Mid-Autumn Festival is all about barbecues—but if you're not up for prepping the food or doing the grilling yourself, join a hotel-hosted BBQ party. Some even take place by the pool, where you can enjoy professionally grilled delicacies under shimmering waters while admiring the moon. Pure bliss.
"Asia 49 Asian Cuisine & Lounge," located on the 49th floor of Taipei’s tallest building, the Taipei 101 Yoya Plaza, has completely revamped its menu starting today. In addition to nearly 50 new à la carte dishes priced from ¥160, there’s also a weekday four-course lunch set available from just ¥180—cheaper than some department store food courts.
Girls love to gather and chat about life and daily stories, and during these moments, a café with great ambiance and delicious food can really elevate a lovely afternoon. Though Taipei is undeniably a concrete jungle that gets noisy on weekends, hidden within these busy areas are little havens that feel like hidden paradises—relaxed atmospheres that give you the illusion of being on an island or in Europe. These spots are definitely worth adding to your girls’ date list.
You can no longer say Taoyuan has no good food to offer. Capitalizing on the strong consumer demand in the Greater Taoyuan area, businesses have not only expanded shopping malls but also launched a series of food courts featuring a wide range of dining options. These include ATT Group’s all-in-one gourmet flagship store, ATT筷食尚, right in front of Taoyuan Railway Station, JC PARK’s “Taoyuan Spring Museum,” and the recently opened Da Jiang Shopping Mall.
In recent years, the concept of ecological conservation has gained increasing attention, and animal performances have become a controversial topic of discussion. If you love adorable animals and want to see them in their natural state while traveling, consider joining a volunteer team at one of these “6 Top Ecotourism Destinations Worldwide.” Observe wildlife in nature and arrange a meaningful and unforgettable eco-trip for yourself.
When traveling abroad, booking a hotel is a crucial part of the trip. The most basic expectation is that everything should be clean, both inside and out. The last thing anyone wants is to be accompanied by "otherworldly beings" from different dimensions. My friend Hua’er and her sisters once stayed at one of Thailand’s "Top 10 Haunted Hotels," and they actually encountered something…
Japan’s popular “cold shampoo” trend actually originated in Yamagata Prefecture. Due to the extremely hot summers there, one business owner decided to chill shampoo in the fridge, then use it to wash customers’ hair — a practice that became hugely popular and eventually spread across Japan.
The charm of globally beloved cartoon stars is simply irresistible. Beyond their wide array of merchandise and plush toys that win over fans, life-sized giant plush figures are just too adorable to resist, making people scream with joy. Not only are they enlarged in size, but their cuteness is amplified infinitely. Below, we’ll introduce 3 “giant plush” photo spots you absolutely can’t miss this summer.
As autumn arrives, Wanyue Lou (48th floor), located next to Dayeh Takashimaya in Banqiao, is launching “The Beauty of Autumn Crabs” from September 15 to November 15. In addition to using the renowned Wanli crabs from New Taipei City, the menu also features hairy crabs from Taihu Lake. Chef Su Quan-hui employs classic flavor profiles and fusion styles to create a diverse and delicious array of crab dishes.
Haidilao, the hot pot restaurant famous for its over-the-top service, recently opened a branch in Taichung, attracting many hot pot enthusiasts eager to be the first to try it out, with its reservation hotline almost constantly busy. Always thinking of its customers, Haidilao not only strives to meet all kinds of requests but also proactively anticipates their needs—such as worrying that you might feel lonely eating hot pot by yourself, so the staff will bring over a large stuffed toy and have it sit across from you to keep you company.
Hong Kong’s Maxim’s Mooncakes, which have been the top-selling mooncakes in Hong Kong for 19 consecutive years, are optimistic about the growth potential of Taiwan’s mooncake market. This year, they have opened their first-ever 3D Lunar Scene pop-up store in Taiwan’s Xinyi District, allowing consumers to take photos with hyper-realistic displays of the moon, maple trees, jade rabbits, and flowing-center egg yolk mooncakes. In addition to traditional mooncake series, Maxim’s has also launched a Marvel-themed cartoon mooncake series, featuring Marvel heroes on this year’s mooncake boxes.
