4 Taipei Destinations for the Artist in You

By Janelle Sorilla & Diane Jacinto

Table of Contents

Taipei 101, Ximending, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial – these three destinations in Taipei are a symbol of the city’s thriving cultural heritage. Though these are considered a must-visit and have already proven themselves to provide wonderful experiences for the general traveler, Taipei has other destinations that will cater to the creative in you.

Huashan Creative Park

Huashan Creative Park is a haven. It’s filled with a number of art exhibitions, hip, and artsy cafes, and numerous events that encapsulates all forms of art, may it be illustration or music.

One of our absolute favorites in this park was the Wooderful Life museum.

Being a fan of music boxes, I felt shivers when I heard the soft tune of my favorite Disney song playing against the background as I played with the many woodcrafts on display. If you’re not a fan of music boxes, this shop also sells appliances and a variety of beautifully crafted wooden souvenirs for your friends at home to enjoy.

It’s fascinating to see that they even set up a DIY section! Yes, you can make your own music box and design it by the piece! It was something I would have loved to experience if not for the cost.

Instagrammable Spots inside Huashan Creative Park

Every corner and street of Huashan Creative Park will have you stopping in your tracks to take a photo. Fancy some graffiti? They have it. Looking for a little bit of grunge? It’s all here. A visit to this park will ensure that your aesthetic is taken care of. You won’t go out without a picture. That’s for sure.

Some tips:

Visit on a weekend if you’re in for the events.
If you’re in for the photos, visit on a weekday.

Natural Life

Natural Life is a small cafe in Huashan serving a variety of goods with dried fruits as its main ingredient. This includes ice popsicles, healthy shakes, and organic juices.

This cafe certainly lives up to its name. As soon as we stepped inside, we were greeted by a wide assortment of greenery and surprisingly, most of them are real. It actually smells like flowers and fruits as well. The cafe is a nice place to relax in if you need a dose of greenery during your travels to Taipei.

Natural Life’s menu averages at about NTD130. Do note that they have a free taste section where you can help yourself and try out a variety of dried fruits. Just be mindful of how much you eat because once you start with one, you’ll want to try out everything else as well.

Taipei Fine Arts Museum

Taipei Fine Arts Museum boast its ability to adapt to major and contemporary design trends. Upon entering the museum, you’ll be greeted by a minimalist interior design with most of its walls painted white in contrast with the wooden furniture and brightly colored artworks.

Unfortunately, cameras aren’t allowed inside but during our time, the museum was under renovation to install major galleries. What was certainly unique with this museum though, is that they have outdoor exhibits as well.

Interestingly, the surrounding areas of the museum were also a sight to behold. If you’re fortunate enough to visit during a weekend, do explore the event area nearby and get a taste of local by participating and watching their events and festivities.

Elsewhere Cafe

If you’ve been looking to hop between cafe’s then you might have probably encountered this one. Located in a quaint neighborhood in Zhongzheng, Taipei, you’re most likely to do a double-take when you pass by the Elsewhere Cafe. When me and a friend passed by, at first glance, this small cafe looked like a bookshop from the outside if not for the tables visible against the glass wall.

Upon entering, we were greeted with the sight of messily arranged books and postcards. They had a small section in the shop dedicated entirely for the latter.

The word ‘messy’ in the aforementioned paragraph shouldn’t be taken as a discouragement, however, because that’s the cafe’s appeal overall. It’s chaotically beautiful. Customers can fully dive into the wide selection of books as they wish, given that you return it to its proper place after, of course.

This quaint cafe is famous for its crepe cake so we absolutely had to try it out! We ordered a slice of Taro Crepe Cake and oh boy, for sure, every bite brought our taste buds to heaven. It was a delightful experience no doubt, but would we dine again? If given the opportunity, we would.

Their menu averages at about NTD200, and before you can order a dessert, they will require you to spend a minimum of NTD150 on their main menu. So cherish every bite and sip if you’re planning to try this cafe!

BONUS:

If your itinerary to Taiwan is still in the plans and you’re yet to book an accommodation, we recommend booking with the Flip Flop Hostel – Garden. Located just a few minutes from Zhongshan station, it’s the ideal location for you to fully enjoy the locations above.

Taipei Destinations for the Artist in You

Staying true to the purpose of this blog, this hostel is affordable and a sight to see. It’s no wonder that artists from all over the world choose to stay here. The Flip Flop Hostel proudly provides its customers’ peace laced with aesthetic — something that’s hard to find in the megacity of Taipei.

You’ll be greeted warmly by a calm and peaceful interior brought about by the abundance of green all throughout. Take a few steps past the lobby and look around! There’s a mural to your left and the sight of a beautifully design interior of the common room right in front of you.

Grab yourself a bean bag and settle down after a long day! Truth be told, it was so comfortable that me and a friend fell into a deep sleep while relaxing in the common area.

The accommodation itself was better than we expected. We stayed in the female’s dormitory so we couldn’t take any photos to respect the privacy of others. It’s not a dormitory per se. Rather, it’s more like a capsule. You’re given around a meter and a half wide of space (which is plenty), your own RFID card that serves as the key to your room and your personal locker. Bathrooms were shared but clean both to the eyes and to our sense of smell.

To add, this hostel occasionally hosts its own art exhibitions and programs for all to enjoy. It’s the ideal place to stay in, especially if you’re into the arts.

Definitely check this place out!

Taipei Travel and Tour Packages

Taipei City Sightseeing Bus Tour

Hop on and off a guided bus tour of Taipei. Discover Taipei’s most iconic sights such as Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum.

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Taipei KiKi Sichuan Restaurant Set Menu

Treat your taste buds to a delicious meal at Kiki Sichuan Restaurant in Taipei. Choose from two set menu options and savor Taiwanese-style Sichuan cuisine.

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Find Hotels in Taipei, Taiwan according to your budget via Agoda.

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