amba Hotel is a homegrown hip business hotel that inspires creativity among local artists, promotes Taiwanese culture through local products and local eats and, most importantly, provides fast wifi connectivity.
There are three amba Hotel locations in Taipei—Ximending, Zhongshan and Songshan. You can hop from one location to another to experience the different neighborhoods of Taipei.
We all agree that this is the best place to stay in fun Taipei. Here’s why…
AMBA TAIPEI XIMENDING
amba Taipei Ximending is located at the heart of Ximending shopping district and integrated into the fashionable Eslite shopping complex. It is the perfect location for eating and shopping specially if you only have a few days to stay in Taipei.
amba Taipei Ximending
77 Section 2 Wuchang Street, Taipei
Telephone: +886 2 2375 5111
Facebook: @ambaXimending
Instagram: @amba.hotels
Website: www.amba-hotels.com/en/ximending/
Check out low amba Taipei Ximending Hotel rates and availability from Booking.com/OurAwesomePlanet.
Take the elevator to the 5th floor to get to the lobby with the Creative Space showcase.
Each floor has a graffiti or designed photo wall where you can take a selfie upon arrival to announce that you are in Taipei.
My favorite place on this floor is the tingba lounge (‘ting’ means ‘to listen’ in Chinese) which features the contemporary sounds of Taipei.
The walls are adorned with more than 300 vintage denim jeans, classic vinyl records and recycled music speakers to give a welcoming retro chic vibe.
Can you guess what this is? Yes, you are correct—it’s the current exchange rates in Lego fashion.
The most impressive perhaps is this series of mosaic portraits by a local artist.
Take a closer look and see what the mosaic is made of.
Each floor has a different theme. You have to go to the 7th floor to take your selfie with the best mural in the property—a 14-meter wide painting of the Ximending neighborhood.
The 6th floor features a music-themed guest room floor. It is also where the free self-service laundry can be found.
Room 1030
We stayed on the 10th floor, which is the highest guest room floor in this 160-room hotel.
Most of the rooms only have a window to the outside world except for 3 rooms on the 10th floor.
Loved the welcome local treats and seasonal fruits. Do you know how to open these bottles of traditional Taiwanese marble soda?
This is a signature deconstructed bathroom set-up with long open wash basin and big mirror designed for sharing.
There are a separate washroom with cool conservation reminders and a shower room with dual rainforest and power massage showerheads.
They use all-natural rejuvenating ginger bathroom amenities, exclusively provided by the socially responsible Taiwanese brand Two Acres.
Free bath gel, shampoo, hair conditioner, tooth brush, tooth paste, shower cap and cotton buds. They provide free shaver, hairbrush and sewing kit upon request
They use unbleached organic cotton towels and provide an ionic hairdryer.
You can buy the in-room amenities and products in the store near the reception.
Bathrobes and cool Taiwanese slippers, which you can take home, are provided.
You can also request for iron and ironing board.
If you have a big family like ours, do inquire about this exclusive family room with sofa beds.
Ximending Breakfast
Breakfast is served at the chiba restaurant (‘chi’, means ”to eat’ in Chinese) on the fifth floor. It has an open kitchen and the ingredients are presented like in a market. Seating is communal…
…and the tables are surrounded by collectibles, memorabilia, books and organic herb plants.
I loved that they serve traditional Taiwanese breakfast like make your own congee with different toppings. https://flic.kr/p/28CmNw3
The signature item is the make your own rice roll.
You can specify the meat and ingredients then it is wrapped like a sushi and you eat it like a stuffed rice lumpia.
Loved their house-made bacon and their sausages.
They also serve different breakfast dim sum.
I liked the idea of eating local breakfast in a nice setting but we realized that Taiwanese food is more balanced (a bit bland) in flavor whereas we are used to a more flavorful or saltier profile for breakfast.
amba Taipei Ximending
77 Section 2 Wuchang Street, Taipei
Telephone: +886 2 2375 5111
Facebook: @ambaXimending
Instagram: @amba.hotels
Website: www.amba-hotels.com/en/ximending/
Located within the Pedestrian Area in Western Taipei, amba Taipei Ximending hotel is part of the fashionable Eslite shopping complex on Wuchang Street, a five-minute walk to Ximen Metro Station. It is the perfect base for exploring trendy Ximending and fun Taipei, with easy access to Red House Theater, Taipei 101, Shilin, Beitou and more.
Check out low amba Taipei Ximending Hotel rates and availability from Booking.com/OurAwesomePlanet.
(Pro Tip: We don’t put hotel rates in the post because it changes a lot depends on schedule, bed and occupancy. You can check the price at Booking.com and then book a no-downpayment reservation with free cancelation. I would cross-check the price and check out promotions on the hotel’s website if there are more benefits in booking direct.)
