Hotel Puri Ximen Branch

Ximen is lively in the evenings, with street performers, cinemas, shopping, food stalls, and historic spots like The Red House (Ximen Red House). It has that mix of modern trends and older charm, and people compare it to Taipei’s “Shibuya” or “Harajuku.” The room was a good size and the bed was comfortable. Getting around was easy, too: a little over five minutes to Ximen Station and under ten to Taipei Main Station, handy for the airport express MRT or high-speed rail.

The friendly, polite staff and convenient location made this good value for a short stay, especially for a couple. I booked two separate stays, two nights in a room with two single beds and one night in a double-bed room. The single-bed room was larger, with a more spacious toilet and shower. The double-bed room had a cramped, oddly arranged bathroom. Both rooms were clean. They provide towels, shower gel, shampoo, a hairdryer, a fridge, and instant coffee and tea in the room. There’s also coffee, tea, and hot water in the lobby. No toothbrush, but that didn’t matter to me. There’s a beef noodle shop across the street that’s a must try, super delicious.

I was uncomfortable throughout my three-night stay. The room had a strong disinfectant smell when we arrived, and the soundproofing was terrible. The bathroom was so small that even at 5’1” I couldn’t shut the door while sitting on the toilet. The bed and pillows were extremely uncomfortable, and I woke up each morning with neck and back pain.

Food and shopping were just a stone’s throw away, which made our family holiday easy. The rooms were clean, though small, and staff were excellent about quickly bringing extra towels or pillows. The air conditioning was nice and cold in the summer heat.