Where to Stay in Taipei, Taiwan: The Sherwood Taipei
My time in Taipei was all too short, with only four full days to explore Taiwan’s capital. But I made the most of my limited time there, seeing the city’s famed monuments, escaping Taipei to explore some more rural areas, and experiencing three accommodations. Arriving late the first night, I checked into a hostel, which was pristine yet antisocial, a vast change from the other hostels I’ve experienced in Southest Asia. From there, I headed to the Taipei Marriott for two nights, which I reviewed in this post, and, finally, I wrapped up my Taiwanese adventure with a night at the Sherwood Taipei.
The five-star Sherwood Taipei bases itself around the concept of east meets west, and the name “Sherwood” actually comes from xihua in Mandarin to reflect this combination of occidental and oriental elements. It also prides itself on feeling like home to weary travelers, welcoming guests as if they were family, which has resulted in many repeat visitors since its opening in 1990.
The Location
The Sherwood is located just a few minutes’ walk from the Zhongshan Junior-High School metro station, making it easy to access any of Taipei’s neighborhoods. The hotel is just a five minute drive or a fifteen minute walk from Taipei Songshan airport (which you can also reach by metro), and there you’ll also find a shuttle to Taipei Taoyuan airport if that’s your port of entry. One of the highlights of my stay at the Sherwood Taipei was taking the metro from there to the Maokong Gondola. I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in Taipei! The Sherwood is central without being in an overly busy area, a great mix of convenient yet peaceful.
The Rooms
I stayed in one of the Sherwood Taipei’s Deluxe Rooms, a comfortable and luxurious place to rest my head for the night. Decorated more traditionally than many of the hotels I’ve visited recently, the room is in keeping with the Sherwood’s theme of elegance. With free wifi, a minibar, bathrobes, a large TV, toiletries by high fashion brand Hermès, and more, the room has everything you could need during your stay in Taipei.
I also had the chance to check out the Executive Suite, an 89-square meter room with a living room, dining area, and large bedroom, great for those guests who are entertaining or really looking to make the most of their stay.
To enhance the Sherwood’s theme of making guests feel at home, one small touch is that rooms open with a traditional key rather than a standard key card. Throughout the hotel, you’ll find plenty of little details like this that have been thoroughly thought out to give the best possible experience.
The Facilities
Wandering around the Sherwood’s public areas feels like you’re exploring a museum. The hotel boasts renowned artwork that reflects the east meets west motif, and fresh, colorful flowers adorn many of the rooms.
The large fitness center offers numerous workout machines, and beside it you’ll find an indoor pool. If you’re looking for some pampering after a long journey, pay a visit to the penthouse-level spa. The business center can help you out with printing, copying, and any other related needs, and a concierge is available 24 hours a day to assist with transportation, luggage storage, and more.
The Restaurants
At a five-star hotel as lovely as the Sherwood Taipei, you would expect nothing but greatness from its dining facilities, and I was not left disappointed. I’ll detail my Sherwood culinary experience in an upcoming post, but the hotel offers a variety of fine dining opportunities.
B-one is a buffet featuring fresh seafood and local and international favorites. For exotic flair, try Kouma Japanese Restaurant or Toscana Italian Restaurant. Yi Yuan Chinese Restaurant offers Cantonese delicacies and has hosted the likes of Margaret Thatcher and George H. W. Bush. Finally, the elegant Henry’s Bar offers simpler meals, cocktails, and wines. The surrounding neighborhood also has no shortage of dining options if these plentiful options aren’t enough.
While I may not see eye to eye with Thatcher and Bush when it comes to most things, it turns out the three of us do, in fact, have something in common: we were all left thoroughly impressed by the Sherwood Taipei. It’s clear that every aspect of the hotel has been carefully planned and impressively carried out. If you’re looking for comfortable, elegant luxury during a stay in Taipei, give the Sherwood a try.
Lovely looking place. Makes me itch to travel some more! Love your posts.
I love that using an actual key makes the experience seem more special. For some reason I just imagine a huge old fashion key being used to open the hotel room.
It really contributed to the experience and gave it a lot of class!