High-gloss glamour: A review of the W Taipei in Taiwan

What is the W Taipei?

How to book the W Taipei

Rooms at the W Taipei are spacious and chic

Upon check-in, I was upgraded to a Marvelous suite, which was, simply put, massive. My room was more than 1,000 square feet and felt as enormous as it sounds, with a huge living room, a large desk and work area, and even a separate seating area near the window. The space featured ultramodern furniture and a sophisticated design. Dark wood floors were contrasted by bright linens, white lacquer furniture and cabinets, and a vibrant pop of green from the shag rug and velvet ottoman.

While I didn’t have a view of the famous Taipei 101 high-rise, I did have a sweeping city view through the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out on central Taipei.

The room was filled with colorful details, like a red dragon statue on a stand as you entered the suite. I also found the large white desk and workspace area a great place to catch up on writing. Wi-Fi was excellent during my stay, fast enough to stream television on my laptop.

I also appreciated the tree-shaped jewelry holder near the desk — another pop of red that really drew the eye.

A guest bathroom just off the suite’s front door featured a bidet toilet and a small sink surrounded by rich wood walls and dim lighting.

The minibar featured lots of goodies like a small bottle of Pommery Pop Champagne ($40), a 2019 Robert Mondavi chardonnay ($31.50), Corona and Heineken beers (both $8), 7UP ($6), Pepsi ($6) and Tree Top apple juice ($4) along with Evian (free for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite members).

The massive, comfortable couch faced a 42-inch plasma television. The large living area could be closed off from the bedroom with two giant sliding wooden doors on the sides of the TV wall.

Inside the large bedroom was a king-size bed with 400-thread-count sheets and a pocket-spring Simmons mattress that I found soft and ideal for a deep slumber.

To the left of the bed, on one of two large side tables, there was a phone, alarm clock, notepad, a sound machine and even a selection of mints. There were plenty of outlets throughout the room, including next to the bed. Outlets featured both standard plugs and USB ports. You won’t need to bring an adaptor if you are visiting the W Taipei.

Two giant wooden closets were filled with the accouterments you’d expect at an upscale resort, including an ironing board, robes, slippers, a safe and even a steamer.

The bathroom was crafted from striking marble of varying shades. The centerpiece was a huge soaking bathtub complete with a small television and city views from a separate window. Shades went up and down with the flick of a button.

A large marble double sink was divided by an amenity bar filled with goodies the weary traveler might need during their stay.

Among the goodies were dental and vanity kits, shaving sets, bottled water and mouthwash. Body cream and cleansing cream were from a line called Skin Regimen from the Italian skincare brand Davines.

There was a small water closet with green glass architecture and a white marble wall. The Toto toilet had a full bidet, as you’d expect at a luxury hotel in Asia.

Right next to the toilet chamber was the shower, also featuring a glass wall. The shower had both a rain-style showerhead and a handheld wand, and the water pressure was excellent. Body wash, shampoo and conditioner were in wall-mounted large containers branded Momo — also by Davines.

The room was large, well designed and comfortable. It’s definitely one of the best upgrades I’ve received in my travels, and it was an especially nice treat after a stay at the nearby Grand Hyatt Taipei, which didn’t feel quite as sumptuous.

The restaurants and bars live up to the W hype

There are several dining options at W Taipei if you choose to eat on-property, including the stand-out Seasons by Olivier E.

Yen Chinese Restaurant

Yen Chinese Restaurant is on the 31st floor of the hotel. It serves modern (and pricey) Chinese food at night and is also the location for breakfast in the mornings. It is a massive, well-lit space space.

I found the breakfasts at the hotel very enjoyable (my breakfast was included in my rate with the FHR benefit, but otherwise, the cost is about $29.90). There are dozens of dishes to choose from, including an omelet station, a juice bar, traditional Chinese breakfast choices like dim sum and a full pastry selection. Admittedly, I found all the choices a bit overwhelming, but prompt and efficient service during my morning meals made the experience pretty seamless.

