This low-key hotel is easily identified through it’s floor to ceiling glass storefront even though it does not have a clear signage. It is a stylish little hotel with a certain buzz once you walk in with some young Taiwanese savouring their cocktails and delving into the latest crave on their menu. The Diary of Taipei has a distintive décor of modern industrial with disclosed concrete walls and roofbeams and toned down by wooden furniture and soft lighting. Naturally, they also have an open concept kitchen with a little bar at the front. It has an interesting atmosphere to spend some with at even if you aren’t that hungry especially since Diary of Taipei has a specialty in handcrafted cocktails. This unusual restaurant serves their coctails with a firm paper coaster that has the recipe of the drink written on it.
The Diary of Taipei rooms are available in double, twin, triple and quadruple. Some rooms come with windows and some without windows. Each room has a safety box, electric kettle, plasma TV, private bathroom, aircond and hairdryer. There are options in selecting non smoking rooms as well. The hotel is very close to the main metro station and The Red House is about 200 metres away which is just behind the hotel. The location is a key factor for many staying in this hotel. As you get out of Ximen metro station, you are almost virtually at the entrance of the hotel already if one does not have to count taking an elevator up to the 6th floor the lobby.
The hotel provides breakfast vouchers for KFC so if you are a big fast food fan or you’re traveling with kids, you will be happy about this. Check in time is 3pm which is quite brutal although the hotel allows for luggage storage if you drop in earlier. There is free Wifi throughout the building and a shared common and TV lounge area. Reception staff works 24 hours round the clock. There is a surcharge for airport shuttle and shuttle service. Rooms are relatively small and tight but clean. Ximending market, shopping streets, restaurants and bars all envelope around this hotel so traveling without a map and going in and out of the hotel as many times as you want is a breeze. Cleanliness and good location would be the top two reasons for staying with Diary of Taipei. Overall it is an average hotel with low prices and excellent location for tourists.
