Best Cocktail Bars in Taipei: Innovative Concepts & Local Flavours We Love

PUBLISHED March 3rd, 2023 06:00 am | UPDATED May 12th, 2023 05:18 am

The first bars in Taiwan were associated with drunken mischief, and drinks were more for entertainment than enjoyment. Today, Taiwan’s booming bar culture comprises world-class bartending and award-winning bars, all infused with its unique local culture. If you want to get in on where to enjoy the best-tasting cocktails or unwind at the most innovative bar, here are the best cocktail bars to check out in Taipei (bookings highly encouraged where available!).

The Public House

A popular hangout, even for people within the bar industry, The Public House is an English-styled bar located on the bustling Xinyi Road. Once past the double doors, its lively atmosphere immediately draws you in. No.68 on the extended list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022, The Public House offers delicious nosh – we truly enjoyed everything we ate – alongside classic and Signature Cocktails (NT$400). Built with Chardonnay, floral pouchong tea and osmanthus, #Public 1 is great to start with while the richer #Public 4 sees the rare use of purple rice liqueur, enriched by the taste of hazelnut and pineapple. Chicken soup is complimentary to guests after 2am – how sweet is that?

The Public House is located at 143, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei City Taiwan, 10681, p. +886 2 2701 0053. Open Tue -Sun 7pm -4am. Closed Mon.

Indulge Experimental Bistro

Capturing the beauty of Taiwan through modern mixology, Indulge Experimental Bistro was the pioneer is using local teas and flavours in crafting delicious cocktails. A mainstay on Asia’s 50 Best Bars since 2017, they lead Taipei’s vibrant cocktail industry with their creative and experimental menu. Iconic cocktails to try include founder Aki Wang’s Scent of Woman. Mixed with ginger lily from the north, green plum from Taiwan’s central region, and green apple from the surrounding islands, it represents the terroir of Taiwan.

Indulge Experimental Bistro is located at No. 11, Lane 219, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106, p+ +886 2 2773 0080. Open Mon-Wed 6pm-1am, Thu-Fri  6pm -2am, Sat 11.30am-5pm, 6pm-2am, Sun 11.30am -5pm, 6pm-1am.

Lab

At Lab, the minimalist approach stretches from its space design to its bartending and cocktails. Bartender-owner Takafumi Makita deconstructs cocktails and serves them without the distraction of colour so you can fully concentrate on their taste and aroma. Using fresh herbs from the in-house garden, Taka’s intriguing cocktails include innovative classics like the Yakult Green Tea, using green tea infused gin for an aromatic and refreshing sip, or if you’re feeling adventurous, look to his ingredient driven drinks like Seafood and Spice. Some cocktails are accompanied by cute IG filters (click through via the menu link) that explains the making of each drink.

Lab is located at No. 409, Section 4, Renai Road, Daan District, Taipei City 106. Open Sun-Mon, Wed-Thu 6pm-1am, Fri-Sat 6pm-2am. Closed Tue.

AHA Saloon

This music-themed bar ranked 24 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 list for good reasons. Besides its collection of vinyl records, vintage cassettes, and display of liquor infusions and exotic spices, the retro aesthetic bar oozes an old-world feel. The cocktails they serve lean heavily on local and regional flavours like oolong tea and mung bean. Crowd favourites include playful tipples like Acid Party Girl, a mix of cachaça with pandan leaf, coconut, and fermented pineapple.

AHA Saloon is located at No. 138, Section 2, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106, p. +886 2 2706 5206. Open Tue-Sun 8pm-2am. Closed Mon.

UnderLab

UnderLab elevates the cocktail drinking experience with concoctions that call up memories and scenes with their artful presentation. Their seasonality-based menu, which includes small bites pairing, is built upon themes like illusions of the desert, sunshine, and ocean. For example, you’ll find a cocktail with fluorescent bubbles from their latest Ocean menu, which sees squid and tomato pearls floating around like fish roe in the sea of Harris Gin and Tonic. Those who prefer more classic flavours can opt for their gin-based tea cocktails (from NT$350) – simply pick a style of drink and your favourite tea. Our Biluochun Gin Fizz was flavourful and oh-so-smashable.

UnderLab is located at  No. 51, Lane 308, Guangfu South Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106, p. +886 981 238 531. Open Wed-Mon 7pm-1am. Closed Tue.

Room by Le Kief

Another bar that combines gastronomy with mixology, the award-winning Room by Le Kief presents their offerings in an almost- theatrical setting. With the bar as centre stage, guests enjoy the performance by the bartender as he stirs up their cocktails. A new menu of food and cocktails will be introduced every season; for instance, this season’s menu sees spicy noodles paired with a jasmine tea and peat-based cocktail that refreshes the palate and highlights the aromas in the dish. Do note that the 7pm seating only caters the food and cocktail pairing menu – those who would like to have cocktails only should head down from 10pm.

Room by Le Kief is located at No. 10, Alley 5, Lane 107,Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106, p. +886 2 2711 6007. Open Wed-Sat 7pm -9.30pm, 10pm-1am. Closed Sun-Tue. 

[Tei] by O’bond

This relatively new bar pays tribute to Taiwan’s tea culture with its immersive teahouse experience and tea-infused cocktails. Designed to resemble a teahouse, the zen bar has a tree and a pavilion for “tea serving ceremonies”. Once you notice the snake-patterned brick floors and bamboo-woven chairs, this is where the bar starts. The menu sorts the 19 tea-based cocktails by their degree of fermentation. Start at the top for lighter flavours in the slightly sweet and sparkling Magnolia oolong tea, or head straight to the heaviest at the bottom with the Hunter-inspired Bergamot black tea. 

[Tei] by O’bond is located at No. 553, Guangfu S Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110. Open Thu- Mon 8pm-2am. Closed Tue -Wed.

Bar Mood Taipei

After years of ranking on Asia’s 50 Best Bars, the chic industrial bar made its way to Asia’s 50 Best Sustainable Bar award in 2022 with its ethical sourcing and earth-friendly practices. Helmed by renowned bartender Nick Wu, Bar Mood Taipei is the place to go for inventive cocktails that spotlights Taiwanese and Japanese whiskies. They have an envious array of spirits, syrups, and infusions that translates into a large selection of cocktails. The food here is prepared with the same care as the drinks, with favourites like crispy pork belly and smoked squid. Read our full review of the bar here. 

Bar Mood Taipei is located at No. 53, Lane 160, Section 1, Dunhua S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106, p. +886 905 773 621. Open Sun- Thu 6pm- 1am, Fri-Sat 6pm- 2am.

Sidebar

Cafe by day and gin temple by night, Sidebar can only be accessed by a hidden metal door. The cosy speakeasy bar draws locals and expats with its eclectic gin-based cocktails, mixed with over 300 varieties of gin available onsite. The casual bar even has a gin museum, Museu Del Gin, which exhibits lamps and everyday items made with gin bottles. If you can’t decide what to drink, spin the roulette, and the bartender will concoct a cocktail based on the flavours you spin. 

Sidebar is located at No. 275, Wenchang St, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106, p. +886 908 087 433. Open Sun-Thu 6pm-1am, Fri-Sat 6pm- 2am.

Top Image UnderLab