First look: Capella Taipei marks the first major luxury opening in over a decade for Taipei

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Editor’s note: Capella Taipei provided The Points Guy with a complimentary two-night stay so that we could experience the hotel and its amenities. However, the opinions expressed within this review are those of the author alone and were not subject to review by the hotel or any other external entity.

Taipei made our list of the top destinations for 2025 because of its commitment to sustainability, human rights and exciting tourism developments around town — not the least of which was the April opening of this gorgeous new hotel. This is the latest outpost from fast-growing Asia-based luxury chain Capella, and in fact, it’s the first new luxury hotel to open in the Taiwanese capital in over 10 years.

After stepping through its imposing bronze doors and into the inviting interior (designer Andre Fu’s vision was to create a “modern mansion” rather than just your standard high-end hotel), it feels like both you and this hotel have arrived at just the right moment.

First impressions

You’d be forgiven for mistaking Capella Taipei’s sleek glass facade for just another office tower along bustling Dunhua North Road. But that impression starts to fade when you spot two century-old banyan trees sprouting from the lawn, and any notion that this will just be another cookie-cutter hotel vanishes the moment you step through the front door.

The first sight to greet you is a dramatic textile artwork by artist Chen-Lin Lee depicting the geography of the Taipei Basin; it’s fronted by a large, round table holding various curios and pieces of art. Everywhere you look, it seems there is more art to capture your attention.

Turn left through the dramatic arched hallway, for instance, and one of the receptionists will invite you to take a seat. From there, you can admire the various custom-created pieces by artists, including painter Jasper Huang and sculptor Guang Yu Zhang.

Or head directly to the Library — a sun-splashed, lounge-like space just for hotel guests — on the 14th floor to complete check-in, enjoy a refreshing cool towel and have a shot of immune-boosting juice. 

You might recognize designer Fu’s work from other hotels, including Hong Kong’s Upper House and St. Regis. Many of his calling cards are here, too, including various art deco references and the deployment of large screen-like panels in the public areas.

Still, other design features are completely unique to this property. One such feature is an enormous decorative mural in the all-day restaurant Plume, created by French artist Elsa Jeandedieu. The mural features various textures of gold, bronze and copper, alluding to Taiwan’s diverse landscapes. It also features abstract depictions of Taiwan’s national bird, the blue magpie, playfully perching here and there. 

Just behind this is a dramatic white spiral staircase with hand-hewn wooden railings that make it look like a calla lily unfolding around a multicolored oak sculpture by Mexican artist Joel Escalona. 

Thanks to a raft of “Culturists,” Capella’s unique role blends the functions of concierges, tour guides, receptionists and butlers. So, anything from a cold drink and a salty snack to a private city tour is just a quick call away.

The rooms

Capella Taipei has a mere 86 accommodations — 78 rooms and eight suites, including six with their own private pool terraces. They start at over 500 square feet in the Superior category. 

My Premier King room, several categories up, was nearly 700 square feet. It had its own balcony overlooking the pool, which was an excellent spot for sipping morning coffee made with the in-room Nespresso machine before the heat of the day set in. 

The room’s interior, meanwhile, was decorated in a soothing palette of taupe, beige, silver and pale blue with blanched wood paneling, walnut-colored floors and rugs with curvy art deco patterning.

The bed had a Chinese-style carved wooden headboard and a pale blue decorative panel. It was dressed in ultra-soft gray linens that I practically sank into at the end of each day … after donning one of the provided Frette bathrobes, of course.

The room had all the latest technology, including universal plugs, USB-A and C ports, and buttons to do everything from opening the curtains to dimming the lights. The most fun feature, however, had to be a little bedside box that functioned as an AI control console. All you had to do was talk to activate it and ask it to do something, like lower the room temperature or alert someone at reception to call you.

When I was done playing with it and got ready for dinner, I made my way into the enormous, Travertine-tiled bathroom to freshen up with Bamford bath products. 

This space had dual sinks, a small room holding the smart toilet and a glassed-in suite that held both the huge walk-in shower (the pressure from the ceiling shower head was amazing) and an oversized soaking tub with scented bath salts and a loofah. You could easily spend all day luxuriating just in here. 

Dining

With five dining outlets and a creative bar concept to come, there’s plenty to eat and drink at the Capella Taipei.

Plume

Plume is the French word for feather, and is so named because of the blue magpies populating the large-scale mural at one end of the hotel’s all-day lobby lounge. 

Open from 6:30 a.m. until midnight every day, Plume is the setting for guests’ sumptuous breakfast buffet (the matcha croissants are not to miss) along with specialties like turnip cakes with spicy sauce and an omelet with Taiwanese basil, scallions and dried radish. The single-source pour-over coffee (I tried the fruity Ethiopian batch) is a treat as well.

