Amba Taipei Songshan Review: A Great Location, Beautiful Views and a Lot More Than Just a Hotel Stay

Taipei is a city that’s hard not to fall in love with. It’s a little chaotic, incredibly easy to get around, full of character and, most importantly, a paradise for anyone who loves food. Between the towering skyscrapers, old temples, shopping streets and neighbourhood eateries, there’s always something happening.

But if you ask me what I looked forward to most in Taipei, it would have to be the night markets. There’s something about wandering through rows of food stalls, figuring out what to try next and inevitably eating far more than you planned. We loved our evening visits, and that actually played a big part in deciding where we wanted to stay.

For our time in the city, we picked amba Taipei Songshan, and looking back, it turned out to be a rather good choice.

Staying in Songshan: A Neighbourhood Worth Exploring

We wanted to stay somewhere that felt connected to the city, rather than in an area that was purely geared towards tourists. Songshan ticked quite a few boxes.

The biggest draw was Raohe Street Night Market, one of Taipei’s oldest and most popular night markets. It’s close enough to walk to, which meant we could head out in the evenings, eat our way through the market and not have to think about catching a cab or figuring out public transport on the way back.

Right at the entrance to the market is Ciyou Temple, and it’s quite a sight, especially after dark. The colourful facade, intricate carvings and illuminated details make it one of those places you’ll inevitably stop to photograph.

Then there’s Wufenpu, Taipei’s famous garment wholesale market. If shopping is on your itinerary, put this one down. There are hundreds of little shops selling clothes, accessories and all sorts of fashion finds. It’s a fun place to browse, particularly if you enjoy discovering local shopping districts.

What we liked about Songshan was that it didn’t feel like a neighbourhood built around visitors. There were local shops, convenience stores, little eateries and people simply going about their day. We even stumbled upon a lovely Hainanese chicken rice restaurant just a few minutes from the hotel and ended up having a spectacular meal.

Honestly, these unplanned food discoveries are often the best part of travelling.

amba Taipei Songshan: Getting Around Couldn’t Be Easier

Our base for the trip was amba Taipei Songshan, a contemporary lifestyle hotel with a fairly cool, understated personality.

Location-wise, it was hard to fault. The hotel is right next to Songshan Station, which connects you to both the MRT and Taiwan Railway network. This makes getting around Taipei incredibly convenient, especially if you plan on exploring different parts of the city.

There’s also a direct pedestrian connection to CityLink Songshan shopping mall. We found ourselves popping in quite often, whether to browse MUJI and UNIQLO, grab something to eat or pick up a few essentials. There’s also a FamilyMart just across the street, which is always handy when you need a late-night snack or a quick convenience store run.

And, of course, Raohe Night Market and Ciyou Temple are both within walking distance.

We really liked being able to head out for an evening of food and exploring and simply walk back to the hotel afterwards. No transport planning, no waiting around. Just a leisurely stroll back after a rather satisfying meal!

The Room: Spacious, Comfortable and Thoughtfully Designed

We stayed in a Taipei 101 View Room, and it was lovely to walk in and find a room that felt genuinely spacious. This is something I always appreciate when travelling, particularly when you’re staying for a few nights and have suitcases, shopping bags and all the usual holiday clutter to deal with.

The interiors have a contemporary, slightly industrial feel, with warm wooden flooring, comfortable furnishings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. It’s modern without feeling cold or overly minimalist.

I also noticed quite a few practical details that made the room easy to live in. For starters, there were plenty of charging points, including international sockets and USB ports. If you’re anything like us and travel with multiple gadgets, you’ll understand why this matters!

The bathroom was another space I liked. The vanity had a lovely oversized platform around the washbasin, giving us plenty of room for toiletries, skincare and makeup. I always struggle with bathrooms that have barely enough counter space for a toothbrush, so this was a welcome change.

There was also a Nespresso machine in the room. And while it may seem like a small thing, having a proper cup of coffee before heading out to explore is a little holiday ritual I wouldn’t want to give up.

The View: Waking Up to Taipei 101

Now, this deserves its own section!

One of the reasons we chose our room category was the promise of a Taipei 101 view, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The hotel also offers rooms overlooking the Keelung River, so you can choose depending on the kind of view you prefer.

We went with Taipei 101, and I think we made the right decision.

