Hotel Review: MGH Mitsui Garden Hotel Taipei Zhongxiao offers understated luxury in the city

As Japanese hotel chain Mitsui Garden Hotel’s first location outside of Japan, MGH Mitsui Garden Hotel Taipei Zhongxiao offers visitors to the vibrant capital city an oasis of serenity. The central location is ideal for both tourism and business travelers and offers guests space to cozily unwind – be it in the lounge, bar, spacious rooms or the large public baths overlooking the city.

The arrival

The well-staffed lobby enjoys plentiful natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows and the muted earth-toned décor provides a quiet, calm feeling despite the bustling city immediately outside. Upon heading towards the elevators, guests are greeted by a giant projection of the acclaimed Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above film by Chi Po Lin, the aerial shots providing the first nod of many to the appreciation of the country’s natural beauty.

The rooms

On each floor, directly by the elevators, there is original artwork by modern local artists and the theme continues in the guest rooms. Natural light has played a large part in the design of the hotel, and each room also boasts floor-to-ceiling windows layered with light gauze curtains (with blackout curtains for comfortable sleeping). The well-appointed rooms have pleasant color schemes, with hand-woven art created by Indigenous artists over the beds. The standard issue white hotel linens are also lifted by Indigenous weave patterned bed runners in cool earth tones. The rooms are a comfortable size with glass-partitioned ensuites. A privacy curtain is available to shield bathers from the room.

All rooms are equipped with Japanese washlet style toilets (with English translations of the various functions) and rainfall showerheads. The Deluxe rooms have bathtubs with a sachet of Japanese Onsen bath salts to enhance your soak. You’ll also find complimentary pajamas, sachets of Taiwanese tea and a Japanese tea set. Take seat on the lounge chairs or chaise lounge (Deluxe rooms) to relax and while away the time flicking through the special National Geographic issue on the film displayed in the lobby (Mandarin Chinese only) and a photography book of Taiwanese mountains. When it’s time for bed, you’ll find one-touch bedside lighting controls, including relaxation mode, and international converter sockets so you can plug your phone straight into the wall.

The amenities

Not all of the rooms have desks, so guests who plan to work during their stay can either email ahead to enquire about availability or choose to work in the guest lounge on the second floor. The guest lounge provides simple refreshments (coffee machine and chilled water) and sofas and chairs to relax on. The long table (made of a single piece of polished timber) has spaced out plug sockets built in under the table to plug in electronics and complimentary WiFi is available throughout the property.

If you’re there to relax rather than work, pop your towel into one of the provided Taiwan grandma-style market bags, and head up to the 17^th floor where the public baths allow you to soak in 42-degree water while gazing out over the lights of Taipei (open until midnight, segregated by sex as you must go naked into the tubs).

The food

The onsite dining is franchised out to Japanese Italian chain Japoli, making for interesting breakfast options. As well as a traditional Japanese set breakfast you can help yourself to a salad bar, fruits, and Taiwanese classic dish luroufan (braised pork over rice) topped with a tea egg. Those looking for Western fare can grab a slice of Japoli’s signature pizza, or if you’re really feeling hungry you can even get lasagna. The restaurant also serves the regular Japoli menu for lunch and dinner and converts into a bar in the evening.

The neighborhood

The convenient location makes MGH Mitsui Garden Hotel Taipei Zhongxiao an excellent choice to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the capital and return home to relax in peaceful surroundings. Within walking distance to the west is Huashan Cultural Park and the Guanghua Digital Plaza area, brimming with electronics shops, cheap eats and bubble teashops, thanks to the nearby university.

For roving explorers, the hotel is immediately beside the lift exit of Zhongxiao-Xinsheng MRT station, making it a breeze to arrive by public transport and to get around on Taipei’s excellent MRT system. One stop south at Dongmen is Da’an Park and the YongKang Street area with plentiful tea shops, cafés, a bustling wet market and boutique clothing stores. On the weekends, the Jade and Flower Markets are just one block east of Dongmen Station.

One stop east (Zhongxiao-Fuxing station) you’ll find two branches of the Sogo department store with the next station along boasting plentiful fashion boutiques and eating options in the Zhongxiao-Dunhua shopping area.

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