Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Luxury Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Taipei

TODAY'S ADVENTURE

Luxury Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Taipei

Background & Booking

I was visiting Taipei to see family, and we had four nights in the city. The last time I was in Taipei was in December 2018, when I spent New Year’s at the Grand Hyatt Taipei and had a great stay. But, I wanted to try something new this time, and the Mandarin Oriental Taipei has always been on my bucket list as it is arguably the most prestigious hotel in Taipei currently.

Takeoff Points

Date of Stay: March 2024 Room Type: Deluxe Room King Pros: Great service, breakfast, luxurious rooms, and a beautiful pool. A truly 5-star experience. Cons: The standard pillow was too soft for my liking.

Fora Travel Benefits

I work with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays. Fora is a Mandarin Oriental Fan Club and Virtuoso Travel Agency. Fora’s partnership gives you special perks when booking with me. The Mandarin Oriental Taipei features:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availabilityDaily Breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage or Spa credit utilized during stayEarly Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability

Additionally, at the time of posting, there is a 4th night free offer. For my stay, I utilized this promotion and I got a great average rate of under $350 a night with taxes and fees included.

If you are interested in getting these perks and want to stay at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei, feel free to email me at takeofftotravel@fora.travel and I would be happy to help you plan your trip.

Hotel and Location

The Mandarin Oriental Taipei opened in May of 2014 and features 303 guest rooms. There are also Mandarin Oriental Residences across the street. The exterior of the property is unique and stunning, influenced by a blend of classic European and Asian styles.


Mandarin Oriental Taipei Exterior
Mandarin Oriental Taipei Exterior

The hotel is located on Dunhua North Road, in a prime location inside the city’s business district. It’s a bit quiet in the immediate area, but still easy to walk to shops and restaurants. It’s near the domestic Songshan Airport and within a 5-10 minute walk to both the Taipei Area and Nanjing Fuxing MRT (Subway) Stations. Taxis/Uber’s are quite affordable in Taipei, and the 15-minute drive to the Xinyi shopping district and Taipei 101 is about $7 USD. The hotel is also about a 40-minute drive from Taoyuan International Airport depending on traffic.


a car parked in a courtyard
Porte Cochere


a chandelier in a room at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Entrance

rrival & Check-In

We arrived at the hotel at around 5 PM and were quickly checked in by a friendly associate. The entrance is absolutely stunning, and the chandelier is quite beautiful. The reception is to the left once you enter via the main entrance from the porte cochere.

A refreshing towel and a sample of tea were provided.


a tray with cups of liquid and towels on it
Check-In Welcome


a statue in a room
Reception Area

They were fully booked, which I also noticed checking online before we arrived, so no upgrade was available. We were assigned to our Deluxe Room located on the 15th floor, which was pretty high. Guest room floors are from 7-17.


a hallway with black and white flooring and chandelier at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Elevator Landing

Deluxe Room- King Bed

Upon heading to our room, I found the hallway to be quite peaceful and relaxing. Our Deluxe Room features 592 square feet of space, and can either have a King Bed or Two Twin Beds. Overall, I loved the room and found it to be spacious and luxurious.


a hallway with a tree in it
Hallway Corridor

Entering the room, we had a small foyer, and then once you turned left, there was a valet closet which was nice for deliveries and if you were to do laundry.


a door with a small box in it
Valet Closet

Then, there was a half bath with a sink and a bidet-style toilet, which was quite fancy as it was the Toto Neorest NX.


a bathroom with a sink and a toilet at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Half Bath

I liked the bidet-style toilet as it was modern and had many functionalities. It even opened the lid when you walked in front of it. The nicest toilet I’ve ever used!

Then, continuing through the room, you’ll pass by a walk-in closet to the left.


a mirror and chair in a room at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Walk-In Closet and Vanity Area

The walk-in closet had space to hang clothes on both sides and a large bench that could serve as a luggage rack. Shoe brushes, robes, and slippers were provided. Also, there was a safe and an iron and ironing board.


a white robe from a rack
Robes and Hangers

Bathroom

Across from the walk-in closet is more of the bathroom with a large sink area, a shower, and a tub. I liked the functionality of having the tub and shower completely separate from the toilet area. It makes it much easier to share a room with others.


a bathroom with a tub and a mirror at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Bathroom

There was a scale in the bathroom, and cotton balls and swabs were individually wrapped. Also, they have individually wrapped shaving kits, loofahs, combs, nail filers dental kits, bath salts, and sewing kits. Toiletries are provided by Diptyque, and I liked the scent.


a soap and a tube of cream on a counter
Diptyque Soup and Lotion


a tray of white packets
Toiletries


a stack of towels and a box of tissues
Nice Flower


a shower with a bench and a mirror
Shower

The shower was quite large, with a spacious bench.


a shower with a white wall and a white shelf at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Rainfall, Showerhead, and Wand

It was super comfortable, and the water pressure was great. Depending on your preference, you could use the rainfall, traditional showerhead, or the wand.

