When friends visit me in Taipei, they usually ask me the same question after spending a day seeing Taipei 101, temples and night markets:
“So where should we go for drinks tonight?”
That question is harder to answer than it sounds.
Taipei nightlife isn’t concentrated in one giant entertainment district. Some of the best bars in Taipei are hidden down quiet lanes in Daan. Others sit high above Xinyi with Taipei 101 almost within touching distance. Then there are places where I go for live music rather than cocktails, and lounges where the night doesn’t really get started until much later.
That’s what I like about going out here.
You can have a completely different Taipei nightlife experience depending on which door you walk through.
If you would rather experience Taipei after dark without worrying about transportation, where to go next or how to get back to your hotel, our 9-Hour Taipei Night Tour combines Taipei’s creative districts, night-market food and Xinyi nightlife in one private evening.
But if you’re planning your own night out, these are 7 bars in Taipei I would put on my list in 2026.
Table of Contents
🍹Best Bars in Taipei at a Glance
| Bar | Best For | Area |
|---|---|---|
| INDULGE Taipei | Serious cocktails & Taiwanese flavors | Da’an |
| KOR Taipei | Stylish late-night lounge | East District |
| Revolver | Live music & alternative nightlife | Zhongzheng |
| CÉ LA VI Taipei | Rooftop views & special occasions | Xinyi |
| Bar Mood Taipei | Creative cocktails | Da’an |
| unDer lab | Experimental cocktail experience | Da’an |
| The Public House | Drinks, food & a relaxed night | Da’an |
What I particularly like about this list is that these aren’t seven versions of the same cocktail bar. They show seven quite different sides of Taipei nightlife.
1. INDULGE Taipei
Best for: Taiwanese-inspired cocktails and a more refined night out
Address: No. 11, Lane 219, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, Taipei
If someone told me they only had time for one serious cocktail bar in Taipei, INDULGE Taipei would be very high on my shortlist.
What I like about INDULGE is that it doesn’t feel like a bar that could simply be picked up and moved to New York, London or Singapore. There is a very obvious Taiwanese identity behind the experience.
That’s important to me when I’m recommending bars to international visitors.
When you’re traveling, you don’t necessarily want another technically perfect cocktail that tastes exactly like something you could order back home. I want the place I’m drinking in to tell me something about the city I’m visiting.
INDULGE has built much of its reputation around incorporating Taiwanese influences into its drinks and dining experience. It has also been a regular presence in discussions of Taipei’s internationally recognized cocktail scene.
The atmosphere is polished, but I wouldn’t describe it as stiff.
This is where I’d start a night when I actually want to pay attention to what I’m drinking rather than immediately heading somewhere loud.
Why I’d Go
Come here if:
- you actually care about cocktails;
- you want Taiwanese influences rather than generic international drinks;
- you’re on a date;
- you want somewhere sophisticated without immediately going into full nightclub mode.
My suggestion: Don’t rush INDULGE. I would treat it as the main cocktail stop of the evening rather than trying to squeeze it into an aggressive five-bar crawl.
2. KOR Taipei
Best for: A dressier, more energetic Taipei night
Address: 5F, No. 201, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Da’an District, Taipei
KOR is where I’d go when the group tells me:
“We don’t just want cocktails. We actually want to go out.”
That distinction matters.
Some Taipei bars are designed around quietly watching a bartender work. KOR Taipei feels much closer to a late-night social experience.
It’s officially positioned as a “Super Lounge,” combining a lounge environment, table service and a more energetic nightlife atmosphere. Its current schedule also runs particularly late on Friday and Saturday nights.
To me, KOR fits the moment when dinner is finished, everyone has changed into something a little nicer, and nobody is ready to go back to the hotel.
I wouldn’t necessarily choose it for someone whose perfect evening is sitting alone at the bar discussing bitters with a bartender.
That’s not really why I come here.
I’d choose KOR when I’m with friends and want the Taipei nightlife part of the evening to feel like an actual night out.
Why I’d Go
KOR works well for:
- groups of friends;
- celebrations;
- late Friday or Saturday nights;
- travelers who prefer lounges to traditional cocktail bars;
- people looking for a more fashionable East District experience.
If you’re deciding between Taipei cocktail bars and Taipei clubs, KOR sits somewhere comfortably in between.
3. Revolver
Best for: Live music, alternative Taipei and a completely different crowd
Address: No. 1-2, Section 1, Roosevelt Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
This is where the list changes direction.
I wouldn’t go to Revolver because I’m hunting for the prettiest cocktail of the night.
I go because Revolver feels like a part of Taipei that visitors don’t always encounter.
It’s a bar, art space and music venue that describes itself as a cultural landmark for Taipei’s alternative music scene, and its calendar regularly features independent bands, DJs and experimental performances.
That makes it very different from the polished nightlife around Taipei 101.
And that’s exactly why I wanted it in this list.
Some nights I don’t want marble counters, skyline views and a carefully explained cocktail concept.
Sometimes I want a drink, a loud band and a room full of people who actually came because they care about the music.
