It’s such a big, expansive, vibrant city but I love visiting Taipei. It’s one of my favorite places to escape to since it’s only an hour long flight from Hong Kong. Usually when I visit Taipei, it has been in the spring or summer, so this was my first time visiting in winter. Winter might officially be my favorite time to visit Taipei. Not only are the temperatures much cooler, but the city does light up for the holidays. The holiday season is such an exciting time of year, but the festivities expand over a few months in Asia and so it’s the perfect time to travel to experience it all. In Asia, we have Christmas, New Year’s, Lunar New Year, and Valentine’s Day all in the span of 2 months. It’s such a celebratory time around the continent, and so we got to see what the holiday season was like at the beginning of the season in Taipei.
Sure, the weather was a little gloomy, but as a native East Coast USA girl, rain/snow is not abnormal for me this time of year and so I happily welcomed it. The weather was cold enough to wear thick jackets, and the warmth of a lovely xiao long bao and red oolong latte sat just right. What made our trip more magical for the holidays was the most luxurious hotel in the city – the Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Elegance, luxury, and comfort made this dreamy location the perfect home away from home as we explored Taipei for the holiday season. After a luxurious pick-up from the airport less than an hour away, everything was seamless from start to finish as we indulged in what now might officially be my favorite time of year in Taipei.
We also couldn’t help but indulge in not one but two different afternoon teas at the Mandarin Oriental. If this post is starting to feel like a massive food diary, that’s probably because we really could not stop eating during our stay. There were food options everywhere we turned. Since our room featured access to the Oriental Lounge, we were able to enjoy their minimal but upscale afternoon tea at no extra cost. We filled our plates with delicious sweets and divine miniature savory dishes, along with some absolutely incredible hojicha scones (I’m a massive hojicha lover).
On our last day, we also squeezed in some afternoon tea at the Jade Lounge, just off the lobby. This elegant setting was a great final stop for our holiday visit to Taipei as they were featuring a festive afternoon tea for the season. Diving into more savory sandwiches and perfect sweet treats made our tummies quite full but it was well worth it. The beau and I got to unwind after a marvelous 2-day trip underneath stunning chandeliers and a magnificent afternoon tea setting that made us ready for the holidays.
If you’re looking for an elegant, comfortable home away from home in Taipei for Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year, and/or Valentine’s Day, then Mandarin Oriental Taipei ticks every box. Its location allowed the beau and I to easily visit many spots in Taipei, the restaurants in the hotel kept us nice and full, and the room was so comfortable that it felt more like a cozy apartment than a hotel. We can’t wait to return one day with little bean.
Thank you to the Mandarin Oriental Taipei for partnering on this post and hosting our stay. Although we were guests of the Mandarin Oriental Taipei, all opinions are my own.