I also tried dinner one night at Yen just for the experience. The restaurant looks spectacular at night with the bright lights of the city casting a sparkle on the restaurant.

I tried the drunken chicken with Shaoxing wine jelly ($14.34), the chef’s special fried rice ($27.41), and a wok-fried beef tenderloin ($37.62). The food was beautifully presented but too heavily spiced for my taste.

Yen Bar

Yen Bar is also on the 31st floor. During the day, it serves as the juice bar for breakfast, but at night, you can sip flavorful signature cocktails with sweeping views of Taipei in an uber-chic, velvet-adorned space with pops of red, purple and silver. Some alcoves even have dramatic views of Taipei 101.

Woobar

W Hotels are famous for their Woobars. The W Taipei had a super-fun lobby-floor bar where elite members get a free drink between 5 and 7 every evening. While I didn’t try any food here, I did grab a Coke Zero, and the service was prompt.

There was space for a live DJ and a gorgeous fireplace with several fun seating areas. A gift shop was also filled with items like scented candles and tchotchkes.

Seasons by Olivier E

Seasons by Olivier E. was the best meal I had at W Taipei. This is a modern French restaurant located on the 10th-floor lobby of the hotel, created in collaboration with French chef Olivier Elzer, who has opened restaurants at several other luxury properties like the St. Regis in Hong Kong.

To begin, I tried a $6 French hot dog (think corn dog) and a tray of miniature croque-monsieurs for $7.25. As my main course, I had the beef bourguignon with crispy bacon on top ($22). My dessert was delicious: a “croffle” with a piece of what seemed like a waffle topped with vanilla ice cream and a salted caramel sauce ($9.50).

I can’t recommend Olivier E. more.

Wet Bar

The Wet Bar was closed while I was staying at the hotel, and the staff told me it was mostly used for special events during the winter.

I imagine it would be a great place to grab a cocktail while hanging out at the nearby swimming pool in the summer.

Friendly and attentive service at W Taipei

I was impressed with the service at the W Taipei, starting with check-in. You enter the lobby, and a few friendly employees greet guests arriving on the street level. Elevators take you to the 10th floor for the main lobby and check-in area, which features rich red accents and sweeping city views.

I was greeted warmly whenever I came into contact with a service worker, from the bellhops to the housekeepers to the front desk. Service was excellent at every turn. I was especially taken with Jason and Ni, who worked at the front desk.

Jason not only gave me that incredible upgrade, but he also helped me figure out a daunting multicity train itinerary during New Year, when many trains are sold out. He must have spent at least an hour figuring out the best schedules and booking tickets for me. Ni was also helpful when I was struggling during checkout, trying to figure out where to go to catch my train.

Sometimes, service at W properties can be hit or miss, but I found that W Taipei was filled with friendly employees who were eager to help.

The W Taipei has some great amenities, like a stunning pool

The W Taipei swimming pool is simply beautiful. The 82-foot outdoor pool is heated, so you can use it even in the rainy season. There were plenty of stylish loungers next to black-and-white umbrellas and other seating areas offering incredible views of the Xinyi District and nearby high-rises. I bet it’s popular in the summer, though it was fairly quiet during my stay. An especially interesting feature was the huge stainless steel sculptures, including one resembling Mickey Mouse.

Fitness buffs can take advantage of the massive on-site gym

The Fit Gym at the W Taipei was sizable, with floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of space to spread out. Views of the Taipei skyline certainly helped inspire my aerobic exercise. The space was filled with Technogym equipment, including four elliptical bicycles, two treadmills and plenty of free-weight machines.

There was also a space for stretching and a yoga room.

Staff members were proactive when it came to handing out towels and during my two workouts. I only ever saw two to three other people in the enormous facility, so it felt like a relatively quiet part of the hotel.

Melt your stress away at the Away Spa

The Away Spa is on the 12th floor of the hotel, along with the gym, and it’s worth making time for this full-service spa.