Revolver gives me that.
Why I’d Go
Choose Revolver if you like:
- indie music;
- live bands;
- DJs;
- underground culture;
- casual bars;
- meeting a younger and more alternative Taipei crowd.
I’d always check what’s happening that night before going because the experience can change dramatically depending on the event.
That unpredictability is part of the fun.
Travel tip: If Taipei’s nightlife starts feeling a little too polished, spend an evening here. It shows you another side of the city.
4. CÉ LA VI Taipei
Best for: Rooftop drinks, Taipei 101 views and special occasions
Address: 48F, No. 17, Songzhi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei
There are nights when the drink isn’t the only reason I’m choosing a bar.
Sometimes I just want the view.
For that, CÉ LA VI Taipei is difficult to ignore.
It’s located on the 48th floor of Breeze Nanshan in Xinyi, putting you right in the middle of Taipei’s modern skyline. The venue currently includes its Skybar, lounge and BOON by CÉ LA VI spaces.
This is the Taipei I like showing someone when it’s their first trip.
Earlier in the day they might have been walking around Longshan Temple or eating street food in a night market.
Then suddenly we’re dozens of floors above Xinyi, surrounded by skyscrapers and looking across one of the most modern parts of the city.
That contrast is very Taipei.
For me, this isn’t necessarily the bar I’d visit every casual Friday evening.
It is the one I’d consider for:
- a first night in Taipei;
- an anniversary;
- a birthday;
- drinks with a view;
- showing an overseas friend Taipei’s glamorous side.
My Favorite Way to Plan It
If you’re visiting Taipei 101 in the afternoon, have dinner around Xinyi and save CÉ LA VI for later.
It creates a natural transition from sightseeing into nightlife without spending half the evening moving across the city.
And yes, this is one of those places where I actually want the window seat.
5. Bar Mood Taipei 吧沐
Best for: Creative cocktails without a huge nightclub atmosphere
Address: No. 53, Lane 160, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei
One thing I’ve learned about drinking in Taipei is that some of my favorite nights aren’t in the biggest venues.
They’re in the lanes.
Bar Mood Taipei is exactly the kind of place that makes Da’an so good for bar hopping.
Instead of putting all the emphasis on size, spectacle or a skyline, places like this make the drink itself part of the night’s entertainment.
This is where I’d take someone who tells me:
“I want a really good Taipei cocktail bar, but I don’t want a club.”
That sentence describes a surprisingly large part of Taipei’s nightlife scene.
Why I’d Go
I like Bar Mood for:
- a date night;
- a first or second cocktail of the evening;
- smaller groups;
- people who want to talk;
- travelers specifically interested in Taipei cocktail culture.
It also works particularly well as part of a Da’an bar hopping night because several good drinking areas are relatively close together.
That is one reason I often recommend choosing a neighborhood first rather than simply selecting five famous bars scattered across Taipei.
Your night becomes much more enjoyable when you’re not spending half of it in taxis.
6. unDer lab
Best for: Travelers who want something experimental
Address: B1, No. 51, Lane 308, Guangfu South Road, Da’an District, Taipei
The name already tells you something.
unDer lab isn’t the bar I’d choose for somebody who only wants a familiar gin and tonic and doesn’t particularly care what happens next.
I’d put it on the list for someone who enjoys the creative side of cocktail culture.
And Taipei is very good at that.
The city’s strongest cocktail bars don’t only compete on luxury. A lot of them have become known for experimentation, presentation and incorporating ideas that feel very specific to Taiwan.
That’s the kind of night unDer lab fits into.
What I also like is the basement setting.
Descending into a B1 space immediately changes the mood from the city outside. Taipei can be bright, crowded and incredibly busy at street level, while some of its most interesting nightlife is hidden below it.
Who I’d Bring Here
I’d recommend unDer lab to:
- cocktail enthusiasts;
- couples;
- repeat Taipei visitors;
- people tired of generic hotel bars;
- travelers who like discovering places their friends probably haven’t visited.
If this is your first Taipei bar experience, you could start somewhere easier and save unDer lab for later in the night.
If you’ve already done the obvious places, I’d move it much higher on your list.
7. The Public House
Best for: Cocktails, food and staying much longer than planned
Address: 1F, No. 143, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei
Some bars impress me immediately.
Other bars are the places where I suddenly realize I’ve been sitting for two hours.
The Public House falls into the second category.
What works for me here is the balance between being a serious drinking destination and still feeling like somewhere I could actually spend an evening.
The Public House has repeatedly appeared on Asia’s 50 Best Bars lists in recent years, while also serving food alongside its cocktail program.
That combination matters more than people think.
If I’m planning a longer Taipei night, I don’t always want every stop to feel like a formal cocktail tasting.
Sometimes I want good drinks, something to eat and a table where everyone can actually talk.
Why I’d Go
This is one of my picks for:
- drinks after dinner;
- a relaxed date;
- small groups;
- cocktail lovers who also want food;
- a final stop before heading back to the hotel.
