Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei

Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei: A Michelin Key Selected Urban Retreat

Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise as a premier luxury destination in Taiwan's vibrant capital. Renowned for its unparalleled city views, impeccable service, and a harmonious blend of East-meets-West design, the hotel offers a sophisticated and memorable experience for both leisure and business travelers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei, is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as a "top-notch" and "nearly perfect" luxury hotel. Its selection by the Michelin Guide further solidifies its reputation for excellence. Many reviews highlight a consistently high standard across all aspects of the stay, from facilities to staff interactions.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the hotel for several standout features:

• Breathtaking Views: As Taipei's tallest hotel, it offers spectacular panoramic vistas of the city skyline, including the iconic Taipei 101, especially from higher floors, the Marco Polo Lounge, and the rooftop pool.
• Rooftop Pool: The outdoor pool on the 43rd floor is a major draw, providing a unique vantage point for swimming and relaxation with stunning city and mountain backdrops.
• Exceptional Service: The hospitality is frequently described as "first-rate," "top-notch," and "hugely welcoming," with staff going above and beyond to ensure a comfortable stay.
• Horizon Club Lounge: Located on the 36th floor, the Horizon Club offers phenomenal breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails with equally impressive views and attentive service, making it a favorite for many guests.
• Elegant Design: The hotel blends classic Asian aesthetics, particularly drawing inspiration from the Song Dynasty, with contemporary features. Statement pieces of oriental art and antiques are found throughout the public spaces.

3. Room Quality

The hotel boasts some of the most spacious rooms in the city, starting from approximately 383 square feet. Rooms are elegantly appointed with creamy palettes, dark woods, and modern Asian décor, featuring high ceilings and near-full-length windows that offer ample natural light and often sensational city views, including Taipei 101. Recent remodels have introduced modern amenities such as updated light controls, Bose Bluetooth speakers, capsule coffee machines, and electronic Japanese-style toilets. Bathrooms are glamorous, decked out in gleaming marble, and typically include a bathtub, a spacious rain shower, and premium toiletries (like L'Occitane), with some even featuring a 12-inch flat-screen TV. Large walk-in closets are a common and appreciated feature.

4. Dining Experience

Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel offers a diverse and high-quality dining experience with five restaurants and three bars/lounges.

• Café at Far Eastern: The hotel's buffet restaurant is renowned for its extensive breakfast spread, offering a wide variety of options including Japanese, Taiwanese, Indian, and English breakfast items, fresh juices, and pastries, consistently receiving praise for its quality and selection.
• Shang Palace: This elegant Chinese restaurant serves Michelin-awarded Cantonese cuisine, with chefs trained in Beijing, and is particularly noted for its Peking Duck and Truffle Dim Sum.
• Marco Polo Restaurant & Lounge: Located on a high floor, it provides stunning Taipei 101 views, serving delicious Italian/Mediterranean cuisine and offering stylish cocktails, afternoon tea, and live music on weekends.
• Other options include Shanghai Pavilion for fine-dining Shanghainese cuisine and ibuki by Takagi Kazuo for refined Kyoto Japanese cuisine. Room service is also highly rated by guests.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel is consistently highlighted as a major strength. Guests describe the staff as "attentive," "efficient," "professional," and "warm and welcoming." Many staff members are proficient in English, ensuring smooth communication. From personalized greetings upon arrival to thoughtful touches like welcome amenities, turndown service treats, and prompt fulfillment of requests, the hospitality leaves a lasting positive impression.

6. Location & Accessibility

Situated in the leafy Da'an District, a prominent business and shopping area of Taipei, the hotel offers a serene retreat away from the immediate hustle, yet remains well-connected to major attractions. It's conveniently located near various international shops, local boutiques, and within walking distance (approximately 10 minutes) of the famous Tonghua Night Market and Daan Forest Park. While some reviews note that the nearest MRT station (Liuzhangli) might be a 10-12 minute walk, the hotel provides free shuttle buses daily to main attractions such as Ximending, Zhongxiao districts, Shilin & Ningxia Night Markets, National Palace Museum, and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, making city exploration effortless. Taxis are also readily available.

7. Value & Pricing

As a luxury five-star hotel and a Michelin Key Selected property, pricing reflects its premium status. Room rates generally range from around $148 to $264 USD for standard rooms, with suites being considerably higher. While it's considered a splurge by some, many guests feel it offers excellent value for the level of luxury, service, and amenities provided, particularly when comparing its "opulence and affordability" to the average hotel price in Taipei. Promotions and deals can also make it a more accessible luxury.

8. Common Complaints

While overall satisfaction is very high, a few minor recurring points have been noted by guests:

• Manual Window Shades: In some recently remodeled rooms, the presence of manual pull window shades was a slight surprise given the otherwise modern features.
• MRT Accessibility: A few guests found the 10-12 minute walk to the nearest MRT station (Liuzhangli) slightly less convenient, especially for first-time tourists relying heavily on public transport. However, this is often mitigated by the hotel's shuttle service and readily available taxis.
• Online Check-in Process: Some guests experienced needing to visit the front desk for a physical key card and paperwork even after completing online check-in, which they found a bit counterintuitive, though the staff provided explanations for this procedure.

In conclusion, Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei, stands as a paragon of luxury hospitality in Taipei, delivering an exceptional experience defined by its stunning views, sophisticated design, diverse culinary offerings, and outstanding staff service.

Sources

1. pierreblake.com
2. theshutterwhale.com
3. michelin.com
4. homeintheworld.net
5. agoda.com
6. mumonthemove.com
7. outthere.travel
8. voyagefox.net
9. privateupgrades.com
10. catch52.me
11. booking.com
12. collectingexp.com
13. emcheckedin.com
14. iwandered.net
15. forbestravelguide.com
16. kayak.com
17. sleepandreview.com
18. everlastying.com
19. h-rez.com
20. taipeihotelinfo.com
21. besthotelstaipei.com
22. flyertalk.com