W Taipei — Outdoor pool with Taipei 101 views, the coolest 5-star in Xinyi
If you want "the most iconic luxury hotel in Taipei" — W Taipei delivers. This Marriott W Hotels property occupies floors 8–31 above Taipei City Hall station, just 2 minutes from the MRT. It has the WET® outdoor pool with a jaw-dropping view of Taipei 101, the legendary Woobar, AWAY® Spa and 405 rooms ranging from 43 to 58 m².
W Taipei opened in 2011 and instantly became the defining landmark of the Xinyi district. The hotel sits on floors 8–31 of the building that straddles the Taipei City Hall bus station — you step out and you're 2 minutes from MRT City Hall, 5 minutes' walk from Taipei 101 / World Trade Center, and a stone's throw from the Breeze and Mitsukoshi malls. The address doesn't get better than this.
"The WET® pool at night, Taipei 101 glowing right in front of you — no other hotel in Taipei gives you that feeling. You're floating in the water staring at the tallest tower in Taiwan. Absolutely unforgettable."
Rooms fall into four main tiers: Wonderful Room (43 m², city view, king or two doubles); Spectacular Room (43 m², direct Taipei 101 view, king); Cool Corner Room (58 m², corner unit with panoramic city views); and Marvelous Suite / WOW Suite / E-WOW Suite for those who want the full W experience. Every room comes with a Bose speaker, a complimentary martini kit, a plush W Bed and a well-appointed bathroom.
The feature every guest talks about is the WET® outdoor pool — 25 m × 6.5 m, stainless-steel water-drop sculptures, a poolside beach area and a direct sightline to Taipei 101. The Woobar on the lobby level is Xinyi's go-to all-day hangout, doubling as a breakfast lounge and a late-night DJ bar. Up on the 31st floor, YEN Restaurant serves contemporary Cantonese cuisine against 360° views of the city.
AWAY® Spa is one of the best in Taipei — full men's and women's locker rooms, steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs and cold-plunge pools, plus a treatment menu that rivals any resort. The FIT® Gym (128 m², open 24 hours) has brand-new equipment. Marriott Bonvoy members enjoy complimentary drinks at Woobar during evening happy hours, room upgrades on availability and late checkout — worth signing up for before you arrive.
A word of honest context: W Taipei has a lively, party-forward personality. Woobar hosts DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, and the energy can carry into the small hours. If you're here purely to rest, request a high-floor room away from the bar. Breakfast and spa treatments are charged separately and add up quickly — factor them into your budget.
All things considered, W Taipei is the 5-star that makes most sense if you want the full Taipei luxury experience in one place — the best-located district, an outdoor pool you'll remember for years, a world-class bar, and a hotel room that has genuine personality. At approx. NT$9,000 and up per night, it earns every dollar for the right traveller.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ MRT City Hall right below — 2 min walk; Taipei 101 in 5 min on foot
- ✓ WET® outdoor pool is stunning — Taipei 101 at night is unforgettable
- ✓ Rooms have real style: Bose speakers, martini kit, plush W Bed
- ✓ Professional staff who deliver genuine 5-star service
- ! Woobar has live DJs until late — great for night owls, not for early sleepers
- ! Breakfast buffet is charged separately and is expensive
- ! Price point is high — some guests feel it doesn't quite match up to 5-stars in other cities
- ✓ Best location in Xinyi — 101, Breeze, Mitsukoshi all within walking distance
- ✓ Lobby and room design are genuinely world-class — the W experience is real
- ✓ AWAY® Spa is exceptional: steam, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge all in one
- ✓ Concierge team handles everything — highly professional and multilingual
- ! Standard rooms are 43 m² — feel compact for the price if you're used to larger rooms
- ! Woobar gets very loud on weekends — request a high floor if noise is a concern
- ! Parking is expensive — if you're driving, budget accordingly
- 💡If you need total quiet to sleep — Woobar DJs play until late, especially Friday–Saturday → request a high-floor room on the opposite side of the bar, and flag it when booking
- 💡If breakfast budget is tight — the Woobar breakfast buffet is charged separately and is pricey → great breakfast spots are everywhere around Xinyi, or head to Tonghua market for local morning eats
- 💡If room size matters — the 43 m² Wonderful and Spectacular rooms can feel snug for a long stay → upgrade to the Cool Corner Room at 58 m² or a suite, and you'll have all the space you need