For visitors who don’t want a loud nightclub but still want to experience Taipei nightlife, The Public House is an easy recommendation.
Which Taipei Bar Should You Choose?
If you only have one or two evenings in Taipei, I wouldn’t try to visit all seven.
I’d choose according to the type of night I want.
For serious cocktails:
INDULGE Taipei or Bar Mood.
For experimental cocktails:
unDer lab.
For rooftop views:
CÉ LA VI Taipei.
For a fashionable late night:
KOR Taipei.
For live music and an alternative crowd:
Revolver.
For drinks plus food and conversation:
The Public House.
Personally, I think three bars is already a very good Taipei bar-hopping night.
More than that and I start remembering taxis better than the actual bars.
My Favorite Area for Bar Hopping in Taipei
If cocktails are the priority, I usually recommend Da’an and Taipei’s East District.
There’s enough density here that you can build an evening around several places without crossing the entire city. Da’an and Xinyi are also two of the major areas for cocktail bars, lounges and late-night venues.
A night could look something like:
Dinner → INDULGE → Bar Mood → The Public House
Or, if I want something livelier:
Dinner → cocktail bar → KOR
For a more visual first-time Taipei experience:
Taipei 101 → dinner in Xinyi → CÉ LA VI
And when I want something less polished:
Local dinner → Revolver → late-night food
That’s much closer to how I actually plan nights out than blindly following a “top 10 bars” list.
What I Recommend Doing Before Your Night Out
Taipei nightlife is easy to enjoy, but there are a few things I always check first.
Check the Bar’s Social Media
Opening days, guest bartenders, special events and live performances can change.
I especially recommend checking the venue’s Instagram on the same day you plan to visit.
Reserve Popular Bars on Weekends
For small cocktail bars and upscale lounges, Friday and Saturday can get busy.
If there is one bar you absolutely don’t want to miss, I wouldn’t leave it entirely to chance.
Don’t Build Your Night Around Too Many Neighborhoods
Taipei looks compact on a map.
After several drinks, traveling back and forth between Zhongshan, Da’an, Xinyi and Ximending feels much less clever.
Choose one or two nearby areas and enjoy them properly.
Eat Before You Drink
This is Taiwan.
There is absolutely no reason to begin a night hungry.
I often prefer doing a night market first and moving into cocktails afterward.
For a classic Taipei evening, you can start with our Raohe Street Night Market guide before heading toward Xinyi for drinks.
Is Taipei Nightlife Worth Experiencing?
Definitely.
What surprised me most about Taipei nightlife isn’t how wild it is.
It’s how varied it is.
One night I can be drinking a Taiwanese-inspired cocktail in a quiet Da’an lane.
The next I can be listening to an indie band at Revolver.
Another evening I’m looking at Taipei 101 from a rooftop in Xinyi.
And somewhere between all of that, I’ll probably end up eating something at a convenience store at 1 a.m.
That’s Taipei at night.
It doesn’t need one enormous nightlife district to be interesting.
You just need to know where to look.
Want Someone Else to Plan Your Taipei Night?
If it’s your first visit and you’d rather enjoy the evening instead of constantly checking Google Maps, we can build the night around you.
Our 9-Hour Taipei Night Tour can combine creative neighborhoods, local food, a night market, Taipei’s city lights and bar hopping in Xinyi.
If you’d rather design everything yourself, our Custom Taipei Private Tour can also be adjusted around your interests and schedule.
You can also read my guide to things to do in Taipei at night if drinking is only one part of your evening.
Because the best Taipei night isn’t necessarily about visiting the most places.
It’s about finding the version of the city you actually enjoy.
FAQ: Best Bars in Taipei
What are the best bars in Taipei for first-time visitors?
For a first visit, I’d choose one bar based on drinks and one based on atmosphere. INDULGE is a strong choice for cocktails, while CÉ LA VI gives you the Xinyi skyline experience. If you want something livelier later at night, KOR provides a very different atmosphere.
Where is the best nightlife in Taipei?
For cocktail bars and upscale nightlife, I particularly like Da’an and Xinyi. Ximending offers a different, younger late-night atmosphere, while other neighborhoods have their own smaller bar scenes.
Where can I find rooftop bars in Taipei?
Xinyi is my first choice when rooftop views are the priority. CÉ LA VI Taipei is on the 48th floor of Breeze Nanshan and is one of the seven venues included in this guide.
Where should I go for live music in Taipei?
Revolver is my pick from this list. It operates as both a bar and live-music/event venue and regularly hosts independent and alternative performances.
Should I make reservations at Taipei bars?
For popular cocktail bars and lounges on Friday and Saturday, I usually recommend reserving if possible. Live-music venues such as Revolver work differently, so always check the individual venue’s current event information before visiting.
Can I combine a Taipei night market with bar hopping?
Yes—and I actually prefer doing it this way. Have dinner or street food first, then head into Da’an or Xinyi for cocktails. It gives you two completely different sides of Taipei in one evening.