Via Hotel

All the action at this hotel happens in its industrial-chic lobby and popular 24-hour cafe. Warehouse-size windows overlooking the street bring in tons of light, and guests settle in at blonde-wood tables and on the mod, black vinyl sofas with laptops and books. The airy space extends to the cafe, where chalkboards with colorful sketches hang in a pantry that's stocked with free drinks and snacks for the taking. The friendly multilingual staff is good at handling requests, and providing tourist advice. The hotel tends to draw an international crowd of energetic leisure travelers, including groups of friends, couples, and families.   

Via Hotel is located in the bustling Ximending area of the Wanhua District. As Taipei's first pedestrian zone, Ximending is a center of Japanese culture and leisure activities. The hotel is situated on a narrow alleyway just off Section 1 of Zhonghua Road, one of the major north-south thoroughfares that run through the city. Movie theaters, shops, restaurants, and bars are all within a short walk of the hotel. 

There's good public transportation nearby, too. It's about a three-minute walk to Ximen Station bus stop, and to Exit 6 of Ximen MRT station. Taipei Main Station is three minutes by MRT, one stop from Ximen Station.

As for sights, the north end of 228 Peace Park and the National Taiwan Museum are about three minutes on foot. The famous Japanese-era Red House Theater and Tianhou Temple are both about a 12-minute walk from the hotel. Bopiliao Historical Block is about 23 minutes via public transit, and it's roughly 25 minutes to the 18th-century Lungshan Temple via public transit. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is about 17 minutes via public transit. Taipei 101 (Taipei World Financial Center) offers majestic city views from its observation decks, and can be reached in a little more than 25 minutes by MRT. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. 

Guest rooms at Via Hotel have a simple but stylish look. Walls are kept bare and bedding is all-white, and there are design-forward elements, like Eames-inspired chairs, pendant lighting, and playful throw pillows thrown into the mix. All units have 42-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles with free instant coffee and tea, electronic safes, and free bottled water and Wi-Fi. Beds sport Sealy Posturepedic mattresses, which earn high marks from guests. Bathrooms have sleek fixtures and sinks, and contain stall showers and hairdryers. 

Some rooms feature street views, but others lack windows. Street noise isn't an issue, but some guests have said they hear noise from other rooms. Units range from 172 to 355 square feet, so some are a bit snug. All rooms are non-smoking. 

Via Hotel doesn't have a breakfast room with a buffet, but there's a 24-hour cafe with an extensive selection of free drinks and snacks, such as Chinese noodles, baked goods like croissants, pineapple tarts, and cookies, plus soft drinks, coffee, and tea. A toaster and microwave are set on the counters for guests to use. Other amenities include an on-site laundry room, and there's no charge to use the lobby's public computer. There's a 24-hour front desk, and while the hotel doesn't have on-site parking, there's public parking nearby for an extra charge.