Taipei's Best Bar Streets & Drinking Neighborhoods (2026)

This article contains advertising. Our booking links are routed through a partner that adds commission tracking automatically, so if you book through one we earn a commission from the provider, at no extra cost to you. It never affects what we recommend. Affiliate disclosure

Taipei has built one of the best bar scenes in Asia over the last decade. Indagare and Asia’s 50 Best Bars have placed multiple Taipei cocktail bars in their global lists, the craft beer scene has expanded from nothing in 2015 to 50+ taprooms in 2026, and certain Taipei bar streets have evolved into proper drinking districts where you can spend a full night moving from one venue to another. This 2026 guide covers the best Taipei bar streets and drinking neighborhoods, the standout cocktail bars, the craft beer hubs, the LGBTQ+ scene, and how to plan a bar-hopping night in Taipei.

The Taipei Drinking Scene in 2026

Taipei is one of the more underrated drinking cities in Asia. Three trends define the scene:

World-class cocktail bars. Indulge, Speak Easy, Draft Land, and a handful of others have appeared on global “best bars” lists. The Asian craft cocktail movement has Taipei roots, with several bartenders trained in Tokyo and Hong Kong now running Taipei flagships.

Craft beer explosion. Taiwan’s craft beer scene was essentially nonexistent in 2015. By 2026, dozens of local breweries (23 Brewing, Taihu Brewing, Beer & Cheese Social House) operate in Taipei alongside imported craft from Korea, Japan, and the US. Multiple craft taprooms throughout the city.

Japanese-influenced izakayas. Tokyo-style izakayas have become a Taipei staple, particularly in Zhongshan and Da’an. The food-and-drink combination delivers excellent value compared to Western-style bars.

What Taipei is less famous for: clubbing, despite having a few quality venues. The city’s drinking culture is more focused on bar-and-conversation than dance-and-DJ.

The Main Taipei Bar Streets and Drinking Neighborhoods

Xinyi District

The center of Taipei’s modern nightlife. Xinyi has the highest density of bars, clubs, and restaurants with drinking programs in the city. Cluster venues:

Anhe Road and Xinyi Road area: Cocktail bars and upscale lounges. Speak Easy, Indulge Bistro, and several Asia’s 50 Best Bars contenders cluster here.

Xinyi A11 and A13 mall basements: Restaurant-bars with strong cocktail programs.

Taipei 101 area: Hotel bars (W Hotel’s Woo Bar, the Mandarin Oriental’s M.O. Bar) with skyline views.

Best for: Sophisticated cocktails, post-dinner drinks, mixed local-and-expat crowd. Pricing higher than other districts.

Da’an / East District

Smaller, more intimate bar scene focused on neighborhood spots and izakayas. Cluster venues:

Anhe Road south: Several cocktail bars and bistros.

Zhongxiao Dunhua area: Multiple craft beer bars and quality izakayas.

Lianhua side streets: Smaller boutique bars.

Best for: Cocktail bars without the Xinyi crowd, craft beer, izakaya-style drinking-and-eating.

Zhongshan

The izakaya capital of Taipei. Lin Shen North Road and the adjacent streets are dense with Japanese-style izakayas serving small plates and shochu, sake, beer. Walk this district for a Japanese-night feel.

Best for: Izakaya-style nights, sake and Japanese whisky, food-focused drinking.

Ximending and Red House

Younger nightlife focus. Bars cluster around the Red House gay village and the Ximending streets adjacent to it. More casual, less premium-pricing.

Best for: LGBTQ+ nightlife (Red House plaza), budget drinking, late-night options.

Songshan and Eslite Spectrum Area

Newer creative-district drinking. Bars associated with Songshan Cultural Park, Eslite Spectrum Songyan, and the surrounding creative spaces. Less of a “bar street” pattern – more individual destination bars.

Tianmu

Expat-heavy international area in northern Taipei. Western-style sports bars, pubs, and a few cocktail bars. Distinct from central Taipei drinking patterns.

Standout Taipei Cocktail Bars

Indulge Experimental Bistro

Consistently on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Cocktails with strong Taiwanese ingredients – oolong tea, Taiwanese fruits, herbal influences. Polished but approachable. NT$400-600 per cocktail. Reservations recommended.

Speak Easy Cocktail Bar

Hidden-entrance speakeasy in Xinyi. Classic cocktails plus a creative menu. Intimate atmosphere. NT$350-500 per cocktail.

Draft Land

Cocktail bar where many cocktails come on tap – a modern approach allowing higher consistency and faster service. Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. NT$300-450 per cocktail.

Bar Mood

Da’an cocktail bar with a creative menu blending Asian ingredients with classical technique. Less famous than Indulge but excellent. NT$350-500 per cocktail.

Sober Cocktail Bar

Specializing in non-alcoholic cocktails alongside their full bar. Worth knowing for sober travelers or designated drivers.

