December 2025
For our first two days in Taipei, we set our base in Ximending. We were travelling with two kids (7 and 4) and a grandparent, so convenience really mattered — especially right after a flight. We wanted somewhere really central, easy to get around and has a lively vibe. On the way to dinner, we even stumbled upon a street circus performance the kids thoroughly enjoyed.
For dinner, I’d made a reservation at Mala Yuanyang Hotpot beforehand, but we wandered into the same restaurant at another location — there are so many Mala branches dotted around Ximending. Anyway, a reservation probably wasn’t necessary as there were many empty booths around in that particular outlet.
Hotpot turned out to be a perfect first meal (realised we forgot to take photos because we were famished!). We had a vegetarian, two slightly fussy kids, and adults who just wanted something warm and comforting in the chilly weather. We chose a chicken soup base and a vegetable soup base. The wide ingredient selection with lots of vegetables, tofu, noodles and non-spicy options for the kids, alongside stronger flavours for the grown-ups, made things easier for us. And then there was the Haagen-Dazs freezer. Multiple flavours, unlimited scoops with towers of ice cream cones — that alone sealed the deal for the kids!
After dinner, we wandered around Ximending and checked out various shops selling snacks and souvenirs. We even got to try 打彈珠 (dànzhū) — a childhood arcade-style street game for many Taiwanese — for the first time. It was noisy, chaotic and so much fun, and YB was so delighted just to keep dropping tiny metal balls into the machine and shooting them through the target holes. We couldn’t even peel the little addict from the machine past 10pm, and were seriously worried that he would grow up to make trips to Genting to play jackpot!
By the time we walked back to the hotel, everyone was fed and happy. That first evening confirmed that Ximending works really well as a base when travelling in Taipei with kids and grandparents — everything is walkable, food is everywhere, and you don’t need to over-plan to have a good night.
The next morning, we experienced Ximending in the daytime. We tried taking photos at the Rainbow Crossing, but honestly, it felt far too crowded — and a little stressful — with cars zooming past from every direction. We plucked up our courage to try bittergourd juice with honey and surprisingly, it was delicious with only a slight bitter aftertaste. Even our four-year-old gave it a thumbs up!
We then walked over to The Red House, taking photos against its red brick façade before popping into one of the gift shops inside. It turned out to be a lovely stop, with plenty of Taiwanese-made crafts and thoughtful souvenirs.
One interesting spot we stumbled upon was Fong Da Coffee, located just a short walk from the Red House. The scent of freshly roasted coffee beans — and the café’s unmistakable old-world charm — stopped us in our tracks. Established in 1956, the space feels frozen in time, with its retro interior and a whirring coffee roaster that’s still very much at work.
It was a little too squeezy to bring the kids inside, so we opted for takeaway coffees instead. The cafe is known for its iced coffee, brewed on a special machine. We also picked up some old-school snacks — sachima, green bean and peanut cakes, and walnut cookies — as souvenirs. The kids weren’t excited by this, of course, but it did provide us tired parents with some caffeine and happy respite.
From there, we headed to Eslite Spectrum. The shelves were filled with Chinese books that the kids weren’t very interested in, but they perked up while browsing the knick-knacks, toys and small craft items.
To be honest, our kids weren’t super excited by Ximending. It felt like more of a teen’s paradise with fashion shops, street food and Pop Mart toys. Still, they were happy just soaking up the vibes for this first couple of days, and they did enjoy playing danzhu tremendously!
On to part 2 of Taipei with kids!
Little Notes
Taipei Weather in December: Taipei is in the northern part of Taiwan, and is typically more chilly than the south. We had such a hard time trying to predict the weather in order to pack for the kids. Now that we’ve experienced it, we can safely recommend LAYERS. The weather was mostly chilly, air-conditioned weather, although it was oddly hotter than usual in the daytime in 2025. Temperatures dip after 3pm-4pm, and there were drizzles on and off. No thermals were necessary. Our kids wore normal tees/long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and we adjusted layers according with a thicker cotton jacket for warmth and a rainproof parka/puffy jacket against the wind.
Strollers? We were glad we didn’t bring a stroller. It would have been hard to navigate through the crowds, rough pavements and tight mall entrances.
This Little Season 