Q Square Apartment Taipei — your own home above the mall, steps from every train in the city
If you're travelling with family or a group of 4–6 and you'd rather have a real home than two cramped hotel rooms — Q Square Apartment is a whole-unit serviced apartment sitting high above Q Square Mall, with a kitchen for proper meals, a washing machine, a private balcony and a 6-minute walk to Taipei Main Station: the single hub that connects you to the MRT, the THSR to every major city in Taiwan and the Airport MRT direct to Taoyuan.
Q Square Apartment (京站酒店式公寓) occupies the upper floors of the Q Square building in Datong District — the same tower as Q Square Mall, one of Taipei's largest mixed-use complexes. That means 50+ restaurants, a supermarket, a convenience store and a cinema are literally in the lift below your apartment. What makes this genuinely different from a hotel is that each unit is a full apartment — separate living room, one or two bedrooms, a kitchen with microwave, hob and fridge, and an in-unit washing machine that makes a longer stay feel like a home rather than a holiday.
The location is its undeniable trump card. Sitting on Civic Boulevard in Datong District, it's 580 metres — about a 6-minute walk — from Taipei Main Station, the largest transit hub in Taiwan. From here you can pick up the MRT Blue and Red Lines to anywhere in Taipei, take the THSR south to Kaohsiung or Taichung in under two hours, board the 1819 bus to Taoyuan Airport or ride the Airport MRT directly. If your trip involves moving between cities, this address is hard to beat.
"Guests say the location is perfect — you can get anywhere from Taipei Main Station, and having the mall right downstairs means you never have to go far for food or groceries. Great for a family of five."
The 2-bedroom units (Family Villa or Family Quadruple 2 Bedrooms) run from roughly 38–51 sqm and comfortably sleep 4–6. Higher-floor units have impressive city views. The kitchen comes ready for real cooking — not just a kettle and a microwave — and the in-unit washer means you can pack lighter and stay longer without racking up laundry bills. For a group of four splitting the cost, the nightly rate per person usually undercuts booking multiple hotel rooms by a meaningful margin.
There is one honest concern that keeps appearing across reviews and it's worth calling out clearly: cleanliness is inconsistent. While some guests report spotless apartments that feel genuinely homely, others have found mould in bathroom grout and window blinds, black flakes falling from dirty air-conditioning vents, and floors that weren't swept during their stay. If anyone in your group has mould sensitivities or you hold cleanliness to a high standard, read the most recent reviews before booking and contact the host directly to confirm the unit's condition.
Service operates on a self-service model — there is no 24-hour front desk or concierge. Communication with the operator is typically through messaging apps or a phone number, and housekeeping during a stay may not be daily. A few guests have also noted that finding the apartment entrance from Taipei Main Station is confusing on arrival — the building is large and the residential tower entrance isn't immediately obvious with heavy luggage in tow. Ask for a building map and specific directions when you confirm your booking.
In sum, Q Square Apartment earns its place on this list because no other option in Taipei combines a full self-catering apartment, a mall full of restaurants downstairs and six minutes to the country's best-connected transport hub at this price point. For the right group — families or friends who want their own space, can self-manage a little and understand this is a managed apartment rather than a hotel — it's genuinely excellent value.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Unbeatable location — 6-minute walk to Taipei Main Station MRT and THSR
- ✓ Whole-unit apartment with kitchen, washing machine and separate living room
- ✓ Q Square Mall directly below — 50+ restaurants, supermarket and cinema
- ✓ Excellent per-person value when shared across 4–6 guests
- ! Cleanliness inconsistent — some reviews report mould in bathrooms and dirty A/C vents
- ! No full hotel service — no 24-hr front desk, daily housekeeping not guaranteed
- ! Finding the residential entrance from Taipei Main Station can be confusing on arrival
- ✓ Best-in-city transit access — Taipei Main Station connects MRT, THSR and Airport MRT
- ✓ Spacious units ideal for groups — per-person cost undercuts multiple hotel rooms
- ✓ Kitchen and washer cut costs significantly on longer trips
- ! Cleanliness not consistent — check recent reviews before booking
- ! Self-service setup: operator communication online only, no lobby concierge
- 💡If cleanliness is your top priority — multiple reviews report mould in bathroom grout and dirty A/C vents → read the most recent reviews carefully and message the host to confirm the unit's current condition before booking
- 💡If you expect full hotel service — there is no 24-hour front desk, daily housekeeping is not guaranteed, and check-in is self-managed → best suited to travellers comfortable with the Airbnb/apartment rental model
- 💡If you're travelling as a couple or solo — a 2-bedroom unit per person is expensive → this property shines as a group of 4+ sharing; for 1–2 people a mid-range hotel near Taipei Main Station will likely be better value