Short answer: Taipei's nightlife is spread across a few districts rather than one strip. Go to Xinyi (around Taipei 101 and ATT 4 FUN) for the big clubs and rooftop bars, Da'an and the East District for cocktail bars and speakeasies, Zhongshan for bar-hopping and Ximending for relaxed open-air drinks. Finish at a night market — they stay open late. The MRT closes around midnight, and the drinking age is 18.
We've been taking travellers out in Taipei since 2015, when we started the city's first pub crawl, and this is what we tell our own guests about going out here. Taipei doesn't have a single bar street — bars hide in side alleys, up staircases and behind unmarked doors, and locals often drink with food rather than at a bar. Once you know which district does what, though, it's one of the easiest, safest and most varied cities in Asia for a night out.
In this guide
- Taipei nightlife districts
- Xinyi & ATT 4 FUN
- Da'an & the East District
- Zhongshan
- Ximending
- Shida & Gongguan
- Clubs, bars & speakeasies
- Craft beer & Taiwan Beer
- Late-night food
- Taipei pub crawl
- Which night to go out
- Practical tips
- FAQ
Taipei nightlife districts
Each district has its own crowd and style. Most visitors hit one or two in a night, and they're all a short MRT or taxi ride apart.
Xinyi — clubs and rooftop bars around Taipei 101 and ATT 4 FUN
Taipei's main nightlife district and the answer to "where are the clubs?". Xinyi grew up around Taipei 101 as the city's new centre of malls, offices and hotels, and after dark the streets between Taipei 101, the ATT 4 FUN building and City Hall fill with clubs, lounges and rooftop bars with views of the tower. It's the dressiest and priciest part of town: expect door policies and entry charges at clubs, and crowds that don't arrive until late. If you want to see it with a group, our Taipei 101 Xinyi pub crawl route runs here three nights a week and includes bars with views of Taipei 101.
Da'an and the East District — cocktail bars and speakeasies
The "East District" (Dongqu) is the grid of lanes around Zhongxiao East Road, full of design shops and restaurants by day and small bars by night. This is where Taipei's cocktail scene is strongest — bartenders here love working Taiwanese ingredients like oolong tea and local fruit into their drinks — and where many of the city's hidden speakeasies are tucked away behind shopfronts and unmarked doors. Further south, the streets around Anhe Road and Da'an Park have a quieter, grown-up bar scene.
Zhongshan — bar-hopping in the old north-central streets
North of Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan mixes department stores and hotels with older streets of small Japanese-style bars, izakaya and cafés that turn into bars at night. It's less polished than Xinyi and better for wandering from one place to the next. Our original Classic pub crawl route meets near Minquan West Road MRT on Fridays and Saturdays.
Ximending — the Red House and open-air bars
Taipei's youth and shopping district is busy until late, with street food, cinemas and karaoke. Behind the historic Red House theatre, a plaza of open-air bars is the closest Taipei comes to a bar street, and it's the heart of the city's LGBTQ+ nightlife — Taipei hosts one of the largest Pride parades in Asia every autumn. It's cheap, relaxed and easy to drop into.
Shida and Gongguan — student bars and live music
Around National Taiwan Normal University (Shida) and National Taiwan University (Gongguan), you'll find small bars, live-music venues and late-night snacks aimed at students — a lower-key, lower-cost night out than Xinyi.
Clubs, cocktail bars, speakeasies and how locals go out
- Clubs: mostly in Xinyi. They get busy after midnight and many charge entry, often with drinks included or free-entry nights, so check the door policy before you go and bring your passport for ID.
- Cocktail bars and speakeasies: Taipei's speakeasies are half the fun to find — a hidden door at the back of a shop, a phone you have to pick up, a bookshelf that opens. Our guides picked their favourites in Finding the hidden gems in Taipei — 5 speakeasy choices. Bars open and close often, so check a venue's current hours before you set out.
- Beer houses (rè chǎo): the way many locals actually drink — noisy stir-fry restaurants where tables share plates of seafood and cold bottles of Taiwan Beer. Cheap, social and very Taiwanese.
- KTV: karaoke in private rooms, booked by the hour with food and drinks, is a classic Taiwanese night out for groups.
- Live houses: small live-music venues where you watch a band with a drink in hand.
- Convenience stores: 7-Eleven and FamilyMart sell cold beer around the clock, and grabbing one before or between bars is a local habit.
For more on how Taipei goes out, read Drinks and Fun: Night Out in Taipei.
Craft beer and Taiwan Beer
Taiwan's craft beer scene has grown fast since the government monopoly on brewing ended, and local brewers are known for adding Taiwanese flavours — longan honey, tea, plum — to familiar styles. Our guides cover the main names in Taipei's Microbrew Scene: Craft Beer is coming to town.
For the other side of the story, visit Taiwan's first brewery: the Taipei Brewery has been brewing since 1920 and is still where Taiwan Beer is made. On our brewery tour you walk the historic grounds and museum, then taste "18 Days" beer — the freshest in Taiwan, poured straight from the tank — plus a spirit tasting and a fruit beer. It's a good early-evening start before a night out.
