It's Taiwan's treasure trove By JINGGOY SALVADOR Taipei, an exciting city to visit in Southeast Asia. Culturally rich, historically appealing, a gourmand’s paradise, with a vibrant entertainment scene, it’s luring in the crowd. Attractions draw its fans to create countless posts and reels on social media, listing cuisine, shopping, places of interest, and art, too.
Even hotels have their own following, capturing its target market with its innovative strategies fashioned after trendsetting or contemporary concepts. Then there are a handful that delve into luxury. On this trip to Taipei, I listed two on my to-do list: visit contemporary art museums and do a “bib hop,” aka chase the Michelin Bib Gourmand-stamped restaurants across the city.
Little did I know that I will end up with two cakes in a pan in my billet. In fact, it was a surprise beyond expectation. In the heart of the city, along Dunhua North Road in the Shongshan District, a European architecture-inspired edifice rises above the verdant tree-lined avenue of the bustling business district: Mandarin Oriental, Taipei, a luxurious retreat for travelers and, surprisingly, for art lovers, too.
Think: Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris or The Center Pompidou’s collection inside the marbled halls of the Palais de Versailles, breathtaking fusion of the modern and the sophisticated and opulent. Mandarin Oriental exudes this aura—a classical-style residence with exquisitely crafted spaces cradling a curated collection .