The Regent Taipei is one of the most inspiring properties in Taipei. This luxurious hotel is located in the Zhongshan District and is well connected to the city’s public transportation. I am looking forward to this stay and to be able to review it. The Regent Taipei is the flagship property of the Silks Hotel Group. They used to be known as FIH Regent Group, now renamed Silks Hotel Group, a Taiwanese-owned corporation. They also own other Silks hotels around Taiwan. Regent Taipei is also under the IHG umbrella. IHG elite members can enjoy their benefits here as well as earning points and nights.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
The Regent Taipei is in one of the most luxurious districts of the city and is just steps away from Zhongshan Station which allows you to scoot around the city. The hotel is directly connected to the Regent Galleria, a luxury mall with tons of boutiques and restaurants. You can even find a Centurion lounge here. I am so happy to have the opportunity to review this hotel. Ningxia Night Market is just a short distance away. This hotel is perfect for both business and leisure travellers. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Silks Hotel Group. I am booked into their exclusive Tai Pan Club Room. The Regent Taipei features 538 deluxe guestrooms, including 60 suites across 11 categories. The standard guest rooms measure 45 square meters, a full 12 square meters larger than the average Taipei International Hotel rooms. They have one of the most spacious accommodations in town. Each room features deep-soaking tubs, separate shower stalls and the signature Wellspring Bed. The concept features oversized pillows, crisp cotton linens, and a pressure-relieving mattress for ultimate rest.
| Rooms | Executive Lounge Access | Bathtub | Room Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | No | Yes | 39 Sqm |
| Deluxe | No | Yes | 45 Sqm |
| Premier | No | Yes | 56 Sqm |
| Balcony | Balcony Lounge | Yes | 56 Sqm |
| Family Balcony | Balcony Lounge | Yes | 65 Sqm |
| Penthouse | No | Yes | 45 Sqm |
| Tai Pan | Tai Pan Lounge | Yes | 45 Sqm |
| Junior Suite | Tai Pan Lounge | Yes | 65 Sqm |
| Corner Suite | Tai Pan Lounge | Yes | 110 Sqm |
| Garden Suite | Tai Pan Lounge | Yes | 126 Sqm |
| Presidential Suite | Tai Pan Lounge | Yes | 210 Sqm |
Checking In
We arrive at the hotel at around 2.30pm after a 30 mins drive from Tao Yuan Airport. Upon arrival, the bellboy came to help us with our bags. They offered us refreshing towels and welcome drinks as we entered the lobby. This is a lifesaver in the scorching weather of Taipei. Our butlers were on hand to welcome us before escorting us to the exclusive Tai Pan Lounge on the 19th floor for check-in. The main lobby is grand and you can find the check-in desks to the right of the entrance. There are also some seatings by the side. All Tai Pan room guests get a personal butler to take care of their stay from the moment they check in!
We went to check in at the Tai Pan lounge. Elite members are not accorded access to this lounge. Once we arrived, they served us their speciality in-house Champagne Oolong Tea. I love the drink. It is a great non-alcoholic option.
Check-in was a breeze and soon I had the keys in my hand. I love the retro physical metal keys. How charming is this! I was also informed of the perks that Tai Pan guests enjoy. Tai Pan guests enjoy additional perks like; Butler escort check-in with a welcome drink, All-day access and complimentary coffee and tea at Tai Pan Lounge, Private buffet breakfast at Tai Pan Lounge (19F) from 06:30-10:00, Wellness sweet and savoury select from 15:00-18:00, Evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 18:00-22:00, discounts off laundry and spa, Complimentary pressing of one set of business attire. Complimentary luggage packing and unpacking service, Complimentary local calls, Exclusive two-hour use of meeting rooms at Tai Pan Lounge, Personalized wake-up call with morning wellness drink and Late check-out.
Tai Pan Room
The Tai Pan Room is an exclusive room category and is known as a hotel within a hotel. All Tai Pan rooms come with access to the Tai Pan Lounge on the 19th floor. Guests staying here also have a butler to take care of their stay. I was escorted to my room on the 18th floor by my butler who then proceed to give me an introduction of the room. I was assigned room 1826. Tai Pan rooms measure a spacious 45 Sqm. These are very comfortable accommodations for business travellers and small families.
