Taipei 101 Mall: Brands, Floors & What to Buy (2026 Guide).

Sit at the foot of Taipei 101 and you’re at the doorstep of one of Asia’s most polished shopping malls. The luxury complex wraps around the base of Taiwan’s iconic skyscraper on seven levels, from B1 up to 6F, with luxury fashion and watch houses, the Apple Taipei 101 store and a long line-up of lifestyle names. There’s a food court too, an air-conditioned alternative to the night markets, and a branch of Din Tai Fung. And the rooftop and observatory above pull all of it together into a single visit.

For tourists, the Taipei 101 mall serves three distinct purposes: a pre- or post-observatory shopping break, a comfortable air-conditioned escape on a hot or rainy day, and a tax-refund-eligible luxury shopping destination if you came to Taipei for that. Many travelers also use the mall as a meeting point or coordinated rest stop on a longer Xinyi District day. Knowing the floor map and a few highlights upgrades the visit from a wander to a useful 1–2 hour stop.

This guide breaks down the Taipei 101 mall for 2026: which floors hold what, the must-know brands and restaurants, where to find Taiwanese souvenirs and gifts, the Din Tai Fung waiting strategy, tax-refund tips, and how to fit the mall into a Xinyi District itinerary.

Taipei 101 Mall at a Glance

• Address: No. 45, Shifu Road, Xinyi District, Taipei (the base of Taipei 101)
• Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM; Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; hours around national holidays can differ, so check the mall’s official site
• Get there: MRT Tamsui-Xinyi (Red) Line to Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station
• Floors: B1 (food court, casual brands, Din Tai Fung) through 5F (observatory entry, spa)
• Best for: Luxury shopping, the Apple store, Din Tai Fung, food court, Taiwanese gifts
• Time needed: 1.5–3 hours
• Tax refunds: Yes, with passport, when you spend at least NT$2,000 (tax included) at one participating store on the same day; the goods must leave Taiwan within 90 days
• Best day: Tuesday–Thursday for calm; weekends are busier

What Is the Taipei 101 Mall?

The Taipei 101 Shopping Mall opened in November 2003, more than a year before the tower itself formally opened on 31 December 2004, and quickly became Taipei’s flagship luxury shopping destination. The mall spans seven levels (B1 through 6F) wrapped around the base of the 508-meter tower, with elegant glass-and-marble interior architecture, multiple central atriums, and direct connections to the observatory entrance on 5F.

The mall’s positioning is firmly upscale. Luxury and premium fashion, watches and accessories lead the brand mix, alongside casual lifestyle, electronics, beauty, books, and dining. The basement food court is busy and pulls a different crowd than the upper-floor luxury floors, giving the building a useful range — you can spend a morning here at any budget.

For tourists, the mall is also a major hub: the observatory elevators leave from 5F while its ticket counter is on Office Tower 1F, and many travelers begin or end Xinyi District days here.

Floor-by-Floor Breakdown

B1 (Basement) — Food, Casual Brands, Din Tai Fung

What you’ll find on B1:

• Din Tai Fung Taipei 101 Branch: The dumpling house’s branch inside the mall. Pre-order at the queue desk for faster entry.
• The Food Court: Air-conditioned, with quick-service counters and Taiwanese snacks under one roof.
• Mia C’Bon (formerly Jasons Marketplace): Upscale supermarket with imported groceries, wine, prepared foods.
• Ippudo Ramen, Cho Chun Korean Fried Chicken, Vege Creek (vegetarian): Options for a sit-down meal.
• Starbucks: For a coffee break between shops.
• Casual brands: Adidas, Nike, North Face, Lululemon, Crocs, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani Exchange.
• Sony Showroom: Camera and electronics.
• TWG Tea: Premium tea boutique.
• Swatch: Watches.

1F (Ground Floor) — Watches, Premium Fashion, Apple

The “first impression” floor for visitors arriving from the MRT or street. Where to find:

• Apple Taipei 101: Apple’s own retail store, on the mall’s 1F.
• Watches: Rolex, Mont Blanc, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Swarovski.
• Premium Fashion: Chanel, Dior, Boss, Zara, Tods.
• Service Counters: Information desk, currency exchange, tax refund counter.

2F — Watches, Jewelry, Premium Brands

• Watches & Jewelry: Fine watch and jewelry houses; the mall’s floor guide has the current line-up.
• Premium Lifestyle: Various designer flagships.

3F — Lifestyle, Beauty, Tech

• Beauty: Jo Malone, La Mer, Estée Lauder, MAC, NARS, plus several Asian and Korean luxury beauty brands.
• Eyewear: Ray-Ban, Persol, premium optical chains.
• Lifestyle: Hi-end design and lifestyle goods.

4F — Top-Tier Luxury, Restaurants

• Top luxury fashion: Louis Vuitton, Dior, Burberry, Gucci, Bottega Veneta.
• Several restaurants: Including upscale Cantonese, sushi, and Italian options.
• The One @ Taipei 101: Event venue, reached by the Xinyi Orange lift or the Dior/Burberry entrance.

