Taipei Bar Map: 4 Picks Across the East District, Xinyi Anhe and Zhongshan

Da'an District・A gallery-like bistro tucked into the East District

The storefront is understated enough that you'll walk straight past it — then you push the door and get a wall of arched shelving, framed art and warm lamplight. The semi-private booths make it one of the few rooms in the East District where a birthday isn't too loud and a date isn't too stiff. The food holds up as well as the drinks, so you can sit from dinner straight through to a late-night snack.

Da'an District・A stop on the alphabet series — a train-themed open bar plaza

One of Taipei's alphabet bars (A Train, B Line, C Park, D Town, F Gallery, U Square), built around a train theme in a big, squared-off room. A red-curtained booth area seats 8–12, and there are sockets under the sofas — of the four here, this is the one to bring a whole group to. Cocktails are listed by code plus flavour notes; if that means nothing to you, just ask the bar.

Da'an District・A wabi-sabi Japanese bistro on a Xinyi Anhe backstreet

Timber, plants and the lighting turned right down: the quietest of the four. There's outdoor seating if you want to smoke and talk, and a counter if you'd rather watch the drinks get made. Google flags it as good for solo dining, and that's fair — nobody makes you feel odd for coming alone. The food is Taiwanese-Japanese drinking snacks, with a set-lunch service at midday.

Zhongshan District・Cocktails only, one flat price, a list that changes almost daily

The highest-rated of the four on Google (4.7★). Grey exposed concrete against warm timber, in a small room the owner runs more or less single-handed — which is why the list changes almost daily, why it's cocktails only, and why everything is a flat NT$400. Nothing to compare; just order by mood. Book ahead.