Mai Thai Wanderings: Postcard from Taipei, Taiwan

January 29, 2026

Postcard from Taipei, Taiwan

What an exhilarating welcome to Taipei! One of our hotel rooms even had a view of Taipei 101—and, unbelievably—Alex Honnold was free-solo climbing the very same tower, no ropes, no safety net (read the news here). Jet lag, however, got the better of us, and we slept through the entire spectacle. Not that we’re particularly eager to watch that kind of adrenaline-fueled madness anyway. We already had plans to visit Taipei 101 ourselves the very next day—preferably with solid ground beneath our feet.

Night view of Taipei 101 from one of our rooms

The ever-popular Din Tai Fung greeted us as we entered Taipei 101, its famously long line already in full force. Tempting—but we had another plan for those legendary soup dumplings. We skipped the wait and headed straight to the lower-level food court instead, and wow—what a spread.

What was supposed to be a quick lunch turned into a full-on tasting tour of Taiwanese favorites: oyster omelet, braised pork, dumplings, soup, and an array of small sides with pickled vegetables and greens. Every bite hit the spot.

Afterward, we wandered upward to explore the mall. With each floor, the shops got fancier—Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Patek Philippe—and yes, even a Ladurée café. Just walking through it all felt like part of the experience.

Instead of the top-floor observatory, we decided to try desserts and coffee at Simple Kaffa Sola cafe on the 88th floor. Big mistake. The service was slow, the pastries were forgettable, and the coffee? Meh. Sure, an affogato (ice cream with espresso) is always a safe bet—but mashed sweet potatoes on toast? We’ll stick to a Ladurée macaron, thank you very much.

Pretty colors, but dessert?

So we came for the view. Earlier that morning, rain had swept through the city, leaving the windows streaked and damp. When a couple of tables near clearer panes finally opened up, we jumped at the chance to snap a few photos. Even under a blanket of clouds, the bird’s-eye view of Taipei was undeniably stunning.

The next day found us at Hangzhou Xiao Long Bao, finally indulging in the aforementioned soup dumplings and pan-fried dumplings.

With Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall located just across the street, it was the perfect place to enjoy some fresh air and walk off some calories.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial

Chiang Kai Shek, former president of the Republic of China

From there, it was off to Ximending, a favorite hangout for younger crowds. It’s the place to see and be seen—especially when night falls and the city comes alive, with street food at every turn.