5F — Observatory Entry, Top Restaurants, Spa

• Taipei 101 Observatory entrance: The elevators up to the 89F observation deck leave from here, separate from the mall lifts. Buy tickets online on the observatory’s official ticket page, or at the Observatory Ticket Counter on Office Tower 1F.
• Premier restaurants: Several upscale Asian and Western fine-dining options.
• Spa & Wellness Centers: A handful of premium wellness providers.

What to Actually Buy at Taipei 101 Mall

The mall’s brand list is deep, but a few categories stand out for tourists:

Apple Products

The 1F Apple store is a handy stop for travelers buying iPhones, MacBooks, AirPods, or accessories. Pricing is similar to other Apple stores in Asia, but tax-refund eligibility makes the effective price competitive for tourists. Trade-ins available; inventory is generally good.

Luxury Watches

Multiple brands across 1F and 2F. Tourists from countries with high import duties on luxury watches (Australia, Brazil, Vietnam, parts of Europe) often find Taipei pricing competitive. Tax refunds further reduce the effective price.

Pineapple Cake and Taiwanese Gifts

The B1 supermarket Mia C’Bon is a handy stop for Taiwanese gifts — pineapple cake, sun cake, oolong tea, and packaged souvenir snacks.

TWG Tea

Premium tea brand with a Taipei 101 boutique. Beautifully packaged tea sets make excellent souvenirs.

Korean and Japanese Beauty

Selected Korean and Japanese beauty brands have a presence on 3F. Pricing is sometimes lower than at home for visitors from Western markets. Sample programs available.

Lululemon

A popular stop for athleisure shoppers. Spend NT$2,000 or more at one store on the same day and the tax refund adds a useful saving.

Eating at Taipei 101 Mall

Din Tai Fung Taipei 101

Din Tai Fung’s Taipei 101 branch sits on B1. The draw is the chain’s xiao long bao, each pleated with the house’s famous 18 folds.

• Best time to arrive: 11:00 AM at opening or after 8:30 PM
• Wait at peak: queues can be long; check Din Tai Fung’s site for how the branch’s queue numbers work
• Order: Pork Xiao Long Bao basket plus shrimp wontons, stir-fried vegetable, fried rice. ~NT$700–1,000 for two.

The Food Court (B1)

One of Taipei’s better mall food courts — air-conditioned, well-laid-out, and serving franchised versions of popular Taiwanese street foods plus international quick-service brands.

• Vege Creek: A vegetarian Taiwanese chain. Build-your-own bowls of greens and toppings in broth.
• Ippudo Ramen: Solid Japanese ramen, slightly elevated for the location.
• Cho Chun Korean Fried Chicken: Crispy, spicy fried chicken sets.
• Various Taiwanese chain stalls: Beef noodle soup, soup dumplings, sushi rolls, mango shaved ice.

Prices in the food court are slightly higher than typical street food (NT$200–350 per meal) but quality and seating make it a reasonable trade-off.

Upper-Floor Restaurants

For a sit-down dinner on the upper floors, check the mall’s floor guide for the restaurants currently open. Reservations recommended for dinner. Average dinner cost: NT$1,500–4,000 per person.

Tax Refunds at Taipei 101 Mall

Foreign tourists can reclaim the VAT on qualifying purchases at TRS (Tax Refund System) participating stores, less an administration fee, so the refund comes to less than the tax you paid. Look for the tax refund sign and check at the till before you pay.

How to Claim

1. Spend at least NT$2,000 in a single store on the same day.
2. Show your passport at checkout and ask for a tax refund slip.
3. Keep the refund slip and the original receipt.
4. At the airport before departure: Visit the Tax Refund counter (located in TPE Terminal 1 and Terminal 2). Show your passport, refund slips, original receipts, and the unused goods if requested.
5. Receive your refund in cash (NTD or USD) or to your credit card.

Tips

• Some stores process refunds on the spot at a counter inside the mall — ask the cashier.
• Save all original receipts. Without them, no refund.
• Expect the refund to be smaller than the VAT on your receipt: the handling fee is taken off first.
• Some stores can pay a small refund on the spot. Ask the store which refund service it uses and what its conditions are before you pay.

Combining Taipei 101 Mall with the Observatory and District

The mall fits naturally into a Xinyi District itinerary. A 4-hour combination:

• 3:00 PM: Arrive at Taipei 101/World Trade Center MRT station
• 3:15 PM: Browse the 1F Apple store and luxury brands
• 4:00 PM: Late lunch at Din Tai Fung (B1) or the food court
• 5:00 PM: Pop into Mia C’Bon for Taiwanese souvenirs
• 5:30 PM: Buy observatory tickets at the Office Tower 1F counter if you haven’t booked online, then head up to 5F
• 6:00 PM: Taipei 101 observatory at sunset (allow about 75 minutes)
• 7:30 PM: Return to the mall, stop at TWG Tea
• 8:30 PM: Walk to a Xinyi District rooftop bar for a final skyline view

Tips for Visiting Taipei 101 Mall

Bring your passport for tax refunds. Without it, no refund. Even photocopies sometimes work but the original is preferred.

