A slew of massively fat gentlemen dressed in crisp suits flew overhead. On a darkened niche, white dragons, wings poised for flight, sat waiting while a white bear garbed in aqua blue shorts and suspenders sat unmoving on one corner. We went pass this surreal scene, dragging our suitcases and backpacks behind us. No, we’re not loss on a mossy fog-laden forest conjured by the Grimms Brother but at the snazzy lobby of the Taipei Westgate Hotel.

WELCOME SNACK AT THE TAIPEI WESTGATE HOTEL

Perfectly located along the Taipei’s hip district, the Ximending Pedestrian Street, and literally just a hop away from the city’s MRT Green Line, Taipei Westgate Hotel became our home for our second night in the city.

CUTE, BUT STILL SNAZZY, LOBBY

Standard check in time was at three in the afternoon, but since we’re visiting New Taipei’s Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen that day, we decided to check out right after breakfast from our previous lodging, the Ximen Wow Hostel, and proceeded right to Westgate Hotel to drop our bags.

CHECKING IN AT MIDNIGHT

The day passed with us exploring the Ruifang District area, proceededing to Raohe, one of Taipei’s night markets, for a very late dinner right after. Extremely bushed, it was almost midnight when we returned to the hotel to finally complete our check in.

THOSE FLYING FAT MEN

After a quick chat with the front desk peeps, we were led towards the cardkey-secured elevators and into our seventh floor Premier Dual Queen Room [CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY]. We were four in the group and its two massive queen beds were more than perfect for us. We wanted nothing better than to simply dump our bags on one corner and dive into a fitful sleep as soon as we closed the door.

ROOM FOR FOUR

The room is basically divided into two open areas. The first is the sleeping hall, where the two queen-sized beds are and the lounge area for coffee and tea time in the morning were located. The second one is the service area, where the mini-bar, coffee and tea-making facilities, the lavatories and the stalls for the toilet and bath are set. I love their concept of opening the whole room while still keeping each area well segregated.

MINI-BAR AREA, LOTS OF FREE BOTTLED WATER

I can also say nothing bad against Taipei Westgate Hotel’s interiors. I love how they contrasted their plain white walls with soft line-print carpets and dark wood-panel cabinets. There are hardly any decors in the room, but the mix of lines, planes and lighting more than made it up for it. The final effect, a cozy modernist room without the clutter of external decorations.

LAVATORY AND TOILET & BATH AREA, WE HAVE A BATHTUB!

We slept like extremely tired babies, waking to the city’s morning light trying to peek through our room’s heavy curtains the next day.

I was with three girls, so I expected quite a queue on the toilet. But since the shower and toilet has its own stall, plus with the double lavatories being set outside, our preparation time went surprisingly fast.

BREAKFAST AT THE UNWIND BAR & RESTAURANT

We were soon trooping down the lobby and into Westgate Hotel’s in-house Unwind Bar & Restaurant for the complimentary buffet breakfast. The first thing I looked for was crisply fried bacons. Unfortunately, they have none. Their fried rice, which I topped with braised pork, tofu and quail eggs, paired with their ham, made me forget about my bacon cravings. Their French fries were really good too, like McDonald’s good!

NO BACONS, BUT THEY HAVE THESE!

While waiting for my companions to finish their meal, I went around their facilities and found they have a small gym that faces the busy Zhonghua Road, a business center cum lounge, and surprisingly, a laundry room where guests can machine wash and dry their own laundry absolutely free of charge. A rarity for a four-stary hotel!

WESTGATE HOTEL’S BUSINESS CENTER

Right after breakfast, we grudgingly surrendered our room cards and requested if we can leave our bags while we explore Shifen later that day. Graciously, they let us leave our things. Sad as we were that our stay at Westgate Hotel was too short, we nonetheless sauntered off into the nippy Taipei morning and looked forward to another adventure-filled day.

~ BIG THANKS TO TAIPEI WESTGATE HOTEL FOR SPONSORING ONE OF OUR NIGHTS IN TAIPEI

 

 

Taipei Westgate Hotel
Address: No. 150, Section 1, Shonghua Road,
              Ximending, Taipei, Taiwan
Contact Number: (+886) 2-2331-3161
Email: service@westgatehotel.com.tw
GPS Coordinates Map: 25.042768, 121.507992
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