Introduction

A first for the Kimpton brand, shanghai-based architecture team Neri & Hu was able to convert a former apartment complex in the busy Da’an district to a modern hotel. With its brilliant service, fantastic hard product and a fine dining restaurant, the Kimpton Da An is a hotel I would easily stay at again if i’m never back in Taipei, Taiwan.

This sleek boutique resort caught my attention during my search for hotels on the IHG website during my winter trip back to Taiwan. Initially, we wanted to use our IHG certificate but due to the devaluation of the certificates, we ended up using the 50,000 IHG points per night, which was still a great use of points.

The Room

The room is a sight to behold. Completely different and very radical in terms of design components, the room blends a consortium of wood, marble and brass accents that make the room pop with vivid colors. The room itself has a green accent wall that is found in all the rooms and suites here.

The living room section contains a couch, a lovely table, a TV and a bluetooth speaker. A chromecast is also found within the TV itself, which is nice if you wanted to catch up on some Netflix or Hulu. It’s a great place to enjoy room service or complete some work.

Being a Kimpton, you can use the Raid-the-Mini Bar credit (we took two lovely bottles of sparkling water). The pantry contains a coffee machine along with a kettle for TWG and local tea leaves.

I’m quite infatuated with this room design. Clearly, the design aspect was limited to the fact that the hotel is built on a pre-existing residential framework, but the architect clearly did a fantastic job mapping this out. My wife and I really loved the set up and use of space.

The bathroom is a sight to behold. COMPLETELY not expecting the design. All these rooms seem to be designed for couples who really don’t care about boundaries - the bathroom door converts to the toilet door, so one can’t do both at the same time. Truly intriguing. However, the colors are vibrant and the toilet is super nice (Toto always and forever).

While I wasn’t digging the window views, the natural lighting and the ability to close the window with the wooden slides made for easy access in the morning.

Amenities

It may not have a pool or spa, but the service itself is truly a blessing in its own right. The staff here are actively helping out and assisting guests whenever they can - even when I was checked in, within 5 minutes came another agent who excitedly gifted us a set of desserts and drinks to commemorate our stay there.

In addition, there are several social gatherings that people can take advantage of, such as complimentary coffee , taiwanese soy milk and energy bars during the mornings. Then in the afternoon, there is a social hour where guests can get a complimentary glass of wine, which is pretty nice. The bart cart between the reception and the communal table showcases their Social Wine Hour every day, and they serve complimentary drinks and snacks for all the guests at the hotel. This is a fantastic perk and something that I wish more hotels would do.

Furthermore, guests can enjoy in-room yoga mats, take part in wellness morning yoga on the rooftop, free fitness classes and complimentary bikes to explore the city.

There is also the in-house restaurant called The Tavernist, which is helmed by ex-Noma chef James Sharman, and utilizes local cuisine and organic local ingredients to create their menu. While we weren’t able to get breakfast or dinner there, I’ve heard great things about this place, and as a IHG Diamond member, it’s a great use of the complimentary breakfast.

Location

Location wise, it’s great and not so great. Located in the trendy part (think SOGO and all the eateries) of Da An District, there are a ton of things to do around the area, with the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station being a quick 5 minute walk. It can be a bit busy and noisy as it is within a residential/commercial neighborhood.

However, given that it was a once an apartment building, it’s nice to see an extensive overhaul of a building, showcasing architectural prowess and changes that better the environment of Taipei.

Conclusion

I’m really digging this Kimpton In Taipei, and be one of my favorite uses of my IHG certificates in Taiwan. The location is central to Taipei and all the fun activities that anyone can enjoy. Despite the lack of hotel amenities, the service is impeccable and second to none, and the interior design and atmosphere makes for a special experience. I would highly recommend this hotel to those who are more interested about the unique feel and service that can’t be found at typical hotel chains.