By Nathan Allen

The hotel sits overlooking Liugongzhen Park, in Taipei’s hip (and historic) Da’an District. The hotel’s PR guru, Mr. Calvin Lai, picked me up and gave me a tour of the facilities. Impressive is an understatement…

The design of the hotel really has a rich, warm feel to it.

Interestingly, the hallway walls and room doors are adorned with copper plating.

You may notice hand and fingerprints from the guests on the walls, and the preservation of these is actually intentional. It’s a way for guests to leave their mark on the hotel, and kind of  give the place a broken in feel. This quirky idea is the brainchild of mastermind designer Ray Chen.

I was fortunate to experience his other designs in both HOTEL QUOTE and GLORIA RESIDENCE as well…each with their own unique feel.

When I reached my room, this was the greeting I found waiting for me. What a nice touch, to put my name up on the giant flats screen TV! I believe it is also programmed into the digital readout on the in-room phone. What a way to make feel guests feel welcomed and valued.

The rooms envelop you in a warm atmosphere of plush fabrics, carpets, and wood paneling. Leather is used as tasteful accenting on some of the furniture as well. As is the case with all Gloria Hotel properties I toured, there is a nice oversized safety deposit box provided (although Taipei feels quite safe to me).

Room Details

I loved the vintage lighting and control switches in the rooms, what a nice retro touch! Ray Chen is a big fan of chandeliers, too…and you’ll notice them throughout the hotel – even at the side of your bed. Quite a unique and dramatic touch.

Another “vintage” feature is the deliberate choice to include normal keyed locks. I can’t remember the last time I stayed at a hotel this nice that didn’t use electronic room cards. The locks are concealed behind classy copper (or brass?) covers. I’m a sucker for nostalgia, so I loved this.

Pictured here is the beautiful, spacious layout of the Deluxe Room. It comes complete with a desk and sleek leather chair. My “job” has provided many, many stays in hotels and resorts…but very few have bedding with this level of comfort. Honestly, the Gloria Hotel group (or Ray Chen…or both?) really hit the nail on the head with their heavenly comforter and mattress choices.

The Most Elegant Bathroom…All To Myself

Can you believe this? I took full advantage of this luxurious bathtub, and was quite amazed by the electronic toilet. Upon approach, the lid automatically lifts, and the inside of the bowl is illuminated with blue LED lighting. Of course it includes a bidet, and even has the option to adjust both water placement and pressure. I believe the seat is heated as well.

HOTEL PROVERBS spares no expense…even the faucets are classy works of art.

Depending on which way your room faces, you may get a nice view of the city and park below.

It was a beautiful day in Taipei.

I took the elevator down to check out the bar / lounge below. I’d say this elevator wins the award for best & most hip mood lighting…

EAST END Bar – One of the Hottest in Taipei

Sadly, I didn’t have time to experience the bar at night. I’ve heard plenty of stories about it, though…and even during the day, it looks like an incredible place to have a drink. The bar / lounge is owned by world famous Tokyo mixologist Hidetsugu Ueno. Apparently it’s one of the trendiest cocktail bars in Taipei’s Eastern District.

By the way, note the grey tiles on the right and above the bar. They can be found adorning the walls of the lobby and bar…each one is unique, and they were collected from vintage buildings in New York!

TK SEAFOOD & STEAK Restaurant

The EAST END Bar is not the only famous establishment housed in the hotel…this steakhouse is also quite known for it’s fresh and unique menu options. When you walk into the lobby, on the left you’ll notice a curing rack on display…complete with curing meats inside!

Apparently the chef owns a farm, and the restaurant’s ingredients are organic, and straight “from farm to table”. Be sure to check out the Jack Daniel’s infused steak as well!

Above, you’ll notice the dining hall, with an impressive display of the before mentioned chandeliers.

Here you can get an idea of how fresh the seafood options are…I believe the chef and dining staff were conducting a training in the background. 

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Rooftop Swimming Pool – Hotel Proverbs Review

I loved being up here….I swam just before closing, with sweeping views of downtown Taipei and the iconic Taipei 101 building on the skyline.

That’s about it for my first trip to Taiwan…though I doubt it will be my last. I loved this friendly country so much. I plan on coming back to explore much more (and even try to learn some Mandarin!) Big thanks to Calvin Lai, Spud Chang, and the rest of the helpful staff at the hotel. Your warm service and attention to detail did not go unnoticed….