The OG Cocktail Lounge

Whisky-focused bar with one of Taipei’s deepest selections of Japanese, Scotch, and American whisky. NT$400-1,500+ per pour.

Hotel Bars

Woo Bar at W Taipei (skyline views, weekend DJ), M.O. Bar at Mandarin Oriental Taipei (classic hotel bar elegance), and Marco Polo at Shangri-La (Italian bistro bar) all offer premium drinks in elevated settings. NT$400-700 per cocktail.

Craft Beer in Taipei

Taihu Brewing Taproom

The Taipei flagship of Taiwan’s most-distributed craft brewery. Multiple Taipei locations including Songshan and Xinyi. Excellent flagship lagers and IPAs plus rotating seasonal releases. NT$150-280 per pint.

23 Brewing Co

Boutique Taipei brewery with a taproom in Songshan. Innovative styles – barrel-aged stouts, sour ales, specialty IPAs. NT$200-350 per pour.

Beer & Cheese Social House

The Da’an pairing-focused spot – craft beer flights with curated cheese plates. Beer-and-food approach. NT$300-500 per beer pairing.

BAR Bahir: Beer-focused bar with a rotating selection of Taiwanese and imported craft. NT$200-380 per pour.

Driftwood Pub: One of Taipei’s longer-running craft beer destinations with deep selection. Da’an location. NT$200-400 per pour.

Mikkeller Bar Taipei: Outpost of the famous Danish brewery. Imports plus Mikkeller’s own beers. NT$300-500 per pour.

Izakayas: The Taipei Drinking Sweet Spot

Japanese-style izakayas combine small plates with reasonable drink prices for excellent multi-hour drinking sessions. Best Taipei izakayas:

Ichiyo Izakaya: Zhongshan flagship. Traditional Japanese izakaya menu with strong sake selection. NT$1,000-2,000 per person for food and drinks.

Akamatsu Izakaya: Da’an, more upscale. Premium sake and whisky. NT$1,500-3,500 per person.

Niku Niku Niku: Beef-focused izakaya with a strong drink program. NT$1,500-3,000 per person.

Maru Izakaya: Casual Linsen North Road izakaya. NT$800-1,500 per person.

Yakitori Imamiya: Charcoal-grilled chicken focus with beer and highball pairings. NT$1,000-2,000 per person.

LGBTQ+ Drinking Spots

See our dedicated LGBTQ Nightlife Taipei guide for full details. Quick summary:

Red House plaza, Ximending: The gay village. Outdoor courtyard with 10-15 bars; Café Dalida, Bar Tube, Goldfish, Commander D are the anchors.

G*Star Club, Xinyi: The biggest gay dance club in Taipei. Cover NT$600-1,200 on weekends.

Witch House, Da’an: Long-running lesbian-feminist cultural venue.

Sample Bar-Hopping Itineraries

Xinyi Cocktail Crawl (Premium)

7pm: Dinner at a Xinyi restaurant (Din Tai Fung, hot pot, or fine dining).

9pm: Indulge Experimental Bistro – cocktails (2 each, NT$1,200).

10:30pm: Walk to Speak Easy – cocktails (1-2 each, NT$700-1,400).

11:30pm: Optional Draft Land for late drinks (NT$300-450 each).

12:30am: W Hotel Woo Bar for skyline view nightcap.

Total per person: NT$2,500-4,500 for a full night.

Da’an Mixed Night (Mid-Range)

7pm: Izakaya dinner at Ichiyo (NT$1,500).

9pm: Beer & Cheese Social House for beer flights and cheese (NT$700).

10:30pm: Driftwood Pub for craft beer (NT$300-500).

12am: One last cocktail at a smaller Da’an bar (NT$400).

Total per person: NT$2,500-3,500.

Ximending Casual Night (Budget)

7pm: Night market dinner.

9pm: Red House plaza bar drinks (NT$200-300 per drink).

11pm: Move between Red House venues with the local courtyard crowd.

1am: Optional late-night noodles.

Total per person: NT$800-1,500.

Zhongshan Izakaya Night

7pm: Walk Lin Shen North Road – pick an izakaya based on vibe.

7:30-10:30pm: Izakaya 1 for full meal + drinks (NT$1,500).

11pm: Move to a smaller standing bar nearby (NT$300-500).

12am: Final drink at a Zhongshan jazz bar (NT$400-600).

Total per person: NT$2,500-3,500.

Tips for Drinking in Taipei

Cash vs card: Most modern cocktail bars and chain venues take cards. Smaller traditional bars and Red House plaza vendors may be cash-only. Carry NT$1,500-2,500 in cash for a typical night.

Drinking age: 18+. Carry passport or ID for clubs and some upscale bars.

Tipping: Not expected at bars. Service charge sometimes included. Rounded-up bills appreciated but not required.

Cover charges: Cocktail bars usually no cover. Dance clubs charge NT$500-1,200, sometimes including a drink ticket.