The Room

After passing the closet and bathroom, it opens up to the room. The Deluxe Room is quite tastefully decorated and felt very luxurious. To the left is a large desk and chair.


a chair and a desk in a room at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Desk Area

Across the desk, is the bed area. Our room had a king-sized bed, and they had a rollaway bed in between the bed and window for the 3rd guest.


a bedroom with a bed and a chandelier at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Deluxe King Room


Deluxe Room at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Deluxe King Room

The bedding was comfortable and the linens were nice and crisp. However, the standard pillow is quite soft, and so I had to stack a few pillows to be comfortable. There is also a pillow menu you can order from, which I probably should have tried out.


a couch and coffee table in a room with a view of a city at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Chaise Lounge and View

Towards the window, is a nice chaise lounge, and we had nice views of the courtyard and pool below, as well as the city. I was impressed that they provided a fruit bowl each day with housekeeping service.


a pool in a courtyard with buildings in the background
View from Deluxe Room

There was also a hot water machine and a Nespresso machine. Mandarin Oriental Tea bags were provided, as well as Nespresso pods.


a shelf with cups and glasses on it
Nespresso and Hot Water Maker


a box with a box of tea and condiments
Tea Bags and Nespresso Pods

Glass bottles of water were waiting in the room and replenished during housekeeping and turndown service. There was also a mini-bar with items for purchase.


a small refrigerator with drinks inside
Minibar

Service

I was very impressed with the turndown service, and they gave different cute gifts each night. Each night, a bookmark was placed on the side of the bed. And on the second night, there was a cute notebook, the third night had lavender balm, and the last night had a lantern. So cute!


a red rectangular object with gold text on it
Turndown Service Bookmark


a blue and pink rectangular boxes on a white surface
Turndown Service Bookmark and Notebook


a card and a lighter on a white sheet
Turndown Service Bookmark and Lavender Balm


a book and a bookmark on a white surface at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Turndown Service Bookmark and Lantern (Don’t worry-They had disassembling instructions to keep the lantern safe during travels)

Housekeeping would also tie loose charging wires with Mandarin Oriental Taipei cord ties, which are super helpful!


a white cord plugged into a black table
Cord Ties

Additionally, the hotel helped notify us of any packages we received during our stay. We also left a pair of glasses behind, and the housekeeping manager held on to them and shipped them to a nearby relative for us, which was much appreciated.

Spa, Fitness Center & Pool

The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei offers 12 treatment rooms and a variety of services ranging from massages to skin care treatments. During my stay, hours for the spa were from 10 am to 8 pm.


Spa Reception at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Mandarin Oriental Taipei Spa

The Fitness Center is located inside the Spa and is open 24 hours. I found it to be a good size, and it was empty when I visited in the afternoon.


a reception desk in a building
Mandarin Oriental Taipei Fitness Center Entrance


a room with exercise equipment and a wood floor at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Exercise Equipment


a room with a television and dumbbells
Free Weights


a room with exercise equipment
Machines


a room with yoga mats and exercise balls
Yoga Studio

I visited the pool one afternoon, and it was quite nice and aesthetically pleasing. The hours of the pool are from 7 am to 8 pm, and you enter via the Spa entrance. There are pool staff that help set up your seating area, and also bring out water and a soothing ginger tea.


a pool with a gazebo and trees at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Mandarin Oriental Taipei Pool


a pool in the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Pool and Hotel Exterior


two round chairs with orange pillows on a wood deck
Pool Seating

Other Amenities

Oriental Lounge

Guests who book an Oriental Club room can enjoy access to the Oriental Lounge located on the sixth floor. Benefits of Club access include daily breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, all-day refreshments, dedicated check-in and check-out, garment pressing, and use of the meeting room, subject to availability.


a room with a large wall and chairs
Oriental Lounge Entrance

Business Center and Meeting Space

There is a small business center for hotel guests that features two workstations/computers, with photocopying and printing access.

