Hello from Hanoi! My room here isn’t ready yet and it is too hot to be outside for long, so while I wait for a museum to open, I figure I can catch up a little on my impressions. First I’ll cover Capella Taipei, and then my flight to Hanoi (though that’ll come later today or tomorrow most likely).
I booked 3 nights at the Capella Taipei as my first stop. I booked it via the Capital One Travel’s Premier Collection, and used my VentureX $300 travel credit to help cover the costs. At the time I booked, Capital One had a lower price (pre-credit) vs AMEX FHR and Bilt Home Away from Home (so I used those credits elsewhere on this trip). Premier Collection bookings include early check-in/late check-out (when available), a space-available room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, and a $100 credit at the hotel.
Room: I didn’t get an upgrade from the standard Premier King room, but considering I arrived at 6am and didn’t book an extra night to guarantee a room, I was quite happy that there was a room ready for me. The room itself was spacious for myself and had some nice views of Taipei (though I didn’t get a Taipei 101 view). The photos probably tell the story more than I could.
Breakfast: Breakfast included anything in their buffet (of which I only partook in some fruit one morning, but overall the buffet is small), and an à la carte menu, of which you can order anything you want. One morning I had their signature omelet with a side of pork sausage, and the other, the Dan Bing (Taiwanese egg crepe) and a Pork Bao. Overall the breakfast was excellent.
Dining: I didn’t eat at any of the restaurants at the hotel, so I used my credit at The Glasshouse. It is a 3-level bar that is in a separate space from the hotel (but next door). Each level had a different concept:
- Basement: Playback, the live music venue.
- Ground Floor: Tilt, creative cocktails made with local ingredients.
- Second Floor: Cooper, where standard cocktails (think old fashioned, penicillin, or margarita) with tiered ingredients (at 3 different price points).
I visited Tilt and Cooper on two different nights. If I had to pick a favorite, I would certainly go with Tilt, since the cocktails are creative (and something I like to look for when I travel), but Cooper was also enjoyable (but potentially much pricier if you’re selecting some of their premium tiers of cocktails).
I also visited the Capella Living Room (their complementary gathering space for hotel guests) all 3 days, twice in the afternoon for some dessert and a soda, and then once for their cocktail hour.
Service: all around excellent. I primarily interacted with one of the waiters at the Living Room (Edward) and the head bartender at Tilt (Brian). Both were very friendly and even gave me a few tips. Brian showed me around all three levels of the Glasshouse, including their hidden concept SEAM by Tilt (which unfortunately wasn’t open the nights I was visiting).
Overall, it was fantastic stay. Yes, you’re paying a premium, and I felt like it was personally worth it for the experience.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4DbmGGmi6RPbFPCW7
Nice. Definitely on my list for when I return to Taipei. Not sure if you visited the pool, but that also is a selling point for me on this hotel.
@peter_ I didn’t visit the pool, but it is just outside the Living Room on the 14th floor. It has great views of Taipei 101 so I would say it’s a good place to spend an afternoon.
Awesome review (and stay!) That's impressive that C1 had the best overall value (working on getting C1VX, but their approvals are notoriously difficult for churners.) You did get lucky to arrive so early and get a ready room; it must be an east Asian hospitality thing, because I've only experienced check-in that early in Tokyo, without paying for an extra night, etc. Food looks great (huge fan of guava). Definitely considering a stay here for next visit to Taipei. Glad you made it to Hanoi safely. Looking forward to more of your feedback!
@1990_ yeah I took a big chance with the early arrival and not having a room already booked, but with how much Capella Taipei charges for a night it felt worth the risk. Next time visiting I may think a bit differently.