AMBA TAIPEI ZHONGSHAN
I loved this culturally rich Zhongshan neighborhood located in the commercial and shopping district of central Taipei.
amba Taipei Zhongshan
57-1 zhongshan north road section 2 taipei
Telephone: +886 2 2565 2828
Facebook: @ambaZhongshan
Instagram: @amba.hotels
Website: www.amba-hotels.com/en/zhongshan/
Check out low amba Taipei Zhongshan Hotel rates and availability from Booking.com/OurAwesomePlanet.
The floors are school-themed, invoking nostalgia for your younger days.
We did not stay here, but we noticed that the rooms have similar standard designs though this property has a modern minimalist touch and bigger windows.
Likewise, the bathroom design and amenities are similar, so that you feel at home moving from one amba to another.
MUD Bar
One of the unique features of this property is its own speakeasy bar with a street level access outside the hotel.
The bar is hidden in the basement with a loungy vintage ambiance.
Voted as one of the top 10 bars in Taipei, it’s a great place to meet up with friends in the city.
They serve craft cocktails with a Taiwanese twist. MUD Menu
You can ask the bartender about their signature cocktails or their recommendation based on your mood or favorite alcohol as base.
Buttermilk
If you want to take a break from Taiwanese food and are craving for comfort American food, then Buttermilk is the best place to be in Taipei.
We tried a variety of items in the menu and here are our favorites:
Hawaiian Salmon Poke (NT$ 320).
A Hawaiian classic from the 60s: cubed fresh salmon, puffed rice, furikake, pineapple-soy dressing, sea salt crisp
You can taste the quality of the salmon and the freshness of Taiwan’s produce.
Gourmet Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese (NT$ 150).
Cheesy and rich
Loved the big chunks of bacon and the thick cheese sauce.
Crispy Soft Shell Crabs (NT$ 450).
Served with charred cabbage slaw and yuzu kosho aioli
For something crunchy and different, you can eat the crabs whole, even the shell.
Grandmas’ Buttermilk Boneless Fried Chicken (3 pieces – NT$ 360, 5 pieces – NT$550).
Pickled watermelon, white cream gravy, cajun hot sauce
This is their signature dish and did not disappoint. Crunchy and juicy fried chicken with creamy gravy. I preferred it with the hot sauce.
Fire Grilled US Natural Brandt Beef Ribeye Steak (16oz – NT$1,800).
US natural beef, Korean rub, seasonal vegetables
For the times you want to celebrate with a good ribeye steak.
Key Lime Pie (NT$ 200)
Fresh lime juice, condensed milk, parlor whipped cream
I love Taiwanese desserts. Even if they do it American style, you can taste the fine balanced quality of this Key Lime Pie.
amba Taipei Zhongshan
57-1 zhongshan north road section 2 taipei
Telephone: +886 2 2565 2828
Facebook: @ambaZhongshan
Instagram: @amba.hotels
Website: www.amba-hotels.com/en/zhongshan/
Located in the Zhongshan commercial and shopping district of central Taipei, amba Taipei Zhongshan hotel is a stylish address on tree-lined Zhongshan North Road, just a five-minute walk to Taipei Metro Zhongshan Station.
Explore the culturally rich Zhongshan neighborhood and fun Taipei from amba, with easy access to Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Ximending, Taipei 101, Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) and more.
Check out low Amba Taipei Zhongshan Hotel rates and availability from Booking.com/OurAwesomePlanet.
(Pro Tip: We don’t put hotel rates in the post because it changes a lot depends on schedule, bed and occupancy. You can check the price at Booking.com and then book a no-downpayment reservation with free cancelation. I would cross-check the price and check out promotions on the hotel’s website if there are more benefits in booking direct.)
AMBA TAIPEI SONGSHAN
If you have a few more days or if you are visiting Taipei for the nth time, you have to check out its fascinating eastern side in the Songshan neighborhood with the trendy Xinyi and the popular Raohe Market area.
amba Taipei Songshan
8 Section 7 Civic Boulevard Taipei
Telephone: +886 2 2565 2828
Facebook: @ambaSongshan
Instagram: @amba.hotels
Website: www.amba-hotels.com/en/songshan/
Check out low amba Taipei Songshan Hotel rates and availability from Booking.com/OurAwesomePlanet.
Go up the spacious and hip 17F Amba Lobby with refreshing rural views of East Taipei.
Loved the high ceiling with the big art installation lamps and floor-to-ceiling windows.
There’s a communal hostel-inspired area with ping pong tables and this ping pong designed wall.
Room 2002
The guest rooms are from floors 18-21 and we stayed on the 20th floor (room no. 21) for a night.