The property also has a lot of facilities for events and meetings. One of the spaces, The Grand Ballroom, can seat up to 780 guests for banquet-style dining and features an exclusive driveway entrance.

The Arcade

Connected directly to the Mandarin Oriental Taipei, the Arcade is a small shopping mall featuring some upscale shopping boutiques, an art gallery, and dining options such as Thai and Shabu Shabu.


Mandarin Oriental Taipei Exterior
The Arcade


a storefront with clothes on display
Arcade Shopping

Dining

The Mandarin Oriental Taipei has a variety of dining options on-site, as well as directly connected to the shopping mall, The Arcade.

For the on-site dining options, there are a total of six. The Mandarin Oriental Taipei also has room service from the hours of 7 am to 2 am.

Jade Lounge

On the first floor to the right of the lobby is the Jade Lounge, where they host afternoon tea and light bites. During my stay, the hours were from 11 am to 7 pm, with light meals served from 11 am to 6 pm, and afternoon tea from 1 pm to 5 pm. On our last day, we used our $100 USD credit on a light lunch here and had a nice elegant meal.


a room with a chandelier and couches at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Jade Lounge


a table with plates of food
Jade Lounge Light Bites

Ya Ge

Located on the 3rd floor, Ya Ge is a renowned Chinese restaurant and has been awarded one Michelin star by the MICHELIN Guide Taipei. It’s open daily for lunch and dinner.

Bencotto

On the 6th floor is Bencotto, which serves contemporary Italian cuisine. It’s open for lunch and dinner daily.

M.O. Bar

If you’d like a drink, the M.O. Bar is located on the 5th floor and opens at 5 pm nightly.

Mandarin Cake Shop

On the ground floor, there is a pastry and cake shop called the Mandarin Cake Shop for a sweet bite. It’s right in front of the courtyard, so you can sit outside as well.


a room with a counter and shelves with food
Mandarin Cake Shop

Breakfast at Café Un Deux Trois

Cafe Un Deux Trois currently serves a breakfast buffet and a semi-buffet for lunch daily. During my stay, we had our breakfast here daily, and the hours were from 7 am to 10:30 am. I found the quality and taste of the food offerings to be quite good. At the time of my stay, the price for breakfast if not included with your booking was 1298 TWD per person ($40 USD) including the service charge.


a restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Cafe Un Deux Trois

There was a variety of food buffet options, from a pastry section, fruit & salad, hot section, cereals & yogurt, and cured meats. There was also a Noodle Soup Bar with rotating selections daily which was nice and included the famous Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, and Minced Pork Noodle Soup.


a display of food on a table
Pastry Selection


a buffet table with plates and fruits
Fruit Selection

The hot selections were very expansive and featured a variety of dishes including traditional American breakfast staples like sausages, hash browns, pancakes, eggs benedict & bacon, and Asian specialties such as dim sum, stir fry dishes, and congee. Everything was quite tasty, and definitely a great way to start the day. One would never expect to see such a large buffet offering at a hotel in the US!


a buffet table with food on it
Hot Section


a buffet table with food on it
More Hot Dishes


a buffet table with food on it
Cured Meats


a buffet table with food on it
Noodle Soup Station

Also included with breakfast, was that you could order breakfast egg dishes from an a la carte menu which I liked.


a menu on a table
A la carte Menu


breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Egg White Omelet

Drinks can be ordered from the restaurant staff, and they did have a couple of juices in the buffet area. One wish I did have, was for more juice variety. Additionally, when the restaurant was at capacity, seating felt a bit cramped in the middle and back closest to the buffet, and I wish they spaced out the seating a bit better.


a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant
Seating Near the Main Buffet


a room with tables and chairs at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Breakfast Seating near the Entrance

Overall, I loved breakfast at Cafe Un Deux Trois to start my day and was impressed by the variety and quality of the food.

The Verdict

In all, I had a fantastic stay at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei and will be adding the property to the list of my favorites. The luxurious rooms, and solid service made for a relaxing and pleasant city stay. When my travels bring me back to Taipei, I will definitely try to stay at the property again.

Have you stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Taipei? How was your experience? Comment below!

Cheers,

Ty

Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!

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By: Takeoff To Travel
Title: Luxury Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Taipei
Sourced From: travelupdate.com/luxury-hotel-review-mandarin-oriental-taipei/
Published Date: Tue, 07 May 2024 14:08:52 +0000

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