Location & Booking

HOTEL PROVERBS Taipei is conveniently located about a 5 minute walk from the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station, and less than 1 km from the Liaoning Night Market.

You can browse more photos & reviews on Agoda HERE

For Booking. com, you can click HERE

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share.

More Taiwan Blog Posts

A Surreal Experience Staying @ HOTEL QUOTE Taipei

My Own Sleek Apartment in the Heart OF Taipei – GLORIA RESIDENCE

Discovering My Love For Roast Peking Duck @ CHIOU HWA Restaurant

Social Media

Have something to add? Feel free to leave a comment…

The post HOTEL PROVERBS Taipei: Experiencing the City in Plush, Swanky Style appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

By Nathan Allen

I’m going to LOVE Taipei.

HOTEL QUOTE sits discreetly behind the wall of a bustling street in Taipei, very near the Nanjing Fuxing (Brown/Green) MRT line. The hotel is quite tasteful and artistic; A sleek, modern design with deep, warm hues. The staff was every bit professional and helpful, and saw me to my room right away.

I believe this unit is known as an “O Room”, and impressive is an understatement. Featuring a king sized Simmons mattress fitted with soft, heavenly bedding, this may well be the best night of sleep in my life.

I love the layout of this room. There is a divider between the bathroom and the bedroom – it can be pulled down to separate the space. As you can see, the bathroom is quite large, and provides everything a weary traveler’s heart may desire. Personally, I was set on a hot, relaxing soak in the bathtub.

I don’t know how I feel about hotels that place a television in the bathroom…I suppose I like to keep these two areas of my life separate. In any case, I loved the layout here because it’s not in the bathroom. However, if you want, you can still watch the bedroom TV from the bathtub! 

It’s All in the Details…

The “surreal” part I mentioned in the title comes from the design and feel of the place…the small touches here and there. I noticed a kind of “retro” vibe…evident by the “house phone” pictured below. Details like this kind of made me feel like I was in a Wes Anderson movie, and being one of my favorite directors, I didn’t mind that at all.

Also pictured are the controls for the room’s space-age toilet…which is quite an experience in and of itself. being fully automatic (and even heated), one need not touch any part of the toilet (with hands) during use. Yes, truly a germaphobe’s dream come true.

(I’ll admit, having a robotic toilet attend to the most intimate of your bathroom needs takes a bit of getting used to, but wow…how quickly you become spoiled by it.)

Also worth mentioning is the sleek and natural stone coaster on the sink. Along with the scent of the soap and toiletries (which I can be particular about), I thought these were very tastefully chosen.

Some other things to note about the room: A safety deposit box large enough for a laptop (yessss), thoughtful master lighting controls by the bed (which are are illuminated so you can access them in the dark), a gourmet coffee maker, and a Bose sound system. Wifi worked well throughout the hotel.  Yes, I felt right at home.

An Eclectic Theme in the Common Areas

There seems to be a “woodland animal” theme…and though this deer bust in the lobby looks quite real, I was assured it is indeed faux.

H.Q. Lounge & Meeting Room

The sleek and well equipped lounge also provides complimentary snacks to guests. There are more forest animals to be found here as well…in the form of ceramic rabbits decorating the tables.

The attached meeting room is intimate, and tastefully lit. Very sleek.

Aside from a wide variety of snacks and beverages, below is another quirky touch. One wall of the lounge is full of glass jars…each one containing its own unique complimentary items for guests. Everything from toiletries to souvenirs to candy (on the lower levels).

Offering all these items in the rooms would clutter things quite a bit, so this was a very creative solution. Of course, most hotels only offer a fraction of this many goodies…so you’re made to (quite literally) feel like a “kid in a candy store”.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

333 Restaurant and Bar

I enjoyed a nice complimentary breakfast buffet as well. With a wide variety of food options (and a swanky atmosphere in which to enjoy them), this was the perfect way to wrap up my visit before checking out.

HOTEL QUOTE Taipei was the perfect place to begin my Taiwan adventure, and I’m so very grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with my readers. Many thanks to Calvin, Irene, and the rest of the wonderful staff for making my stay so memorable.

There is much more to come from Taipei…so stay tuned!

You can find more info about HOTEL QUOTE Taipei on Agoda HERE

For Booking. com, you can click HERE

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share.

