Posh malls linked by a skywalk that stretches for blocks, historical edifices braided with iconic modern structures in one neighborhood, men and women in business suits walk side by side with tourists in sneakers along scenic crossroads of the financial district bustling by day and pulsating at night—the heart of Taiwan’s metropolis is dynamic, exciting, vibrant, scenic, and chic!
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| W Taipei in Xinyi District echoes the dynamic, exciting & chic character of the Taiwanese capital (W Hotel photo) |
Mirroring the soul of the cosmopolitan capital is W Taipei. It echoes the city’s life and style and interprets it by marrying natural elements and sensual flair, projecting it on every square inch of its edifice.
“It is W Taipei’s tribute to cool,” said Gary Lee, the Assistant Director of W Taipei.
“Each W hotel has its own design narrative based on its location. In Taipei, nature is the distinctive element—the surrounding mountains, the two main rivers, tea farms, hot springs; all these are juxtaposed with the electric energy of the new Central Business District. We call it “nature electrified.”
Natural elements like bamboo and repurposed wood are integrated with man-made elements and technology to come up with an awe-inspiring interior and exterior design.
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| Nature electrified, the design narrative of W Taipei, marying natural elements with sensual style, embraces you on your first step in the hotel. |
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| And what it looks like at night |
This spirited, bold and modern aesthetics will embrace guests from the receiving area on the ground floor to the 10th floor concourse, where the “living room” (aka the lobby)—where guests can hangout, enjoy modern high tea or a drink prepared by the mixologist, and WOOBar— where the worlds of music, fashion and design converge, are; to the privacy of the room.
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| The Living Room aka lobby holds the check-in counters, a lounging area, the boutique & the WOOBAR |
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| When night falls, the star shine in here at the WOOBAR |
Even the lifts and landings are designed to excite, an experience in itself. The ride-and-arrive thrill goes all the way up to the top floor where the views, which W drew its inspiration from, are breathtaking.
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| This way up to more modern moments. W's lift to the 10th |
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| Exciting landing at the 13th floor of W TAIPEI |
So are the private sanctuaries. When W says it redefined city chic and put the WOW factor in each room. Better believe it, I walked into one.
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| My nest for two moons- the Fabulous King Room with a view of the Yushan Range (W Hotel photo) |
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| Sexy scene at night. The dividing wall of vertical timber pins can close for more privacy, only if you prefer to |
I love the stylish Oriental sensibility of (my) 13th-floor WOW Fabulous King Room’s design—a lighted Japanese-ish panel and vertical timber pins that acts like blinds to provide privacy (or not, if you choose to) to the spacious (and sexy) bathroom with a spa style island bath; the signature W Bed wrapped in 350-thread count linens; a play platform by the floor to ceiling picture window that frames the Yushan Range; and appointments that will elicit a nod of approval from the most discerning business or leisure traveler.
If you need to rest, do it in style. You deserve it. Pick one from 405 fully wired rooms (148 Wonderful Rooms, 153 Fabulous Rooms, 54 Spectacular Rooms, two Cool Corner Rooms, 11 Fantastic Suites, 33 Marvelous Suites, three WOW Suites and one Extreme WOW Suites) filled with the most unique, modern (and playful) amenities, which includes the wicked Munchie Box and premium-stock mini bar. So whatever room you nest in, you’re in for a treat.
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| Perhaps on the next visit, this room with a serious WOW factor- W's Extreme WOW Suite. It's one of its kind. (W Hotel photo) |
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| W's kind of corner pocket. The Cool Corner Room (W Hotel photo) |
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| Say it like it is. The Fantastic Suite. (W Hotel photo) |
And the treats go way beyond your sacred space. At any time of day or night if a dip in the heated outdoor pool or pumping iron is your thing go right ahead. Or if you fancy escaping to a blissful plane, you’re on a virtuoso’s hands at AWAY Spa.
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| Take a dip at the outdoor heated pool |
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| The WET Bar, have a drink or two. |
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| AWAY Spa is an urban escape for the senses made famous by W Maldives & W Seoul |
Perhaps the most impressive of the services is the trademark Whatever/Whenever. It’s the genie in the lamp granting your wish for “Whatever you want, Whenever you want it”, (as long as it’s legal), like a private session with a Feng Shui master, a chopper ride over the city, or the Xia Long Bao from Din Tai Fung across the street— and they don’t limit you to three wishes.
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| All smiles. Eddie Chen & Christine Hong at the W hotel signature service- Whatever, Whenever, can get you your heart's desires "as long as it's legal." |
Wishing for a food trip? Taipei is a culinary paradise and there’s no better place to kick off the “yin shi wen hua” (food culture) exploration than at W’s The Kitchen Table on 10th, a united nations of foodie favorites where Asian, Western and European cuisines co-exist “tastefully”; and YEN on 31st, to sate that particularly picky palate for Cantonese cuisine with dishes conceived by Michelin-starred chef in W Hotels Worldwide’s the first Chinese restaurant. If you believe that deserves a toast, then do that at YEN’s slick bar where pre-dinner guests flirt, woo and wow with the Taipei 101 as an audience.
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| The Kitchen Table is a united nations of foodie favorites |
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| My favorite corner- the man who powers up everyone in the morning with his fresh & natural concoctions. |
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| Breakfast at the Kitchen Table with this view. |
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| …Or this. |
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| YEN on 31st is not only the first Chinese restaurant of the W Hotels worldwide, it also has Michelin-starred executive chef manning the kitchen |
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| YEN's other half. The sleek bar with view of Taipei 101 for pre-dinner drinks,or even after |
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| Cocktails & barbecue under the stars at the outdoor social area |
Here’s another tip, perhaps the most important one— plan your stay longer when visiting Taipei and staying in this hotel. W Taipei is a Xinyi District attraction along with Taipei 101, and you need more than a couple of days in the city to enjoy what the hotel and the city has to offer altogether.
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| This stylish home in Taipei |
And you ask me what’s exciting about Taipei? Stay at W Hotel and find out. This is a good place to kick start an adventure in the Taiwanese city. Only mine was too short. Too short.
W TAIPEI is at 10 Zhongxiao East Road Sec. 5, Xinyi District, Taipei 110, Taiwan. Visit their website.
Email me at jinggoysalvador@yahoo.com. For more lifestyle & travel stories, visit ofapplesandlemons.com and jeepneyjinggoy.com
Also published in SunStar Davao newspaper.
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