Travelling overseas is always a novel experience, especially when one is guaranteed a stay at one of the newest luxury hotels within the Taipei circuit, Kimpton Da’An Hotel. A part of the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Group based in San Francisco, California and owned by Intercontinental Hotels Group, the Kimpton had yet to debut her presence in Asia, until now.
Entering the Da’An District of Taipei, where the hotel was located, in the middle of a workday was truly an adventure with the cacophony of sights, sounds and smells that bombarded your every sense. We took a short turn into Lane 27 on Ren’ai Road, and the immediate onslaught of silence that we were faced with was near deafening. All attention was diverted towards the only towering building in the sleepy neighbourhood standing tall and solemn, we had arrived at the Kimpton Da’An.
The excitement was palpable as we poured out of the vans. A definite eye-catcher when surrounded by grids of quaint Japanese colonial lanes and shoulder-to-shoulder shop lots and homes. Once the general shuffle and chaos of bellhops and misplaced luggage were resolved we walked through the large glass door panes into the sleek, warm and welcoming lobby of Kimpton Da’An. Backgrounded by glossy white subway tiles with plenty of space and a white reception table up front, the lobby is a masterpiece of modest minimalism with negative space and warm smiles strewn throughout.
My eyes darted to the ‘living room’ to the left of the main lobby. A space filled with multiple chairs and tables and a full bar decked out with juices, teas, coffees and alcohol of a dizzying variety, the living room is clearly a social space, hosting a nightly social wine hour so guests could mingle and get to know one another and the Kimpton staff in a relaxed ambience.
Stepping into my assigned hotel room felt like I was escaping into my own oasis. Cool white tiles matched the ones in reception, neutral tones and warm wooden accents framed the furnishings and a gorgeous plus sofa that matched the bed. It truly felt like a home away from home, with the personalised greeting cards and the little snack box as subtle touches.
The 129-roomed boutique hotel was designed by Neri & Hu, the 2015 winners of the prestigious MAISON&OBJET Asia, and the influences of Taiwan both historically and culturally resonate strongly within the commercial space. “The design inspiration came from Taipei’s everyday. From the rich alleyways to the layers of architectural facades and screens to the leisurely attitude of its inhabitants. It was important for us to bring the old Taipei and its vibrancy to the new and modern xingye (Industrial style),†said Lyndon Neri and Rosanna Hu, the ID designers responsible for the hotel’s interior.
At the peak of Kimpton Da’An stands its rooftop restaurant , ‘The Tavernist’. The restaurants is malleable in its form in that it can host a Gala dinner, a cocktail party and a breakfast crowd all without losing its artisanal charm. With a kitchen helmed by the renowned Chef James Sharman of both NOMA and Tom Aikens and The Pawn by Tom Aikens, the menu from The Tavernist uses local organic product from Taipei to serve to you such delicacies such as Pork Belly and Tenderloin served with pineapple and sugarcane, Coral Trout with Red Shrimp, broccoli and almond, their Cauliflower fondue, and their unforgettable desserts of Taro and Cognac Baked Alaska and Pistachio ice cream garnished with white chocolate. As the night wound to a close, many of us had taken our drinks either out to the rooftop to watch the skyline or to the outdoor patio in the lobby for a little zen to end the day on.