More Taiwan Blog Posts

My Own Sleek Apartment in the heart of Taipei: GLORIA RESIDENCE

Discovering a New Love For Peking Duck @ CHIOU HWA Cantonese Restaurant

My Plush, Swanky Stay @ HOTEL PROVERBS Taipei

Social Media

Have something to add? Feel free to leave a comment…

The post HOTEL QUOTE Taipei – Modern, Elegant…& Surreal appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

By Nathan Allen

It is a hotel, but the rooms also function as full service apartments. This makes them perfect for long-stay arrangements…they have even housed Hollywood stars such as Scarlett Johansson and Jackie Chan during their previous movie shoots in Taipei. It would have been surreal to look up and see them sharing the elevator with me!

I do have photos of the other rooms, but I will start with the unit I stayed in. I believe it’s called  the “Abundance” room type, and it has all the comforts of home. As was the case with my previous stay at Hotel Quote nearby, the mini bar here is 100% complimentary. Nice!

However, this time there is also a full kitchen, complete with dishes and silverware. There is even patio with a washer and dryer for clothes – though I believe there is an option for a butler’s assistance, if preferred.

I felt right at home with the interior design in my room…I love the almost minimalist decor, and the oak wood paneling  on the walls and flooring.

Below you can see one of my favorite touches – a rotating flat screen television built right into the wall! Guests on the couch in the living room can enjoy it, then flip it around to the bedroom to enjoy a comfortable movie in bed. Ingenious.

Speaking of the bed, GLORIA RESIDENCE features the same heavenly Simmons mattresses that I experienced at Hotel Quote the night before. Together with a luxurious down comforter / pillow set, enjoying a night’s rest here is an experience in and of itself.

Below is a glimpse into the “Oasis” room type. The decor is consistent throughout the hotel…not over the top, not underdone…for me it’s just right. This is the perfect place for business travelers or families during a stay in Taiwan.

Oasis was my favorite room type. It includes a guest room with separate aircon controls. The master bedroom has its own bathroom as well.

I enjoyed the layout and the bright, airy feeling of this unit…the “feng shui”, if you will.

Bathroom Details

The OUD toiletries and soaps were tastefully chosen, and as you would expect, the bathroom provides all the other amenities you might need. Also like Hotel Quote, there is an incredibly sophisticated electronic toilet. Yes, that means a bidet. It’s quite convenient.

An impressive “walk in” closet can be found in the “Royal A” room type.

Room Amenities – My Gloria Residence Review

As mentioned before, there is a complimentary mini bar available in all rooms, and plenty of other conveniences, such as an ironing board, hair dryer, slippers, bathrobe…etc. The large safety deposit box is something I always appreciate, and I commend them for allowing enough space for a 13 inch laptop (it’s just for peace of mind..I certainly didn’t have any doubts about safety here).

No complaints about the wifi in the room, either.

The Lounge On Floor B1

This comfortable and sophisticated lounge is available 24 hours a day, and offers snacks, seating, TVs and computer access if needed.

As you can see, it’s quite tasteful and elegant, but what really struck me about the lounge was what was said to me upon exiting it. The attendant simply acknowledged me with a smile and said warmly “see you tomorrow, sir“.

Such a simple gesture, but it means so much…it shows that the staff cares enough to know exactly who I am, and how long I will be there for. I mean, it’s a big place, and it was just my first day. I had never even seen this staff member before. I was impressed by that.

Anyhow, the complimentary breakfast buffet provides a nice assortment of western and Asian options for guests. I did not experience lunch or dinner here, but I did get to experience a mouth-watering lunch next door at their sister restaurant “CHIOU HWA”. You can check that out HERE.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Heated Swimming Pool

On the ground floor, guests can enjoy the indoor swimming pool as well. It’s 18 meters long, and open during certain hours each day (there may be a change in hours depending on the season, so it’s best to inquire about this during your stay).

That wraps things up for GLORIA RESIDENCE, my next and final stop during my first tour of Taipei is swanky HOTEL PROVERBS…stay tuned for that! Special thanks to Calvin, Irene, and all the wonderful staff there at the hotel. It was nice to feel right at home.

Location & Booking

The hotel is conveniently located in Taipei’s Zhongshan district, just a short walk from the Shuanglian Station on the Danshui MRT Line.

You can find more info & reviews about GLORIA RESIDENCE Taipei on Agoda HERE

For Booking. com, you can click HERE

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Social Media

Have something to add? Feel free to leave a comment…

The post GLORIA RESIDENCE – My Own Sleek Apartment in the Heart of Taipei appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.