Among the services on offer are body scrubs, body wraps, massages, manicures, pedicures and, of course, massages. For the purposes of a review, I treated myself to an hourlong massage — you know, for research. I decided on what the hotel calls a “de-stress” massage. A 60-minute massage was $125, and I felt it was well worth the price. The masseuse suggested that, since I had so much tension in my back, we’d turn it into a deep-tissue massage instead for an additional $25.

There were also full men’s and women’s locker rooms, both of which had a steam room, sauna, hot tub, dipping tub and cold plunge pool. I enjoyed soaking and steaming before my massage. Note that swimsuits are not allowed once in the sauna rooms.

There was even an automatic massage chair.

I would have loved to spend a few days just using the spa and gym at the property.

Reasons W Taipei might not be for you

While I really enjoyed my stay at this property, there are a few reasons the W Taipei might not be the perfect fit for you.

• This trendy hotel attracts a young demographic, and often those who like to party, so if you prefer a quieter hotel, you may want to look elsewhere. (There is a DJ in the lobby, and the Woobar can see many late-night guests.)
• The W Taipei location is ideal for visiting the surrounding business district and is also close to a lot of high-end shopping, but if you crave a more authentic experience closer to things like the night markets, you might want to find another hotel.
• The hotel has no executive lounge, so if that is what you are after, you are better off at a hotel like the nearby Grand Hyatt.

Accessibility

Accessibility appeared to be an important feature of the W Taipei. The hotel has five fully wheelchair-accessible rooms that feature roll-in showers and lowered sinks and furniture. Those rooms also offer support bars in the bathrooms.

Elevators, room doors and hallways were wide throughout the property. The buttons in the elevators were lowered, and there were grab bars in some as well.

Some elevators at this hotel are specifically designed for wheelchairs and even have separate call buttons. Hallways and doorways were wide enough to accommodate mobility assistance devices.

The entrance to the hotel was flat and wide, which would make it easy for a wheelchair to enter from a car or taxi.

The one area that wasn’t accessible was the swimming pool, which did not have lift chairs that I saw during my stay.

Alternatives to the W Taipei

If the W Taipei isn’t quite your thing, there are some other interesting options in Taipei.

Also in the Marriott family, there’s the Le Meridien Taipei, which is not far from the W Taipei and features an indoor heated pool. Rooms start around $287 or 67,000 Marriott Bonvoy points a night.

There are two more budget options for Marriott fans as well. The Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel starts at $190 (or 30,000 points), and the Courtyard Taipei Downtown starts at $170 (or 35,000 points). Finally, there’s also Hotel Proverbs Taipei, a member of Design Hotels, which looks intriguing, though it’s a bit pricer with rates starting at $211 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

There’s the very popular Grand Hyatt Taipei for World of Hyatt fans. I also visited this classic hotel in the heart of Taipei, just a 10-minute walk from W Taipei. This hotel is getting a bit long in the tooth and I found the service wasn’t as polished as I’ve come to expect from the Grand Hyatt brand. The rooms are large, if a bit dated, but the spa and swimming pool more than made up for the rooms. Rates at the Grand Hyatt start at $165 or 15,00 World of Hyatt points per night.

There are also a few Hilton hotels in Taipei. The Hotel Resonance Taipei, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and Humble House Taipei, Curio Collection by Hilton start around $168 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points a night. The Hilton Taipei Sinban starts at just $117 or 31,000 points.

Checking out

Over a decade after it opened, the W Taipei retains its cool factor. The large, comfortable rooms, friendly staff and central location make it a great option for travelers heading to the Taiwanese capital.

The W Taipei isn’t the wild party scene you may have experienced at other older W hotels, but there’s still enough going on to make it a fun place to hang out with an energetic vibe.

On my next trip to Taiwan, I would definitely stay at the W Taipei again. In fact, despite my loyalty to Hyatt, I’d choose the W Taipei over the Grand Hyatt anytime. I’d love to get a chance to enjoy that stunning outdoor swimming pool in the summertime when a live DJ is spinning and all the cool kids are hanging out on the deck sipping cocktails in the sun.

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