The room has a spacious entryway. I did feel the area to be slightly sparse. It could use a long bench or something over here along the full-length mirror. That will be great for wearing your footwear. On the right is the entrance to the bathroom. It is spacious and comes with a separate bathtub as well as a standing shower. The bathroom comes with a high-tech Japanese bidet toilet. This is very convenient.
The bathroom comes with only a single sink. All sorts of amenities and toiletries are provided. Diptyque products alongside Wellspring by Silk products are provided in large single-use size bottles. This is one of my favourite brands. They lather well and I love the floral scents. The bathroom is also equipped with a hairdryer and a cosmetic mirror.
I had a lovely soak in the spacious bathtub to wind down a long day of travel. Water pressure is excellent and bath salts are provided. They even have bath pillows here. This is available only at true top-tier hotels. They had this holder that could fit some drinks or a laptop to watch shows while soaking. I did feel that the tub is a little short and I could not stretch out fully.
The standing shower design is pretty good. It comes with a wall-mounted shower head as well as a handheld one. Water pressure and temperature controls are excellent. I would love for them to have a rainforest showerhead installed.
Continuing, you can find the well-equipped minibar closet just by the end of the entranceway. It comes with both a kettle and an actual espresso coffee machine. I appreciate having a proper espresso coffee machine in the room rather than those instant coffee sachets. Complimentary bottles of drinking water and tea are provided and I love the design. These are replenished during daily housekeeping and turndown service. In the cabinet below, the mini-fridge is well-stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. A complimentary minibar is offered for Tai Pan Room guests.
The main space of the room is mainly in a rectangular configuration with a slight expansion in the window area. The regular shape allows for great use of the space available. Alongside the wall, you can find a luggage rack which could easily fit a check-in-size suitcase and next to it is a spacious wardrobe that will come in handy for your stay. The wardrobe is packed with hangers, bathrobes, bath slippers and a safe, umbrella. In line with the Japanese influences, pyjamas are also provided.
The large high-quality Smart TV comes with a good number of both local and cable TV channels. This is great for movie nights. The TV console also offers some additional storage area.
In the corner, you can find a glass table work desk. It comes with a table lamp and a Herman Miller Aeron chair. It is a gem to work from! Outlets are within reach and the Wi-Fi connection is strong.
The centrepiece goes to the plush king-size bed with a temperature-sensing, pressure-relieving Wellspring Mattress that conforms to a body’s contours. Sheets and duvets are extremely high quality and crisp. The back support is amazing and I had such a good sleep. For those who find the bed too firm for your liking, a mattress topper can be requested. On both sides of the bed, you have huge nightstands as well as power outlets. Controls for the lighting are within reach. My only criticism would be for electronically controlled curtains and blinds.
Every Tai Pan room comes with a cosy little sitting area. The couch and armchair surrounding a coffee table are spacious and can comfortably fit three or four people. It is always nice to have a separate sitting in your room. This can be classified as a junior suite. Left on the table is a generous welcome amenity consisting of sweets and fruits alongside a welcome note.
The room offers an amazing view over the surrounding area with the gardens and Taipei 101 to the side. It will be perfect for catching fireworks during major festivals. Check out the view here both during the day and in the evening. I also got the chance to check out some of the other room types in the hotel too.
Corner Suite
Garden Suite
Family Balcony Room
Tai Pan Lounge
The TAI PAN Lounge on the 19th floor overlooks a breathtaking view of the gardens. The lounge creates a lively and cosy environment for guests’ comfort. The lounge also holds the record for being the first to operate 24 hours a day. This gives the guests flexibility to use the space anytime they fancy, either to relax or for business. The lounge comes with private computer rooms, wireless internet access, multimedia conference capabilities, and commercial secretarial services. Tai Pan Lounge offers buffet breakfast, all-day coffee and tea, afternoon tea and evening cocktails. Here are some pictures of the lounge. The Tai Pan Lounge is not extended to elite members and is only for guests in Tai Pan Rooms and suites. They are marketed and priced above the usual executive club lounges.
Afternoon Tea is served from 3pm to 6pm. You can find a lovely spread of both sweet and savoury bites. There is even ice cream!
The staff service is great and they will serve you the drinks. You can get coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices and artisan mineral water.
Evening cocktails are available from 6pm to 10pm. Given how exclusive the place is, it never gets uncomfortable here. Items are high quality and they look good. You can grab your drinks by the bar or the staff will frequently go around the lounge as well. They also have some speciality cocktails available.
