Our first look contained in the gorgeous new Capella Taipei

Editor’s notice: Capella Taipei supplied The Factors Man with a complimentary two-night keep in order that we might expertise the lodge and its facilities. Nevertheless, the opinions expressed inside this evaluation are these of the writer alone and weren’t topic to evaluation by the lodge or another exterior entity.

Taipei made our listing of the prime locations for 2025 due to its dedication to sustainability, human rights and thrilling tourism developments round city — not the least of which was the April opening of this attractive new lodge. That is the newest outpost from fast-growing Asia-based luxurious chain Capella, and in reality, it is the primary new luxurious lodge to open within the Taiwanese capital in over 10 years.

After stepping by way of its imposing bronze doorways and into the inviting inside (designer Andre Fu’s imaginative and prescient was to create a “trendy mansion” reasonably than simply your normal high-end lodge), it looks like each you and this lodge have arrived at simply the best second.

First impressions

You would be forgiven for mistaking Capella Taipei’s smooth glass facade for simply one other workplace tower alongside bustling Dunhua North Highway. However that impression begins to fade once you spot two century-old banyan bushes sprouting from the garden, and any notion that it will simply be one other cookie-cutter lodge vanishes the second you step by way of the entrance door.

The primary sight to greet you is a dramatic textile art work by artist Chen-Lin Lee depicting the geography of the Taipei Basin; it is fronted by a big, spherical desk holding numerous curios and items of artwork. In all places you look, it appears there may be extra artwork to seize your consideration.

Flip left by way of the dramatic arched hallway, as an example, and one of many receptionists will invite you to sit. From there, you possibly can admire the assorted custom-created items by artists, together with painter Jasper Huang and sculptor Guang Yu Zhang.

Or head on to the Library — a sun-splashed, lounge-like house only for lodge visitors — on the 14th flooring to finish check-in, take pleasure in a refreshing cool towel and have a shot of immune-boosting juice.

You would possibly acknowledge designer Fu’s work from different lodges, together with Hong Kong’s Higher Home and St. Regis. Lots of his calling playing cards are right here, too, together with numerous artwork deco references and the deployment of huge screen-like panels within the public areas.

Nonetheless, different design options are utterly distinctive to this property. One such characteristic is a gigantic ornamental mural within the all-day restaurant Plume, created by French artist Elsa Jeandedieu. The mural options numerous textures of gold, bronze and copper, alluding to Taiwan’s various landscapes. It additionally options summary depictions of Taiwan’s nationwide chicken, the blue magpie, playfully perching right here and there.

Simply behind this can be a dramatic white spiral staircase with hand-hewn wood railings that make it appear to be a calla lily unfolding round a multicolored oak sculpture by Mexican artist Joel Escalona.

Because of a raft of “Culturists,” Capella’s distinctive function blends the capabilities of concierges, tour guides, receptionists and butlers. So, something from a chilly drink and a salty snack to a non-public metropolis tour is only a fast name away.

The rooms

Capella Taipei has a mere 86 lodging — 78 rooms and eight suites, together with six with their very own personal pool terraces. They begin at over 500 sq. ft within the Superior class.

My Premier King room, a number of classes up, was practically 700 sq. ft. It had its personal balcony overlooking the pool, which was a great place for sipping morning espresso made with the in-room Nespresso machine earlier than the warmth of the day set in.

The room’s inside, in the meantime, was adorned in a soothing palette of taupe, beige, silver and pale blue with blanched wooden paneling, walnut-colored flooring and rugs with curvy artwork deco patterning.

The mattress had a Chinese language-style carved wood headboard and a pale blue ornamental panel. It was wearing ultra-soft grey linens that I virtually sank into on the finish of every day … after donning one of many supplied Frette bathrobes, after all.

The room had all the newest know-how, together with common plugs, USB-A and C ports, and buttons to do the whole lot from opening the curtains to dimming the lights. Essentially the most enjoyable characteristic, nonetheless, needed to be a bit of bedside field that functioned as an AI management console. All you needed to do was speak to activate it and ask it to do one thing, like decrease the room temperature or alert somebody at reception to name you.

After I was accomplished enjoying with it and bought prepared for dinner, I made my approach into the big, Travertine-tiled rest room to clean up with Bamford bathtub merchandise.

This house had twin sinks, a small room holding the good bathroom and a glassed-in suite that held each the large walk-in bathe (the strain from the ceiling bathe head was superb) and an outsized soaking tub with scented bathtub salts and a loofah. You can simply spend all day luxuriating simply in right here.

Eating

With 5 eating retailers and a inventive bar idea to return, there’s loads to eat and drink on the Capella Taipei.

Plume

Plume is the French phrase for feather, and is so named due to the blue magpies populating the large-scale mural at one finish of the lodge’s all-day foyer lounge.

Open from 6:30 a.m. till midnight on daily basis, Plume is the setting for visitors’ luxurious breakfast buffet (the matcha croissants are to not miss) together with specialties like turnip muffins with spicy sauce and an omelet with Taiwanese basil, scallions and dried radish. The one-source pour-over espresso (I attempted the fruity Ethiopian batch) is a deal with as nicely.

The remainder of the day, the restaurant serves a mixture of continental and Taiwanese dishes like shrimp cocktail ($15) and beef noodles with chili sauce ($27).

