Hotel Puri Ximen Branch

Hotel Puri (one of a chain of two; the other is at Taipei Main Station) bills itself as a business hotel, but in reality feels like a no-frills option for those seeking a central location on a budget. Guests include families and couples. Beyond the small entrance with half-hearted attempts at grandiose design, the old-fashioned lobby has busily patterned cream wallpaper, and half-height tan-wood wall paneling. There’s black-and-white checkered floor tiling, chandeliers, glass display cabinets, and an out-of-place white Chesterfield leather sofa. The backlit wooden front desk is set against a red patterned papered accent wall. Hallways are no better: think cream walls and dark patterned carpets. 

Tucked down an attractive and quiet pedestrianized alley just off Ximending District’s main drag, Hotel Puri is conveniently located for shopping, eating, and transportation -- the subway is just 460 feet (140 meters) away, though hailing a taxi involves walking out to the main road. A number of attractions are easily walkable; many others are around 20 minutes away on foot.

• Two-minute walk to Ximen MRT (subway) station and Red House Theater
• Four-minute walk to Ximending night market
• 10-minute walk to Presidential Office Building
• 10 minutes to Lungshan Temple by public transportation (eight minutes by car)
• 12 minutes to Taipei Main Station by public transportation (nine minutes by car)
• 14 minutes to Dihua Street by public transportation (12 minutes by car)
• 15 minutes to Taipei Botanical Garden by public transportation (seven minutes by car)
• 18 minutes to Museum of Contemporary Art by public transportation (14 minutes by car)
• 22 minutes to National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall by public transportation (15 minutes by car)
• 31 minutes to Taipei Songshan Airport by public transportation (23 minutes by car)
• 31 minutes to Taipei 101 by public transportation (23 minutes by car)
• 37 minutes to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport by car

Though decent and functional, Hotel Puri’s 57 air-conditioned rooms are cramped -- many are tiny. There’s gray patterned carpet, old-fashioned wallpaper (more garish in some rooms than others), and comfy beds with green-brown wall-mounted headboards, and glass-topped bedside tables (not in all rooms). There are small desks with table lamps, plus wall-mounted full-length mirrors, but storage in each room is limited to a hook with a few hangers. Some rooms lack windows.

Modern black-wood sink vanities are in the bedrooms, while bathrooms -- overall better than rooms themselves -- are mostly made up of separate walk-in power showers and toilets. Guests report some toilets are so tiny that it’s difficult to close the door while inside. Some Triple and Family Rooms have bigger all-in-one bathrooms featuring shower/tub combos with power showerheads. All bathrooms have cream and black wall and floor tiling, and frosted glass doors, which may pose privacy issues.

Relatively comprehensive amenities include 32-inch, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, phones, free Wi-Fi, safes, mini-fridges, coffee- and tea-making facilities, hairdryers, slippers (a bonus), pump shower gel and shampoo, and miniature bathroom amenities. Note that, while rooms are well soundproofed to the outside, internal walls are thin. There are also reports of minor housekeeping issues.

The hotel offers limited facilities, and no meals (including breakfast) are served. There’s free coffee, tea, and drinking water in the lobby, along with a toaster and microwave, plus self-service, coin-operated laundry facilities (with free detergent), and a computer to use. As an added bonus, guests get a free data-only loaner SIM card (deposit payable), and there’s free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.