Regent Taipei

Built in 1990, the Regent Taipei's age is evident from the outside, but it still makes a grand impression with its long drive leading past a sculpture of birds perched atop huge life-like apples, up to a front entrance with a lighted fountain. A large garden at the back end of the hotel further insulates it from traffic noise on the busy streets. This is a large hotel, with its own shopping mall -- the Regent Galleria -- home to high-fashion brands such as Hermes and Prada. Inside the glossy-floored lobby there's a Chanel store and a dramatically back-lit reception desk. Wide silver columns flank a central lounge area, with halls leading off to more stores in several directions -- the look is dark and polished. Over the years the hotel has been popular with celebrities, though these days it has more corporate appeal -- tourists do pass through, but business travelers from across Asia and farther afield make up the bulk of guests.

The Regent Taipei is centrally located in a busy commercial area with a number of local offices of Japanese companies. There's plenty of green space, too, with Kangle Park and Linsen Park both within a short walking distance, right around the corner. There are several shopping malls in the immediate area and it's about a six-minute walk to the Zhongshan MRT station. Restaurants and cafes line neighboring streets in almost every direction. The Ningxia Night Market is about a 16-minute walk down bustling Nanjing Road, three blocks from the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei. The Taipei Main MRT station is a 14-minute walk south. It will take about 30 minutes to reach Longshan Temple or the shopping-mad Ximending area by metro. It's a 35-minute drive to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, or about 90 minutes via high-speed rail.

All of the hotel's 538 rooms and suites run large and have work desks and sitting areas. The contemporary decor is on the darker side, with subdued tones, light and dark gray walls, and moody accent lighting. Standard amenities include feather duvets, mini-fridges, Nespresso machines, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs. The big marble-tiled bathrooms have electronic toilets, walk-in showers, and separate deep soaking tubs.Some rooms have small balconies, while a variety of suites add features ranging from handsome camphor-wood furnishings, to separate dining rooms, to hot tubs. Garden Suites have their own grassy outdoor terraces with rattan lounge furniture, and the Presidential Suite has a palatial living room with floor-to-ceiling windows -- Michael Jackson has stayed here more than once. The top two floors house the Tai Pan (club level) rooms and suites, which cater to business travelers with ergonomically designed Aeron chairs and access to amenities in the club lounge. Tai Pan rooms also have 24-hour butler service with free coffee, evening cocktails, snacks, and personalized wake-up calls with a morning beverage.

The hotel's luxury features don't end with its rooms -- in fact, plenty of recognizable luxury labels call the hotel home as well. The Regent Galleria mall is located on the hotel's lower levels and houses over 50 boutiques and high-fashion retailers; brands include Hermes, Prada, Cartier, Piaget, and Chanel. The mall also offers personal shoppers and butler services to its guests.  Walls of hedges and decorative shrubs would make the rooftop of the 23-story hotel feel like a ground floor garden, were it not for the lofty views of the surrounding city. In the middle of the space is a year-round heated pool with three lap lanes, a sundeck with comfortable lounge chairs, and a terrace with umbrella-shaded  tables. The spa has 10 treatment rooms offering a diverse menu of massages, facials, and wraps. There's also a sauna and hot tub, along with a modern fitness center with cardio and weight equipment plus personal trainers on staff  for private sessions. The hotel offers six dining options, ranging from traditional Japanese shabu shabu at Mihan Honke to modern Szechuan cuisine in the fine-dining atmosphere of Silks House. Robin's Grill is an American-style seafood restaurant and steak house, while the adjacent Robin's Teppanyaki offers classic Japanese fare with French touches plus a substantial wine list. Brasserie is a buffet restaurant with varied international fare. Azie is a casual cafe with an atrium ceiling and regular live music. The Gallery is the only dedicated (and late-night) cocktail lounge, with seating on a balcony overlooking the cafe below.The 19th-floor club lounge has a business center and serves a buffet breakfast to guests in the upgraded Tai Pan rooms and suites. Business travelers can also take advantage of event facilities consisting of 16 function rooms and meeting halls, the largest of which can accommodate up to 1000 people. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.