Come within the night earlier than dinner, although, to pattern the signature cocktails. Every is known as after an indigenous Taiwanese chicken and incorporates substances that these birds really eat.

Additionally on the bottom flooring however throughout the reception space and entrance door from Plume is Atelier Plume: a restaurant and patisserie the place you possibly can seize candy treats, espresso and tea all through the day.

Ember 28

Named for the 28-day ageing course of the restaurant makes use of to mature the fish and steak it serves and the embers with which the cooks grill these proteins, Ember 28 is the lodge’s special-occasion restaurant. It is full with huge crystal chandeliers and only a sprint of drama as diners watch the kitchen employees deftly maneuver every dish to completion within the open kitchen.

The seven-course set menus right here vary from $140 to $160 per particular person based mostly on the lower of steak or different meat you select (order the dry-aged strip loin — belief us). The dishes incorporate seasonal Taiwanese substances like regionally raised pork, crispy wax apples, fresh-caught snapper, earthy Jerusalem artichoke and lemony maqaw peppers.

Mizue

Taiwanese delicacies can begin to really feel heavy on occasion due to the profuse flavors and preponderance of sauces. So for those who’re hankering for one thing lighter, the lodge’s omakase-style Japanese restaurant, Mizue, is likely to be the order of the day. It is open for lunch Friday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. till 3 p.m., and for dinner Wednesday by way of Sunday from 6:30 till 10 p.m. The dishes are ready in entrance of your eyes by a sushi grasp.

Rong Ju

Open Tuesday by way of Saturday from 12 to 2:30 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m., Rong Ju is Capella Taipei’s Cantonese fine-dining eatery. It serves numerous multicourse prix-fixe menus, together with the signature Formosa one, which prices round $170 per particular person and consists of delicacies like steamed crab claw with caviar, Chinese language wine, steamed egg white and hen jus.

Glasshouse

Though not open but, the lodge will finally home a three-level bar advanced known as Glasshouse, which can serve artisanal cocktails and advantageous wines.

Facilities and repair

• Visitors can contemplate the 14th-floor Library their house away from house. It affords loads of cozy seating vignettes and help-yourself drinks and snacks all through the day. There’s additionally a hosted spherical of drinks and nibbles every night, accompanied by a bit of presentation on native customs.
• The 14th-floor pool has plush loungers and daybeds shaded by pink umbrellas to enhance a few of the greatest views of Taipei’s distinctive skyline, together with the unmistakable Taipei 101.

• The lodge’s spa has 4 particular person therapy rooms, together with one with a sensory deprivation tank, plus a double suite full with a dreamy bathtub constructed from Hinoki wooden. The menu relies on moon cycles and consists of specialties like intuitive massages to focus on your explicit wants, in addition to facial and physique therapies that incorporate refined merchandise like Ayurvedic Delicate Energies and Swiss CellCosmet.

• Adjoining to the spa, the health heart is stocked with the present slate of Technogym cardio and weight tools.

• Every morning and afternoon, visitors can take part in Capella “Rituals” and “Moments” across the lodge. These vary from an alfresco breakfast of easy Taiwanese dishes beneath a banyan tree to a tasting of conventional teas within the Library.
• The lodge’s “Culturists” can take you on “Capella Curates” excursions by way of numerous neighborhoods which are aimed toward forging a way of connection between vacationers and the encircling communities. These experiences would possibly embody a gallery crawl in Songshan, a go to to an area artisan’s workshops or a historic discovery tour of Dadaocheng’s well-preserved structure.
• On my outing within the close by Songshan district, we popped into the Phrases stationery retailer the place the lodge’s artist companion, Ariel Chi, occurred to be hanging out, and he even drew a fast freehand sketch of me as a memento.

Location and logistics

The Capella Taipei sits on the stately, tree-lined Dunhua North Highway, a fast jaunt from town’s smaller airport and inside strolling distance to varied neighborhoods. A experience share to Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (TPE) takes round 45 minutes and prices about $40 to $50. Alternatively, you possibly can catch the metro and the airport practice for a grand complete of round $5, and it takes the identical period of time as a automobile for those who hit the trains excellent.

What it prices

Nightly charges on the Capella Taipei begin at simply over $600 per night time. As a result of it’s so new, the lodge isn’t but a part of one of many premium bank card hotel-booking portals. A number of of its sister properties are a part of American Categorical Superb Lodges + Resorts, although, so we suspect this one will be part of this system as nicely.

Accessibility

The Capella Taipei has a single wheelchair-accessible Premier King room. Those that use mobility gadgets can benefit from no-step entry to the bottom flooring in addition to most public areas within the lodge; the visitor room flooring are accessible by elevator. One of many elevators is designated for visitors with disabilities and has lowered buttons which are simpler to achieve from a wheelchair.

The doorway from the 14th-floor corridor to the pool space requires stepping over a threshold, although, and there’s no chairlift into the pool.

Backside line

Capella and its sister model, Patina, are each rising quick. Every new lodge represents an thrilling chapter for this area of interest Asian luxurious lodge model, although, and the Capella Taipei proves the rule. With public areas that really feel each inviting but grand, tastefully appointed rooms and hyper-personalized service aimed toward connecting visitors to the vacation spot, the lodge supplies a really memorable keep in Taiwan’s capital.

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