Capella Taipei Holds The Keys To The City’s Best-Kept Secrets

Across the globe, bigger, fancier hotels are springing up faster than ever. If every turn in the city brings another five-star hotel, luxury is no longer defined by exclusivity. What, then, transforms a hotel from luxurious to unforgettable? This is the question to ask if what you’re seeking is more than just a simple stay.

At the newly minted Capella Taipei, you’ll step in to find what the award-winning architect André Fu calls a modern mansion. Everything you’d expect from a mansion is all here: a gym outfitted with Technogym facilities, a spa inspired by the peacefulness of Taiwan’s mountainous terrain, and a heated terrace pool overlooking the iconic Taipei 101.

Even in an estate of such splendour, the heart of the home always begins in The Living Room. This is where you’ll get to try your hand at Chinese chess (or Gomoku), while sipping on tea—a typical scene you’ll spot at public squares, where communities come together to socialise and relax. To understand more about Taiwan’s cultural activities, Capella Moments also offers hands-on workshops every day, such as traditional tea tasting, Hakka paper umbrella painting, an Aiyu jelly workshop, and an indigenous weaving class. “Each session invites guests to connect deeply with local culture and traditions, transforming discovery into moments of meaningful connection,” says Dennis Laubenstien, general manager of Capella Taipei.

Back in the comfort of your room, its design doesn’t loudly proclaim Taiwan, but you will notice traces of the country’s regional specialties that come as a delightful surprise—from Yilan’s artisanal Kavalan whisky, to Taichung’s juicy ponkan mandarins.

Beyond the quiet chambers of this modern mansion are five distinct restaurants, each a nod to the diverse foodways throughout Taiwan’s history. Plume offers a peek into the local morning routine, featuring Taiwanese breakfast staples such as dan bing, salty soy milk, and egg scallion crepe. Ember 28 tells the story of how the people once lived using wood-fire cooking methods before modernisation. And, as a result of historical migration from Guangdong and the Japanese administration period, Taiwan’s rich culinary landscape is highlighted in Rong Ju and Mizue, serving Cantonese and Japanese flavours, respectively. The global café culture seems to have made its mark in Taipei as well, coming to life at Atelier Plume, which blends Taiwan’s seasonal bounty with French patisserie artistry.

The hotel’s gastronomic offerings continue in a striking pavilion, fittingly named The Glasshouse, just steps away from the property. This is a tri-level bar, only unveiled recently, but is already among Laubenstein’s favourite spots in Capella Taipei. Each floor presents a unique experience: one serves cocktails inspired by native botanicals, another showcases an impressive selection of aged spirits and vintage cuvées, and the third is a dedicated space to groove to vinyl tracks and live performances.

The beauty of Capella Hotels and Resorts isn’t just about cultivating the region’s culture within its properties. Through its Capella Curates programme, each property is dedicated to sharing the authentic life experiences you’d rarely come across in popular media. Some spots are even overlooked by many locals, unless they’ve truly spent time exploring the vicinity.

To unlock these adventures, start your day with Capella Taipei’s morning ritual, held beneath one of Taipei’s preserved banyan trees just outside the hotel. Here, a Capella Culturist will guide you through a map of the neighbourhood, sharing the tales of each corner—and every day brings a different theme.

Along Dunhua Road, where Capella Taipei stands, take a leisurely stroll and let the roads lead you through the Songshan District. Songshan Airport lies just ahead, one of the few city-centre airports that has been operating since the Japanese colonial era. There’s a distinctly old-school charm to it, with its original structure intact and airplanes taking off just blocks away.

As you wander up to Fujin Street, you’ll quickly realise why it’s so cherished by the locals. Unlike the more popular Yongkang Street or Ximending, Fujin Street is beloved for its laidback atmosphere that is lined with passion businesses, from stylish boutiques and cosy cafés to indie galleries and chic furniture stores. If you’re in the mood for a little snack, venture into But. We Love Butter, where you’ll first find yourself inside a tailor before stumbling upon a trendy pastry shop tucked deeper inside.

Pastry in hand, continue down the street until you reach a red gate to yet another subtle discovery called Words Studio. For the past nine years, this has been Taipei’s one and only greeting card shop. Inside, you can browse through 17,000 different types of postcards collected by the shop’s founder, Michael Lin, over the years. He is also an enthusiast of tabletop sharpeners, with more than 700 displayed throughout the shop. With a bit of luck, you might even encounter artist Ariel Chi, who enjoys spending his time sketching here. His works can be found on many of Capella Taipei’s keepsakes and, with more than 30 years of experience, he has also collaborated with brands such as IWC Schaffhausen and Zenith, and has been a judge for the Times Asia-Pacific Advertising Awards.

These experiences offer just a glimpse of what Capella Taipei has curated for its guests. There are more treasures that await not only in Songshan, but also in the historic trade port of Dadaocheng and the rural beauty of Pinglin. So, is this merely another luxurious hotel, or will it be a stay you’ll never forget? That’s for you to decide.

Capella Taipei