Shangri-La Far Eastern, Taipei

We stay at Shangri-la hotels whenever we can, and the Far Eastern was just as good as the others for friendly, efficient staff who looked after us well. Our room and room service were very good. The Horizon buffet wasn't the best we've had, but it was still good. A heads-up about the upper bar, 'Marco Polo': we arrived without a reservation and were told they couldn't serve us. I asked for a reservation, and they found us a table in the nearly empty bar. Very strange.

The most memorable parts of our one-night stay at Shangri-La Far Eastern, Taipei were the food and facilities. We arrived late after work on 12/21 and went straight to Shang Palace. The roasted cherry duck was perfectly cooked, and I especially liked the flavorful crab fried with supreme soy sauce and vermicelli. Complimentary desserts were waiting in our room afterward, a thoughtful touch. Breakfast was another highlight, with a broad mix of Indian, Asian, American, and Taiwanese dishes and desserts. The gym was spacious and well equipped, one of the better hotel gyms I’ve seen, especially for my high-intensity core workouts. We used remaining hotel credits before year-end, and found the stay comfortable and enjoyable. There was a small incident that I raised with a senior manager, who handled it kindly and professionally. The service was genuinely good, and I’d happily return.

The rooftop pool was a highlight, heated and looking out over the city. A staff member even offered me hot tea. We were also upgraded to a room with three beds, and the hotel provided full baby amenities, made access easy for a pregnant mother, and surprised my eldest son with a cute little birthday cake. Everyone on staff was kind, thoughtful, polite, and communicated well in English. The connected mall had affordable restaurants and a small supermarket for souvenirs. It rained every day of our visit, but we still felt warm and happy at Shangri La Taipei.

Coming back to Taipei Shangri La feels like coming home. Lisa on the housekeeping team always makes my room comfortable, keeps the bathroom sparkling clean, and leaves plenty of drinking water. Everyone is kind and helpful, and I always leave with great memories. I’m especially grateful to Niko, the reservation manager. She was thoughtful and incredibly helpful in arranging a booking for my big family.