The burger specialty Shake Shack, known as a must-try in New York, will open in Taiwan in Q4 next year, possibly at Breeze Nan Shan. However, the opening is still nearly a year away. For those who can’t wait, besides visiting its locations in Japan, you’ll also be able to enjoy it in Hong Kong starting from Q1 next year. It will be introduced by the Maxim’s Group, which aims to expand to 14 outlets in Hong Kong and Macau by 2027. As for the location of the first Shake Shack in Hong Kong, Tim Tong, Chief Operating Officer of Maxim’s Group, stated that it has not yet been confirmed.
Jeju Island in South Korea has a new attraction to offer. Spanning 2.5 million square meters—about the size of 350 soccer fields—“Jeju Shinhwa World” is an innovative integrated resort that combines a theme park, food street, duty-free shops, and resort hotel apartments all in one premium destination. It will open at the end of September or early October and has enlisted G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-yong) as its global ambassador. The resort also features the “GD Cafe” designed by GD himself, making it a new pilgrimage site for fans.
Tired of the workweek grind and looking to make your Friday night unforgettable? Don’t miss Taipei Marriott Hotel’s cocktail extravaganza. The sky-high bar INGE’S on the 20th floor offers sweeping views of the entire Greater Taipei area. To ensure guests enjoy the coolest and most relaxing drinking experience, the hotel has invited world-class female mixology royalty and master bartenders for a luxurious cocktail feast.
In recent years, hotels have been increasingly popular for inviting international guest chefs to their buffet restaurants, offering unique foreign dishes. Taipei’s The Westin Taipei Six Fu Palace's interactive dining venue, the Silk Road Banquet, is also hosting an "El Salvador Food Festival" from September 12 to September 24, introducing authentic local Salvadoran cuisine.
Colorful juice blends garnished with cookies and other treats make each drink look like a piece of art, becoming a major trend on Instagram this summer. Located in Ximending, a hub for young students, “Al revés 颠倒餐厅” features its most unique offering — the “Unicorn Slush.” Its blue-to-purple gradient isn’t achieved with artificial coloring but through a mix of red dragon fruit and blue curaçao. Topped with a wafer cone and colorful Skittles-like candies, the drink becomes even more dazzling.
The eighth Tim Ho Wan branch in Taiwan has opened at Dajiang International Shopping Mall and will commence operations on September 15. Covering an area of 114 ping (approximately 376 m²), the Tim Ho Wan Zhongli Dajiang branch offers 112 seats. In addition to serving more than 30 dishes and desserts, including its signature “Four Heavenly Kings” dim sum, the branch will exclusively debut three delicious new dishes featuring seasonal Taiwanese autumn tonic ingredients on opening day—Steamed Rice Rolls with Three Delicacies and Flying Fish Roe, Steamed Taro Cake, and Lotus Root and Pork Rib Soup.
Star Cruises announced that starting in September, the “SuperStar Libra” will launch a new three-home-port route covering Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, and Phuket in Thailand. With two sailings per week, options include a 4-day, 3-night journey from Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur) – Phuket – Penang, and a 5-day, 4-night route from Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur) – Langkawi – Phuket – Penang. Plan a maritime holiday and easily explore Southeast Asia.
Dadaocheng is a living historical district, where every old building has weathered the passage of time. The “Kwong Wo Tong Herbal Medicine Shop,” built in 1962, still bears the shop sign etched into its window grilles. Despite changing hands many times, it was taken over by Chen Kuo-tzu, founder of the “Taipei Story House,” and this year was reborn as the “Dihua Street No. 207 Museum.”
Ambassador Hotel’s A CUT recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and will be temporarily closed for a period. During this time, Executive Chef Ling Weilian has been keeping busy by hosting a flash event at Ambassador Hotel in Kaohsiung on October 11, October 12, and October 13. Each day, there will be a limited offering of 40 lunch sets and 40 dinner sets, giving the people of Kaohsiung a chance to enjoy their exclusive dry-aged steaks.