All the room numbers reference a pop historical event or trivia that happened during that particular year, like Spiderman being the #1 movie in the year 2002.
The rooms are more contemporary in design and quite spacious versus the other two properties.
Loved the comfortable bed with pure cotton linen and the blackout curtains for an uninterrupted recharging sleep.
Welcome lollipop treats, traditional Taiwanese marble soda and fresh fruits.
It has the same long wash basin with big mirror, deconstructed toilet design but with more space.
Separate toilet with a place to put your mobile phone and shower with white-tiled white walls and black-tiled flooring.
Room 2005
If you can, specify this corner room (2005) with the birth of Google Map as the door design.
It has an inspiring view of Taipei 101 towering over the city, a perfect backdrop for a room selfie on a clear day.
Each room is equipped with its own wifi. That’s why the internet in amba is so fast!
Room 2029
This is the love birds room that’s waiting for a significant event to happen in the year 2029.
The perfect place to have a staycation or honeymoon with your loved one.
It has an awesome relaxing view of the beautiful Keelung River.
The only room with a bath tub with a view and love ducks.
Songshan Breakfast
Enjoy brunch with a spacious ambiance and good morning views of East Taipei.
Breakfast is served in the central open kitchen set-up.
You can have Chinese dim sum and breakfast specialties.
Our favorite is the Lu Rou Fan, a Taiwanese meat sauce served with minced meat, rice and more sauce kept hot in a rice cooker.
There are more meat and contemporary breakfast choices.
Better soup and congee options for breakfast…
…with build your own toppings.
You’ll love the breakfast salads and the goodness of Taiwanese produce.
Better fresh sliced fruits that are in season.
Better milk and yogurt product options.
Room 1705
You can book Room 1705 if you want to have a private dining function with your group.
The food served are the contemporary favorites and Taiwanese signatures of Que restaurant.
Grilled Seafood Salad (NT$ 480)
A hearty salad packed with naturally smoky flavors of grilled fresh clams, shrimps, and squid, mixed with avocado, charred corns, lettuce and lime vinaigrette
Loved how the food is presented family sharing style so that you can enjoy little bits of salad and fresh seafood.
Beef Spare Ribs Noodle Soup (NT$ 380).
Woodfire grilled beef ribs, braised beef shank, sun-dried pumpkin noodles, roasted cherry tomatoes, spring onions, Chinese sauerkraut
They are known for their signature beef spare rib noodles! Yum yum 🙂
35oz US Brandt Bone-In Natural Ribeye Steak Special for Four (NT$ 3,980).
Roasted cherry tomatoes and Malbec wine sauce
They know how to serve a good wood-fire cooked steak.
It’s a great place to celebrate special milestones like a birthday in Taipei.
Amenities
You’ll love the slower pace, spacious and gentrified feel of the Songshan neighborhood.
You can go to the 3F Sky Bridge going to the mall which is open from 11.00am – 22.00pm.
It’s conveniently connected to the mall with access to the metro and trains.
I personally loved this hotel, especially if you want to have a destination celebration of your anniversary or a milestone birthday away from the busy central district.
amba Taipei Songshan
8 Section 7 Civic Boulevard Taipei
Telephone: +886 2 2565 2828
Facebook: @ambaSongshan
Instagram: @amba.hotels
Website: www.amba-hotels.com/en/songshan/
Check out low amba Taipei Songshan Hotel rates and availability from Booking.com/OurAwesomePlanet.
(Pro Tip: We don’t put hotel rates in the post because it changes a lot depends on schedule, bed and occupancy. You can check the price at Booking.com and then book a no-downpayment reservation with free cancelation. I would cross-check the price and check out promotions on the hotel’s website if there are more benefits in booking direct.)
• Next to Songshan Station with direct access to Taipei Metro Songshan Station (exit 4A) and train services
• Five-minute walk to Raohe Night Market
• Five-minutes drive to Taipei 101, Taipei World Trade Center, and Xinyi business and shopping district
• 10-minute drive to TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall
• 15-minute drive from Taipei Songshan Airport
• 45-minute drive from Taiwan International Taoyuan Airport
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: Our hotel stay was courtesy of our friends from amba Hotel. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions and insights.
P.S. Thank you to our awesome FunTaipei familiarization group led by Jeron Travel. You can check out their awesome FunTaipei travel packages from their website: www.jerontravel.com
Thanks for the review. I can’t decide between those three it’s gonna be my first time in Taipei. Any recommendation?
Hi Anton, thank you for the review.. I am bringing a 1 year plus baby for an upcoming trip in Nov, may I know which hotel will you recommend? I am trying to decide between Amba Ximending or Songshan. Thank you!