The extensive bar comes with a good selection of alcoholic drinks! They even have some exclusive labels and drinks. I tried the Oolong Beer which is exclusive to the hotel and enjoyed it!
Here are some pictures of the hot food on offer. It is certainly worth stopping by for a couple of drinks pre-dinner or after dinner. I appreciate the extensive and generous hours for evening cocktails.
Balcony Lounge
The hotel has not one but two club lounges. The other facility is the Balcony Lounge on the 5th floor. It is open from 2pm to 9pm. This is a facility dedicated to IHG elite members. Afternoon tea runs from 3pm to 6pm and evening cocktails from 6pm to 9pm. It is located right across from the Kids Club which allows the little ones to have some fun while the adults wind down. It is on the smaller side and could fit probably 20 to 30 people. The cosy space makes it great for sheltering from the heat and having an alternative spot to get some work done. Here are some pictures of the lounge.
I managed to check out the afternoon tea selection during my stay and you can find all sorts of small bites and treats. They even had this Haagen-Dazs fridge with all-you-can-eat ice cream.
Kids Club
The Kids Club is located just opposite the Balcony Lounge on the 5th floor. It is open on Fri and Sat from 2pm to 5pm and from 6pm to 9pm. It is an exclusive facility for guests to bring their little ones to have some fun. For kids above 2, they can be left in the care of the staff here while the adults head off to the lounge or to grab dinner nearby. This can certainly come in handy for families.
Fitness Centre & Sauna
The fitness centre is in basement 3 and operates from 6.30am to 10.30am. The space is specifically designed to offer travellers relaxation and revitalization. The fitness centre offers a full range of fitness equipment and also yoga courses. There is also a professional personal trainer team on hand to design personalized exercise courses according to customers’ personal fitness goals.
The sauna is open from 7am to 10.30pm and features separate male and female public naked facilities.
Pool
The pool on the roof operates from 6.30am to 10.30pm. This is one of my favourite spots in the hotel. The pool is manned and the staff service is personalised. They frequently go around the area to maintain cleanliness and offer water. You can also order drinks and snacks by the pool. The daybeds by the side of the pool get plenty of sunshine to work up a tan.
In the evening, from 7pm onwards, guests can also enjoy an outdoor cinema by the pool where movies will be screened for guests to enjoy both in and out of the pool. The vibes are excellent. This is one of the best ways to wind down after a long day. It is a popular activity for families. Soak in the pool while enjoying the latest hits.
Chifeng St Historical Neighbourhood Tour
The Regent Taipei is a step away from the historical Chifeng St neighbourhood. The hotel can arrange paid guided tours to bring guests around the area. We start with a short stroll over to the area. They are so thoughtful to prepare water bottles for us with a sling to bring them around. The tour starts with an introduction to the Guang Neng village and its history.
The tour is very informative. The guide directed us to all the nice spots in the area and explained their relevance. The area has now turned into a hipster spot packed full of cafes, art museums and speciality restaurants. The rustic vibes and ambience are very much worth visiting here. The walking tour takes about an hour.
CURIOUS Bar
Curious is one of the latest creations of 小小樹食, a vegetarian restaurant and holder of the Green Michelin Star. It takes vegetarian food up a notch to the next level. We went to check out the bar for some cocktails. You can get more information on it here. The bar is very cosy and comfortable. It is kind of like a speakeasy. We tried a selection of cocktails from the bar and left it to the talented bartender to surprise us.
MILLION DOLLAR. Made with Knut Hansen dry gin / Vermouth / Pineapple / Homemade grenadine 琴酒 / 香艾酒 / 鳳梨 / 紅石榴糖漿
BLOODY MARY. Made with Pandan flavour Gin / Clarify tomato juice / Lemongrass 斑蘭葉琴酒 / 澄清番茄汁 / 香茅
FINE CUCUMBER FIZZ. Made with Pandan flavour Gin / Elderflower / Lemongrass / Fresh cucumber juice / Soda water 斑蘭葉琴酒 / 接骨木花 / 香茅 / 小黃瓜汁 / 蘇打水
TWELVE MILE LIMIT. Made with House rye / Cognac / Rum / Cinnamon / Homemade grenadine 裸麥威士忌 / 干邑白蘭地 / 蘭姆酒 / 肉桂 / 紅石榴糖漿
We also got their fries and what a unique concept! They did a twist from Mcdonald’s and paired it up with a house-made truffle sauce. This is like Mcdonald’s on steroids! I love the concept of the fries.
