ngl the rooftop bar is fine but not worth making a whole night out of. the view is good but you're looking at the same skyline you'd see from any tall building in neihu. if you're set on going, the real trick is to go on a weekday around 8pm when the business crowd thins out and you can actually breathe. the cocktails are like 450-550 NT and they're decent but nothing mindblowing. honestly i'd grab a beer from the 7-11 across the street and walk over to the riverside park instead, way better view of the city lights reflecting off the water and no cover charge.

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i live in neihu so i've been to that marriott rooftop a few times. the view is solid but the real move is grabbing a window seat at the lobby lounge one floor below. same skyline, way less crowded, and they do these little tea-pairing snacks that are better than the bar food upstairs. also if ur working late the lobby stays open til like 1am and the bartenders there are nicer lol

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Worth it. The views from the rooftop bar are genuinely spectacular, especially at sunset. It's busy, yeah, but not impossibly so. Get there a little before sunset to snag a decent spot. The drinks are pricey, naturally, but the atmosphere is pretty chill despite the crowds. Room service is always an option, but the experience of that bar, seeing the whole city spread out below... that's a different level. I'd say go for it, but maybe make a reservation if you can.

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solid breakdown, covers the essentials. for zhongzheng, I'd point out that the area around chiang kai-shek memorial hall is dead quiet after 9pm, so if you want a drink or late snack you're walking 15 mins to guting or dongmen. but staying near nanmen market is a hidden gem, you get fresh breakfast stalls and that old taipei feel without the tourist crowds.

da'an is nice but honestly overpriced for what you get unless you're expensing it. I'd rather stay in zhongshan and walk to the same cafes, plus you get the bonus of those little speakeasies near the fine arts museum that nobody talks about. the mrt from zhongshan to da'an is like 5 stops anyway.

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honestly, this is a solid breakdown. i'd add that if you're into late night eats, ximending is unbeatable but be warned that it gets really crowded on weekends. i stayed near zhongshan once and loved how easy it was to walk to those little alley restaurants around linsen north road, feels more local than da'an which can be a bit sterile.

for beitou, the public hot springs at the beitou public library area are free and way more authentic than the hotel ones imo. just bring a towel and flip flops.

neihu is underrated for families, yeah, but the mrt ride to central taipei is like 20 mins which is fine. my friends rented an airbnb there with a balcony and it was way cheaper than anything in da'an.

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i'd add that for the digital nomad crowd, taipei main station is actually underrated for coworking. there's a spot called q square that has this huge lounge area on the 3rd floor near the food court, free wifi and outlets everywhere, i used to camp there for hours between meetings. beats paying for a cafe in da'an.

if you're on a budget and want something between ximending and neihu, check out wanhua district proper. it's where ximending sits but the older parts around longshan temple have guesthouses for like $25 a night and you get actual temple vibes at sunrise. just don't expect fancy amenities, it's more about the experience.

the guide mentions beitou for relaxation but nobody talks about the hike up to yangmingshan from there. it's a 40 minute walk from the mrt station to the sulfur vents and you can soak your feet in a free stream along the trail. way better than paying for a hotel pool imo

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