Nightlife · Taipei · Taiwan
Taipei nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Taipei, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Taipei's nights start with night markets and continue in cocktail bars, rooftop lounges and clubs. Da'an and Xinyi have the city's best cocktail bars, while Ximending is younger and more casual. The main areas are Xinyi, Da'an, Ximending and the Red House and Zhongshan.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Ximending
- Local drink
- Bubble tea
Where to go out
Xinyi
Clubs, rooftop bars and lounges around Taipei 101 and the ATT 4 FUN building.
Da'an
Intimate cocktail bars and craft-beer pubs on the lanes off Zhongxiao East Road and Anhe Road.
Ximending and the Red House
Casual bars and the outdoor LGBTQ-friendly bar area around the Red House.
Zhongshan
Japanese-style izakayas and late bars along Linsen North Road.
Nightlife tips
- The MRT stops around midnight; taxis are plentiful and inexpensive afterwards.
- Convenience stores sell beer around the clock, and drinking in public is generally tolerated.
- Many cocktail bars are small, so book ahead at weekends.
Evening sights
Viewpoint · Xinyi
Taipei 101 Observatory
Go on a clear afternoon and stay through sunset; check visibility before buying tickets, as low cloud often hides the view.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
- After dark
Religious site · Wanhua
Longshan Temple
Come in the early morning or around evening prayers to hear the chanting; visitors are welcome to watch quietly.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Market · Shilin
Shilin Night Market
Arrive around 6–7pm before the biggest crowds, and explore the lanes beyond the main food court.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- Kids
- Shopping
Market · Songshan
Raohe Street Night Market
Join the pepper bun queue first, then walk the market and finish at Ciyou Temple when it is lit up.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Free
What to drink
- Bubble tea — Milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls, invented in Taiwan in the 1980s. Shops let you choose sweetness and ice levels, and brown-sugar pearl milk is a popular variation.
- Oolong tea — Taiwan is known for high-mountain oolongs and the roasted Tieguanyin grown around Maokong, brewed gongfu-style in small pots and sipped from tiny cups.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 26°C (79°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:25 | 13°C (55°F) | 14 |
| April | About 18:16 | 18°C (64°F) | 14 |
| July | About 18:46 | 26°C (79°F) | 11 |
| October | About 17:27 | 22°C (72°F) | 12 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Tap your EasyCard on entry and exit; fares are calculated by distance.
- Bus — Some buses charge on boarding and others on exit; watch for the sign by the driver.
- Taxi — Yellow metered taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced; ride-hailing apps also operate.
Late-night bites
- Pepper bun — The stall at the Ciyou Temple entrance of Raohe Street Night Market is the most famous; others are found in most night markets.
- Oyster omelette — Ningxia, Raohe and Shilin night markets, where specialist stalls fry them to order.
- Gua bao — Night markets and snack shops, especially around Gongguan and Ximending.
- Stinky tofu — Every night market; follow your nose. Ask if the broth or sauce contains meat if you are vegetarian.
Staying safe at night
Taipei has low levels of street crime. The main risks are natural: typhoons from about July to September, earthquakes and summer heat. Follow official alerts sent to phones, take care crossing roads as scooters turn into crossings, and watch your footing on wet mountain trails.
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for budget, shopping, nightlife and solo travellers
Ximending
Ximending, in Wanhua, is a car-free grid of streets lined with sneaker shops, street-food stalls, cinemas and karaoke, centred on the octagonal 1908 Red House, which has LGBTQ-friendly bars around it. It is lively until late and has many budget and mid-range hotels, with Longshan Temple one MRT stop away.
- Good
- Lively day and night; Good-value hotels; Snacks and shops everywhere
- Watch out
- Crowded at weekends; Can be noisy late at night
- Nearby
- Red House, Longshan Temple, Taipei Main Station
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Taipei?
Xinyi, Da'an and Ximending and the Red House. Clubs, rooftop bars and lounges around Taipei 101 and the ATT 4 FUN building.
+Which area of Taipei is best for nightlife?
Ximending: Pedestrian youth district of fashion shops, cinemas, street snacks and late nights.