Review: Kimpton Da An, Taipei - SilverKris

"A 129-room urban sanctuary in Taipei’s Da’an district that blends modern chic with vintage cool, designed to evoke the city’s mix of old military-village textures and contemporary high-rises. The interiors—conceived by Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Neri&Hu and Design Republic—feature a high-ceilinged atrium flooded with natural light, tilework recalling local façades, handcrafted metalwork reminiscent of historic window frames, and an intimate candlelit oriental garden with staggered ponds. Guest rooms emphasize warm woods and elegant tiling, are pet-friendly, and layer modern amenities with local craftsmanship: an open-closet layout, a small round blue-and-white marble sitting table, a wooden massage tool commonly found in Taiwanese homes, a mini rice cooker, and bathrooms stocked with Atelier Bloem toiletries. A signature in-vent scent (green tea, citrus, cinnamon and pepper) and thoughtful touches like a “jie” carpet referencing old cobblestone streets reinforce the design narrative. Service is intentionally personal—staff are encouraged to be themselves—creating a conversational, familial vibe that extends to communal moments such as a Morning Kickstart (6:30–10:00) offering complimentary coffee to go, energy bars and Taiwanese soy milk, and an evening Social Hour (17:30–18:30) with complimentary wine. Additional practical features include a 24-hour fitness centre, running maps with three curated bike routes to local highlights such as Da’an Forest Park, Raohe Night Market and the Jianguo jade market, and a unique 24-hour honour-system lobby bar—the only property in its brand worldwide to operate this way." - Joe Henley