There’s something quite special about having such an iconic landmark right outside your window. During the day, you get a lovely view of the city skyline, but I thought it looked even better after sunset, when the buildings lit up and Taipei 101 stood out against the night sky.

It became one of those things we’d look forward to every time we returned to the room. Even after a long day of walking around the city, shopping and eating our way through Taipei, we’d find ourselves drawn back to the window.

If you’re booking a stay here, I’d definitely recommend considering the Taipei 101 View Room. For us, it was worth it.

Breakfast at Que: A Chance to Try Taiwanese Food

Breakfast was served at Que, the hotel’s restaurant, and it was a good mix of Taiwanese and international dishes.

We usually like to try local food whenever we travel, so we made a beeline for the Taiwanese breakfast options rather than sticking to the usual eggs, toast and cereal.

A few things we tried were:

• Shaobing Youtiao (燒餅油條): A sesame-coated baked flatbread served with a crispy fried dough stick. A popular Taiwanese breakfast combination.
• Xiao Long Bao (小籠包): Little soup dumplings filled with savoury meat and broth. I’m always happy to see these on a menu!
• Cong You Bing (蔥油餅): A flaky, pan-fried scallion pancake with lovely layers and a delicious savoury flavour.
• Cha Ye Dan (茶葉蛋): Eggs slowly cooked in tea, soy sauce and spices. A simple but flavourful Taiwanese staple.
• Doujiang (豆漿): Fresh soy milk, commonly enjoyed as part of a traditional Taiwanese breakfast.

Of course, there were plenty of familiar international options too, so there was something for everyone.

I always think hotel breakfast is a great opportunity to try a little of the local food without having to go looking for it first. And in a city like Taipei, where food is such a big part of the experience, that’s a nice way to start the day.

The Interiors and Common Spaces: A Hotel With Personality

One thing that sets amba Taipei Songshan apart is that it doesn’t have the typical polished, formal hotel feel. It’s casual, contemporary and has a bit of personality.

The interiors have a distinctly urban aesthetic, with open spaces, large windows and interesting design elements inspired by Taiwanese culture and craftsmanship.

The oversized bamboo lantern installations hanging from the ceiling were probably my favourite detail. They’re quite striking and bring a lovely local touch to the otherwise contemporary interiors. Knowing that local artisans were involved in creating these pieces makes them even more interesting.

We also spent some time in the hotel’s common area, which has a relaxed, almost social-club kind of atmosphere. There’s table tennis and foosball, and we ended up having quite a bit of fun here.

It’s nice when a hotel gives you somewhere to hang out beyond your room. Not every moment of a holiday needs to be spent sightseeing, and having these little spaces to unwind makes a difference.

Hospitality, Fitness Centre and Laundry Facilities

The staff were welcoming and helpful throughout our stay, and the overall experience was smooth, from check-in to the little assistance we needed along the way.

For anyone who likes to keep up with their fitness routine while travelling, there’s also a well-equipped gym.

But one facility I think deserves a mention, particularly for those travelling for longer, is the complimentary self-service laundry. The hotel has washing machines and dryers that guests can use without paying extra.

It might not be the first thing you look for when booking a hotel, but if you’re travelling for a week or more, you’ll know just how useful this can be. Less laundry to bring home is always a win!

Would We Stay at amba Taipei Songshan Again?

Without much hesitation, yes!

I think what made our stay here work so well was the combination of things rather than any one particular feature. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, the Taipei 101 view was wonderful, breakfast gave us a chance to try local Taiwanese food, and the hotel had enough character to make it feel different from your standard city hotel.

But if I had to pick one thing that really sold us on the experience, it would be the location.

Having Songshan Station right next door, a shopping mall connected to the hotel and Raohe Night Market just a short walk away made exploring Taipei so easy. We could spend our evenings wandering around the market, trying different foods, stopping by Ciyou Temple and then walking back to our room.

And that’s really what we want from a hotel when we’re travelling. Somewhere comfortable to come back to, but also somewhere that puts us right in the middle of the experience.

If you’re planning a trip to Taipei and want a well-connected base with great food, shopping and one of the city’s best night markets practically around the corner, amba Taipei Songshan is definitely worth considering.

We had a lovely time here, and if Taipei finds its way onto our travel plans again, I wouldn’t think twice about checking in here.

Thank you, amba Taipei Songshan, for being such a lovely part of our Taipei experience!