Ben's Guide to Taipei and Taiwan

Luxy is a nightclub with a posh interior, two different music rooms, and plenty of attractive young people dressed to be noticed. While casual attire is tolerated, they draw the line at sandals and you may be turned away if you’re shoes are judged to be inappropriate. The cover charge is $400 if you arrive before 10pm. After that the cover charge is $700. This is one of the few places in Taipei that actually asked for my ID, so be prepared. Getting to Luxy: Luxy is located about 20 meters from Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT Station Exit 2 on Zhongxiao Rd. Go to main Pub listing page: http://taipeiguide.blogspot.com/2006/05/pubs-bars-nightclubs-in-taipei.html

Website for all of the Roxy locations: http://www.roxy.com.tw/new/ Roxy 99 This is a basement nightclub near the Shida University area. It doesn't have much ambiance but attracts a young crowd with its reasonable prices and good location near Heping East Rd . Location: Jinshan S. Rd., Sec. 2, #218, B1 / 台北市 金山南路 二段 218號 B1 / Jīnshān Nán Lù, 2 duàn, 218 hào B1. The closest MRT station is Guting on the Red-Danshui Line. Roxy Jr. (the sign reads Cafe Jr.) This is an actual pub located near Shida University. They have a few sofas and some games such as billiards and foosball. There is another nice bar/restaurant next door which has 2nd floor outdoor seating. Update 4/2009: I recently was back at Roxie Jr. and I was disappointed to see that they were not enforcing the new smoking ban. While this is clearly great news to everyone there who was smoking, there are plenty of bars that do follow the rules and they are more likely to get my future business. Location: Shida Rd., Lane 80, #1 ...

A lot of people like Carnegies, but I am not a fan. This is a bar with ambitions of being a nightclub, featuring dancing on the bar. There are some good-looking women, but a lot more of the women benefit from the dim lighting. It also attracts a regular crowd of expatriate businessmen. Wednesday is ladies night featuring free champagne for the ladies from 9:00 pm. There may be a cover charge in the evenings. Their food gets good reviews especially their Sunday Brunch. I did enjoy the food, but I still didn't care for their atmosphere. Even with the front windows removed the open air environment was not enough to cover up the smokey odor in the air and the dim lighting was a bit depressing on a Sunday afternoon. Getting to Carnegies: Anhe Rd, Section 2, No. 100 / 安和路,2段,100號 / Ānhé Lù, 2 duàn, 100 hào It is South of Xinyi Rd. and Just East of Dunhua Rd. on Anhe Rd., Section 2. It's also very near the Far Eastern Hotel. It is possible to walk from the MRT but it is easier to...

Living Mall Bade Road, Sec. 4, No. 138, on the North-west corner of Civic Blvd. (Shiming Dadao) 台北市105松山區八德路四段138號 Official Website in English: http://web01.livingmall.com.tw/about.asp?pgid=en0101 map with bus routes: http://web01.livingmall.com.tw/about.asp?pgid=en0109 Restaurant List: http://web01.livingmall.com.tw/about.asp?pgid=en0105 Yakiniku House This is a Japanese barbeque. It is very good as long as you don't mind cooking for yourself. 11 F Bird Taipei Very good Thai restaurant. 11F Lawry's The Prime Rib 12 F, Lawry's is good but it is over priced and over rated. Coyote This is a mediocre nightclub featuring mediocre live music that no one dances to. They do have their own group of dancers that give a performance later in the evening. Cinemark Theater : http://www.cinemark.com.tw/cmspecial.asp Most of the movies shown are English with Chinese subtitles. Their website is in Chine...

Bars and Alcohol Beer Taiwan Beer is the only domestic beer available in Taiwan. It comes in green bottles, brown bottles, and cans. There are a few different varieties. I’m not sure exactly what the differences are. There are two different beers in the green bottle, Taiwan Draft and Gold Medal that cost a few dollars more than the brown bottle. The cans sometimes have a rancid skunky flavor; the bottles are much better. Common imports include Japan’s Kirin Ichiban, China’s Tsingtao, Singapore’s Tiger, Heineken, Corona, Carlsberg, and a selection of American beers. Liquor Kaoliang is Taiwan’s local rice liquor. It has a strong sweet smell, which reminds me of cheap sake. It doesn’t seem to be anyone’s favorite drink but if you’re looking for a cheap drunk this will do the trick. Whiskey is quite popular here. Suntory is a Japanese import and is ok. Other brands you may recognize which are readily available include Johnny Walke...