Editorial
Taipei has quietly become one of Asia's most exciting drinking cities. Indulge has been an Asia 50 Best fixture for years, and Draftland pioneered the all-tap cocktail format. The six below sit mostly in Da'an, the city's serious-bar heartland, with a couple of hidden speakeasies among them.
Tom Callahan rates them on the drink, the welcome, and whether the price holds up. Book ahead for the top tables and arrive early for the speakeasies.
Draftland pours cocktails from taps, the format Angus Zou pioneered here in 2018 before it spread across Asia. The draw is speed and value, well-made drinks at sensible prices with no twenty-minute wait. It runs from 6pm to 1am in Da'an, with a rotating board of around a dozen options. Tom rates it as the antidote to precious cocktail theatre. Go when you want a good drink without the ceremony.
Indulge Experimental Bistro is the heavyweight, a fixture in Asia's 50 Best top five and the only Taiwan venue with both a World's 50 Best Bars place and a Michelin nod. Aki Wang's team builds cocktails around native teas and house liqueurs, with a modern European kitchen to match. It has run for 15 years in Da'an. Reservations are essential. Tom rates it as the one to book ahead and dress up for.
AHA Saloon on Fuxing South Road has held an Asia's 50 Best spot since 2019, built by industry hands Kae Yin, Victor Yang, and Jeffrey Chang. The cocktails lean on local Taiwanese ingredients with sharp, unfussy hospitality. It is a comfortable room rather than a showy one, which suits the drinking. Tom rates it for a serious cocktail without the speakeasy pantomime. Book at the weekend; it fills with regulars.
Bar Pun makes you work for it, down a dark, narrow alley to a fire-alarm button that opens a hidden door. Inside is a black, grey, and white speakeasy that builds cocktails around incense and Taiwanese ingredients. The PUN Experience sets pair drinks with exotic bites like ostrich and bamboo shoot. Tom rates it for a storytelling night, not a quick round. Go for the full set and let them lead.
Ounce has run since 2012, one of Taipei's first speakeasies, hidden behind a coffee shop with a buzzer to get in. There is no menu. The bartenders ask what you like and build the drink around it, classics done with care. It opens at 6pm and runs late, with grilled cheese if you need feeding. Tom rates it for the bespoke approach when you trust the bar. Tell them your spirit and sit back.
East End sits on the third floor of Hotel Proverbs in Da'an and has earned its Asia's 50 Best place. The cocktails work Taiwanese ingredients like shiso, plum, and local honey, while the classics land clean. Reckon on NT$450 to 650 a drink, fair for the standard. It opens from early afternoon, so it works for a civilised start. Tom rates it for a relaxed session. Book ahead on weekend nights.
The Three Lions Inn is an English style pub in Maji Square at Taipei Expo Park, with a large covered outdoor area and a long daily happy hour. It shows football and rugby including the Six Nations. Order: a pint and a plate of fish and chips. Best time: a match day.
Taipei pairs Tokyo-style discipline with a willingness to experiment, from Draftland's tap format to Indulge's work with native teas. Build an evening around Indulge or AHA Saloon for the technical drinks, then move to Bar Pun or Ounce for the late, hidden hours.
Tom Callahan covers pubs and proper drinking across the UK, Ireland, and Asia. He rates a bar on the drink, the welcome, and whether the price is honest.