Late-night food: night markets and supper
Eating late is a big part of Taipei's nightlife, and plenty of locals end a night out at a night market or a 24-hour breakfast shop. Raohe (Songshan MRT) is compact and famous for its pepper buns; Ningxia (near Shuanglian and Zhongshan MRT) is small and food-focused, and close to the Zhongshan bars; Shilin (Jiantan MRT) is the biggest and busiest. Bring cash and share dishes.
Prefer to have it explained? Our dinner food tour starts at 7:30 PM daily and takes you through a historic night market in Wanhua with a local guide — a good way to spend the first evening of your trip before you go out on another.
Go out with a group: the Taipei pub crawl
The easiest way to see Taipei's nightlife on a short trip is with a crowd that already knows where to go. TourMeAway's pub crawl has run since 2015 — the first in Taipei — and gets you free entry to 4+ bars and clubs with a Taiwan-style welcome drink at each stop, plus drink deals along the way. It's also a good way to meet other travellers. There are two routes:
- Classic route — Fridays and Saturdays, 8:30 PM. The original crawl. Meets at the 7-ELEVEN Jinpeng Store next to Minquan West Road MRT Station, Exit 10.
- Taipei 101 Xinyi route — Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 8:30 PM. Hidden bars with views of Taipei 101 and the story of how Xinyi became Taipei's nightlife hub. Meets at Taipei City Hall Station, Exit 3.
Guests must be 18 or older, and you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before.
Which night to go out in Taipei
Friday and Saturday
- The busiest nights everywhere — clubs in Xinyi are at their fullest and the East District bars are packed.
- Start with the Classic pub crawl at 8:30 PM from Minquan West Road MRT, or a night market supper and cocktails in the East District.
Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday
- Quieter, but Xinyi still has plenty going on, and cocktail bars are easier to get into.
- Join the Taipei 101 Xinyi pub crawl at 8:30 PM from Taipei City Hall Station, Exit 3.
Any night, early
- Sunset from Elephant Mountain, then the brewery tour or the 7:30 PM dinner food tour before heading out.
- Planning the rest of your days too? See our 21 best things to do in Taipei, or let Plan My Trip build an itinerary around your dates.
Practical tips for a night out in Taipei
- Getting home: the MRT stops around midnight. After that, taxis are everywhere in the nightlife districts, and ride-hailing apps work too.
- ID: the drinking age is 18. Carry your passport — clubs may check it at the door.
- Don't cycle home: riding a YouBike after drinking is against the law in Taiwan and can be fined.
- Money: clubs and cocktail bars take cards, but beer houses, night markets and small bars are often cash only. The currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$).
- Timing: bars get going after 10 PM and clubs after midnight. Night markets are busiest from early evening.
- Safety: Taipei is a very safe city to go out in, but keep an eye on your phone and wallet in crowds, as anywhere.
- New to Taipei? Read The Best Taipei Survival Guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taipei good for nightlife?
Yes. Taipei has big clubs, creative cocktail bars, hidden speakeasies, a growing craft beer scene and night markets that stay busy late. It is spread across several districts rather than one strip, so it helps to know where to go — or to go with a guide.
What is the best nightlife district in Taipei?
Xinyi, around Taipei 101 and the ATT 4 FUN building, is the main district for clubs and rooftop bars. For cocktail bars and speakeasies, head to Da'an and the East District. Zhongshan is good for bar-hopping, and Ximending has the most relaxed open-air drinking around the Red House.
Where are the best clubs in Taipei?
Most of Taipei's big clubs are in Xinyi District, clustered around Taipei 101 and the ATT 4 FUN building, a short walk from Taipei City Hall MRT. Clubs usually get busy after midnight, and many charge entry, so check the night's door policy before you go and bring your passport for ID.
Is there a bar street in Taipei?
Not in the way some Asian cities have one. Taipei's bars are spread across the city, often in side alleys and upstairs rooms. The closest things to a bar street are the open-air bars around the Red House in Ximending and the clusters of bars in the East District and Xinyi.
What is the drinking age in Taiwan?
18. Bars and clubs may ask for ID, so carry your passport. TourMeAway's pub crawl is for guests aged 18 and over.
Is Taipei safe at night?
Taipei is one of the safest big cities in Asia to go out in, and it is normal to see people eating supper at 2 AM. Use the usual common sense in crowds, and get home by taxi or ride-hailing app once the MRT has closed for the night.
What time does the Taipei MRT close?
The MRT stops running around midnight, so plan a taxi or a ride-hailing app for the trip home after a late night. Taxis are easy to find in every nightlife district.
How does the TourMeAway pub crawl work?
It starts at 8:30 PM and lasts 3+ hours, with free entry to 4+ bars and clubs and a Taiwan-style welcome drink at each stop, led by an English-speaking local guide. The Classic route runs on Fridays and Saturdays from Minquan West Road MRT Exit 10; the Taipei 101 Xinyi route runs on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Taipei City Hall Station Exit 3. Prices start from NT$704 and guests must be 18 or older.