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

Come in the evening before dinner, though, to sample the signature cocktails. Each is named after an indigenous Taiwanese bird and incorporates ingredients that those birds actually eat.

Also on the ground floor but across the reception area and front door from Plume is Atelier Plume: a cafe and patisserie where you can grab sweet treats, coffee and tea throughout the day. 

Ember 28

Named for the 28-day aging process the restaurant uses to mature the fish and steak it serves and the embers with which the chefs grill those proteins, Ember 28 is the hotel’s special-occasion restaurant. It’s complete with enormous crystal chandeliers and just a dash of drama as diners watch the kitchen staff deftly maneuver each dish to completion in the open kitchen. 

The seven-course set menus here range from $140 to $160 per person based on the cut of steak or other meat you choose (order the dry-aged strip loin — trust us). The dishes incorporate seasonal Taiwanese ingredients like locally raised pork, crispy wax apples, fresh-caught snapper, earthy Jerusalem artichoke and lemony maqaw peppers. 

Mizue

Taiwanese cuisine can start to feel heavy from time to time thanks to the profuse flavors and preponderance of sauces. So if you’re hankering for something lighter, the hotel’s omakase-style Japanese restaurant, Mizue, might be the order of the day. It’s open for lunch Friday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., and for dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 6:30 until 10 p.m. The dishes are prepared in front of your eyes by a sushi master.

Rong Ju

Open Tuesday through 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 various multicourse prix-fixe menus, including the signature Formosa one, which costs around $170 per person and includes delicacies like steamed crab claw with caviar, Chinese wine, steamed egg white and chicken jus.

Glasshouse

Although not open yet, the hotel will eventually house a three-level bar complex called Glasshouse, which will serve artisanal cocktails and fine wines. 

Amenities and service

• Guests can consider the 14th-floor Library their home away from home. It offers plenty of cozy seating vignettes and help-yourself drinks and snacks throughout the day. There’s also a hosted round of drinks and nibbles each evening, accompanied by a little presentation on local customs.
• The 14th-floor pool has plush loungers and daybeds shaded by red umbrellas to complement some of the best views of Taipei’s distinctive skyline, including the unmistakable Taipei 101.

• The hotel’s spa has four individual treatment rooms, including one with a sensory deprivation tank, plus a double suite complete with a dreamy bathtub constructed from Hinoki wood. The menu is predicated on moon cycles and includes specialties like intuitive massages to target your particular needs, as well as facial and body treatments that incorporate sophisticated products like Ayurvedic Subtle Energies and Swiss CellCosmet.

• Adjacent to the spa, the fitness center is stocked with the current slate of Technogym cardio and weight equipment.

• Each morning and afternoon, guests can participate in Capella “Rituals” and “Moments” around the hotel. These range from an alfresco breakfast of simple Taiwanese dishes under a banyan tree to a tasting of traditional teas in the Library. 
• The hotel’s “Culturists” can take you on “Capella Curates” tours through various neighborhoods that are aimed at forging a sense of connection between travelers and the surrounding communities. These experiences might include a gallery crawl in Songshan, a visit to a local artisan’s workshops or a historical discovery tour of Dadaocheng’s well-preserved architecture. 
• On my outing in the nearby Songshan district, we popped into the Words stationery store where the hotel’s artist partner, Ariel Chi, happened to be hanging out, and he even drew a quick freehand sketch of me as a souvenir. 

Location and logistics

The Capella Taipei sits on the stately, tree-lined Dunhua North Road, a quick jaunt from the city’s smaller airport and within walking distance to various neighborhoods. A ride share to Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) takes around 45 minutes and costs about $40 to $50. Alternatively, you can catch the metro and the airport train for a grand total of around $5, and it takes the same amount of time as a car if you hit the trains just right. 

What it costs

Nightly rates at the Capella Taipei start at just over $600 per night. Because it is so new, the hotel is not yet part of one of the premium credit card hotel-booking portals. Several of its sister properties are part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, though, so we suspect this one will join the program as well. 

Accessibility

The Capella Taipei has a single wheelchair-accessible Premier King room. Those who use mobility devices can take advantage of no-step access to the ground floor as well as most public areas in the hotel; the guest room floors are accessible by elevator. One of the elevators is designated for guests with disabilities and has lowered buttons that are easier to reach from a wheelchair.

The doorway from the 14th-floor hall to the pool area requires stepping over a threshold, though, and there is no chairlift into the pool.

Bottom line

Capella and its sister brand, Patina, are both growing fast. Each new hotel represents an exciting chapter for this niche Asian luxury hotel brand, though, and the Capella Taipei proves the rule. With public spaces that feel both inviting yet grand, tastefully appointed rooms and hyper-personalized service aimed at connecting guests to the destination, the hotel provides a truly memorable stay in Taiwan’s capital.

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