Silks House Restaurant
One of the 8 restaurants in the hotel, Silks House is Regent Taipei’s signature Cantonese restaurant. We came here for dinner and got a selection of their speciality dishes. Do make a reservation prior as they can get quite busy. The restaurant is very posh and classy. This is perfect for a fancy date or to celebrate something special.
蜜汁叉燒 Barbecued Pork with Honey Sauce
懷舊多士蝦 Deep Fried Shrimp On Toast Sweet and Sour Sauce
蘿蔔絲酥餅 Deep Fried Radish Pastry
泡椒皮蛋 Preserved Egg with Peeled Pepper
紅油千層峰 Spicy Pig Ear
涼拌綠竹筍 Bamboo Shoot
杏汁燉白肺 Double-Boiled Pork Lung Soup with Almond Juice
膏蟹馬蹄肉餅 Steamed Minced Pork with Crab Roe and Water Chestnuts
棗皇螺頭燉蘆花雞 Double Boiled Sea Conch and Red Date with Chicken Soup
招牌片皮鴨二吃 Roasted Duck in Two Ways
松茸竹笙燉菜膽 Double-Boiled Fish Maw, Chinese Cabbage & Matsutake with Chicken Consommé
清蒸海上鮮 Steamed Fish in Two Ways
鱈蟹西施泡飯 Empress Lobster Stock with King Crab Meat
海派挫冰 Jumbo Taiwanese “Tshuah-ping” Shaved Ice
I enjoyed the dinner. The food was so good! I was mind blown by the scrambled egg made with the remainder of the steamed fish sauce and fish bits. What a special dish and this is my first time having this. The Jumbo shaved ice is also mighty gorgeous but do take note that the portion is huge! Service is very attentive.
Breakfast at The Brasserie
Breakfast is served at The Brasserie on the first floor from 6.30am to 10am. The breakfast service features an open kitchen and a selection of delicacies from all around the world. Breakfast cost NT$968 per person if not included in your room rate or elite benefits. I came down to have breakfast at about 8am. The restaurant was pretty busy but not overly crowded till it gets uncomfortable. Everything is buffet style and there is a huge selection. It is a feast. Let me start introducing the items. Right by the entrance, you have like a bakery and dessert counter. You can find doughnuts and all kinds of bakes and they also had this Taiwanese local bread available. Everything looks so good! I tried the Polo Bun, Spring Onion Bread and the Pork Floss Bun.
The restaurant is currently having a collaboration with Green Michelin Star holder Little Tree Food “小小树林” and you can find some healthy selections like Acai Bowl, Salad Station and healthy grains. They are delicious. The greens are super fresh and I enjoyed making a little salad bowl to kick-start my day.
You have all sorts of fresh juices from grapefruit, orange, apple and soymilk here.
Heading on is the cold station. They have an assortment of Korean salads and small plates. You can also find a Japanese soba station.
The Japanese station offers katsu and curry rice bowls. I love the grilled fish on offer. Then you also have traditional Chinese breakfast items like congee. There is even a whole honey-baked ham carving station.
Staff are also on hand to prep a rice roll which is one of the local breakfast specialities. The Taiwanese breakfast station is my favourite. The chef is busy whipping up fresh sunnyside, carrot cake and spring onion pancake. They are delicious.
Finally, you have the typical Western items such as hash browns and baked beans.
It is clear that the breakfast is a feast over here and I enjoyed it. Getting it as part of your elite benefits is a deal. The memorable items are their salad station, Taiwanese breakfast and bread. I love the time-limited collaboration with Green Michelin Star holder Little Tree Food “小小树林” too. Check out a reel of the breakfast on my IG here.
Conclusion
The Regent Taipei offers everything that you might need for a comfortable stay in Taipei. It is fancy and luxurious. It is one of the top luxurious hotels in Taipei. This will be an excellent choice for IHG members. The location is great and comes with easy access to the public transport system and shops nearby. I can see myself coming back for future stays. I had a great rest in the Tai Pan Room. The luxurious accommodations offer a suitable stay for both leisure and business travellers.
This was part of a hosted media trip by Silks Hotel Group, all views expressed are my own.
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