pioneer of Taiwan's cocktail scene, Angus Zou.
AHA Saloon
Kae Yin, one of Taipei's most skillful bartenders runs this "saloon" that's an homage to vintage rock & roll. But don't get it twisted because the cocktails are a playful and well executed study in Taiwanese ingredients.