Avoid Saturday afternoons in luxury sections. Many of the top brands have queue limits and waitlists at peak. Tuesday–Thursday is calmer.

Use the mall as a hot/rainy day refuge. The air-conditioned atriums are a comfortable midday break in Taipei summer or rainy spring.

Pre-book Din Tai Fung if possible. The Taipei 101 branch hands out queue numbers, so check its current booking policy before you go, and arrive early or late.

The observatory is separate from the mall. The ticket counter is on Office Tower 1F, and the observatory elevators on 5F are separate from the mall lifts. Plan for the security check.

Mall lifts can be slow at peak. Use escalators when going up 1–2 floors.

Free Wi-Fi: Available throughout. Look for “Taipei101 Free WiFi” network.

Information and concierge desks: 1F. English-speaking staff.

ATMs: Multiple. Most accept international cards.

Bathrooms: Clean and free, on every floor.

Common Mistakes

Going at the same time as the observatory crowds. If you’re shopping seriously, come earlier in the day.

Forgetting to ask for tax refund slips. 5% VAT is small per item but adds up across multiple purchases.

Trying to compare prices to home. Some items (Apple, watches) are genuinely competitively priced; others (luxury fashion) are similar to other Asian capitals.

Skipping the basement. Many travelers spend hours on luxury floors and miss the much busier and more interesting B1 with food, supermarket, and casual brands.

Booking dinner at a 4F-5F restaurant on the same night as the observatory. Tight timing — if you allow 75 minutes or so up top, as in the itinerary above, leave a buffer before your table.

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• Buying Tea in Taipei: Where, What & How Much
• Taiwanese Designer & Indie Shops in Taipei
• Taipei Night Market Shopping: What’s Worth Buying
• Things to Do in Taipei: 45+ Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Taipei 101 mall open?

Sunday through Thursday 11 AM – 9:30 PM; Friday and Saturday 11 AM – 10 PM. Hours around national holidays can differ, so check the mall’s site. The observatory keeps different hours: 10 AM – 9 PM daily.

Is the Taipei 101 mall worth visiting?

Yes — it’s one of Asia’s polished luxury malls, with seven levels of brands, an excellent food court, a Din Tai Fung branch, and direct access to the Taipei 101 observatory. Even non-shoppers find 1–2 hours here worthwhile.

Can I get tax refunds at Taipei 101 mall?

Yes. Spend at least NT$2,000 (tax included) at one TRS-participating store on the same day and you can reclaim the VAT, minus a handling fee. Show your passport at checkout to get a refund slip; claim at the airport before departure.

Is Din Tai Fung at Taipei 101 mall worth it?

Yes — at least once, and the mall location makes it easy to fit around shopping and the observatory. Arrive at 11 AM opening or after 8:30 PM to skip the worst lines.

What floor is the Taipei 101 observatory on?

You buy tickets online or at the Observatory Ticket Counter on Office Tower 1F, and board the observatory elevators on 5F of the mall. The observation deck itself is on 88F and 89F, and the separate, reservation-only Skyline 460 tour reaches 101F.

What’s the best floor of Taipei 101 mall to visit first?

Start at 1F for the iconic atrium and the Apple store, then go down to B1 for food and casual brands. Save 4F luxury for later in the visit if you have time.

How long does it take to see the Taipei 101 mall?

1.5–3 hours covers the floor-by-floor browse, a meal, and tax-refund processing. Add 90 minutes if you’re going to the observatory afterward.

Is there a food court at Taipei 101 mall?

Yes — the B1 food court is one of Taipei’s better mall food courts, with franchised versions of popular Taiwanese street food, plus Ippudo Ramen, Cho Chun Korean Fried Chicken, Vege Creek (vegetarian), and Mia C’Bon supermarket.

Are credit cards accepted at Taipei 101 mall?

Yes. All major international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) are accepted at most stores. Carry some cash, around NT$1,000 in small bills, as a backup for smaller food-court counters.

Final Take

The Taipei 101 mall is the polished, air-conditioned, brand-rich anchor of Taipei’s Xinyi District — and one of the most reliable shopping and dining stops in the city. Browse 1F for the Apple store and watch brands, drop down to B1 for Din Tai Fung and the food court, and use the mall as a comfortable hub for an entire half-day of Xinyi exploring. With a passport in hand for tax refunds, it’s also a smart purchase stop on a longer Taiwan trip.

Photo Credits

Taipei 101 Mall atrium: 20240916 – Taipei – 18 (54379157421) by eugene_o, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Taipei 101 Mall shopping galleries: 2017-10-23 Interior of Taipei 101 Mall by eugene_o, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Taipei 101 Mall atrium roof: 2010 07 22350 6971 Xinyi District, Taipei, Buildings, Taipei 101, Taiwan by Lord Koxinga, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Taipei 101 Mall basement food court: TW 台灣 Taiwan 台北 Taipei City 101 shopping mall basement Food Court August 2019 SSG 02 by GoHill 1011, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.