Drink prices: Cocktails NT$350-500 mid-tier, NT$500-800+ at premium bars. Craft beer NT$200-380 per pour. Standard beer NT$120-180. Wine NT$1,500-3,500 per bottle.

Reservations: Helpful at the famous cocktail bars (Indulge, Speak Easy, Draft Land). Walk-in usually fine at craft beer taprooms and izakayas Tuesday-Thursday.

Closing times: Most cocktail bars close at 1-2am. Dance clubs run until 4-5am. Izakayas typically close at midnight. Hotel bars vary; most close by 1am.

Driving and drinking: Taiwan enforces low BAC limits. Always use taxis or Uber after drinking. Both are abundant and inexpensive in central Taipei.

Dress code: Most bars accept smart casual. Premium cocktail bars and luxury hotel bars may turn away beach attire or athletic wear. Clubs have more specific dress codes (no flip-flops, no tank tops on certain nights).

Smoking: Indoor smoking is banned in all bars. Most have outdoor smoking areas. Vape rules vary; most bars permit at outdoor areas only.

Late-Night Food After Drinking

Taipei is one of the best late-night-food cities in Asia. Common post-drinking options:

24-hour noodle shops: Yong He Soy Milk King has multiple Taipei locations open 24 hours. Beef noodle, fried rice, classic Taiwanese food.

Convenience store food: 7-Eleven and FamilyMart have hot food including bento boxes, fried chicken, sandwiches, and snacks. Open 24 hours.

Late-night night markets: Some Taipei night market stalls run until 2-3am. Raohe and Shilin have late-night options.

Late-night dumpling shops: Several Da’an and Zhongshan dumpling shops stay open until 2-3am.

Related Taipei guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best bar streets in Taipei?

Xinyi District (Anhe Road, Xinyi Road) is the densest premium cocktail-bar area. Da’an East District (Anhe Road south, Zhongxiao Dunhua) is the mid-range bar scene. Zhongshan (Lin Shen North Road) is the izakaya capital. Ximending Red House plaza is the LGBTQ+ and casual nightlife area.

What are the best cocktail bars in Taipei?

Indulge Experimental Bistro, Speak Easy, and Draft Land are the three Taipei bars that consistently appear on Asia’s 50 Best Bars lists. Bar Mood, The OG Cocktail Lounge, and the hotel bars at W Taipei and Mandarin Oriental round out the premium tier.

How much do drinks cost in Taipei?

Cocktails NT$350-500 mid-tier, NT$500-800+ at premium bars. Craft beer NT$200-380 per pour. Standard beer NT$120-180. A full night out (3-4 drinks plus tip) typically lands at NT$1,500-3,500 per person.

Is Taipei a good drinking city?

Yes – particularly for cocktails, craft beer, and Japanese izakayas. Asia’s 50 Best Bars list features multiple Taipei venues, the craft beer scene has exploded since 2015, and the izakaya culture rivals Tokyo at lower prices. Less famous for clubbing.

What is the drinking age in Taipei?

18 in Taiwan. Bars sometimes do not card; clubs almost always do. Carry passport or a passport card. Foreign driver’s licenses may not be accepted as ID at some clubs.

Do I tip at bars in Taipei?

No, tipping is not expected in Taiwan. Service charge is sometimes included in the bill at upscale venues. Rounding up small amounts is appreciated but not required.

What are the best craft beer bars in Taipei?

Taihu Brewing Taproom (flagship local brewery), 23 Brewing Co (boutique with creative styles), Beer & Cheese Social House (food pairings), Driftwood Pub (deep selection), and Mikkeller Bar Taipei (Danish import). All NT$200-380 per pour.

When do Taipei bars close?

Most cocktail bars close at 1-2am. Izakayas typically close at midnight. Dance clubs run until 4-5am. Hotel bars vary; most close by 1am. Convenience stores and 24-hour noodle shops fill in the very late hours.

Are there speakeasies in Taipei?

Yes – Speak Easy in Xinyi is the most famous. Several other hidden-entrance bars exist throughout the city. Most are reachable via Google Maps despite the speakeasy aesthetic; some require knocking at unmarked doors.

Should I tip the bartender in Taipei?

Not required. Quality bartenders appreciate a 10% rounding-up tip if you had exceptional service, but it is genuinely optional. No tipping culture exists in Taipei.

The Bottom Line

The best Taipei bar streets and drinking neighborhoods offer an extraordinary range from world-class cocktail bars to budget Red House plaza beers to deep craft beer programs and Japanese izakayas. Build your night around one neighborhood (Xinyi for cocktails, Da’an for izakayas, Ximending for LGBTQ and casual, Zhongshan for sake), budget NT$2,000-4,000 per person for a good full night, and use taxis or Uber after drinking. Taipei’s drinking scene rewards exploration and rivals Tokyo or Hong Kong for quality at noticeably lower prices.