Some of the Best Craft Beer in Taipei (Oct 2026)

Every spot on this page is one we've sat down at with a beer, most of them more than once. Some of our favourites right now is Floating Taipei near Ningxia Night Market, with 18 taps and any Taiwanese beer for NT$200 during happy hour. Learn Bar, just off Yongkang Street, is also always great; every tap pours a Taiwanese brewery, and the lineup is different each time I go. I still stop by Urban Alley regularly for their food and beer options. This guide is an evolving list as we continue to visit spots.

What to Drink

You don't need a craft beer bar to get a good beer in Taiwan. Taiwan Beer's 18 Days is a fresh lager sold at many grocery stores and restaurants, and it's a good example of what fresh beer should taste like. For something hoppier, you'll have to go looking. My favourite style lately is cold IPA: a very dry malt base that lets the hops lead. Taihu pours one at all three of its locations I've visited.

Local breweries to look for include Tsai's, whose triple dry-hopped Hoppy Uncle I had at Floating Taipei; Ugly Half, whose Double Happiness DIPA turns up at Learn Bar and Urban Alley; and Flow Brewing, which brews American-style IPAs with American-style alcohol, often including doubles and triples. Jim & Dad's uses local ingredients like kumquat and passion fruit, and is known for an asparagus beer. Island Life is a tiny Tamsui brewery, and Kahu in Xinbeitou is one of only two places I know of to drink it on tap. If you want imports, Floating Taipei carries Japanese and American breweries like Alesmith and Vertere, and Hit Cat pours Barossa Valley beer from Australia. Eddy's Cantina is great if you want some Mexican food with your pint.

How to Order

Ordering varies. At Hit Cat you order by QR code on your phone. At Taihu Landmark you order at the window and find a spot on the plaza. Zhangmen's taps are numbered, so you order by number; I once mixed up 六Liù and 九Jiǔ, asked for 十九號Shí jiǔ hào instead of 十六號Shí liù hào, and got a kombucha instead of the Rye IPA. At Jim & Dad's you'll likely hear 內用還是外帶Nèi yòng hái shì wài dài (for here or to go) as you walk in. 內用Nèi yòng means you're staying. Learn Bar maps every beer on the wall by bitterness, sweetness, and strength, which helps if you don't know the breweries yet.

Glass sizes aren't standard. Taihu pours 300 ml and 600 ml, while a large at most other places is closer to 450–500 ml. A small at Mikkeller is almost taster-sized. Flights are available at some places, but I've seen NT$680 (US$21.24) for four or five small pours in more than one spot, which is about a pint's worth of beer for close to triple the price. I skip flights unless the price is on the menu.

What a Beer Costs

Most craft beer in Taipei runs NT$200–300 a glass, with imports going higher. Some bars add a 10% service charge. Here's what I've paid or seen on the menu:

• Floating Taipei: NT$200 for any Taiwanese beer from 6–8 pm; imports up to NT$400 for a large. The 10% fee is waived if you pay cash.

• Kahu: NT$200–240 a glass.

• Zhangmen Yongkang: most under NT$300, many NT$240.

• Hit Cat: around NT$250.

• Learn Bar: NT$250 or NT$300 for a large during happy hour.

• Nearby Cafe 2: NT$200 medium, NT$280 large.

• Mikkeller: NT$180 small, NT$280 large, with promotions to upgrade to an XL for the price of a large. Imports from NT$340.

• West Side Brews: NT$220–270 for a 360 ml medium, NT$300 a pint.

• Flow Brewing: NT$300–320 for a large; four-packs of cans NT$1,000–1,100.

• Taihu Driftwood: about NT$220–260 for 300 ml, NT$360–380 for 600 ml, plus 10%.

When to Go

Most craft beer bars in Taipei don't open until 4 or 5 pm, which took some getting used to after North America. For an afternoon beer, Hit Cat opens at 11 am, Nearby Cafe at noon, Zhangmen Yongkang at 2 pm, and Learn Bar at 3 pm on weekdays and 1 pm on weekends. Taihu Driftwood opens at 5 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on weekends. Flow opens at 5 pm and is closed Mondays. Hours change, so check Google Maps before you head out.

Weather matters more than you'd expect. West Side Brews, Amber Land, Taihu Landmark, and Kahu are mostly outdoors, which is great once summer is over and it drops below ~26 °C. Amber Land only has about ten seats inside, so it may be full if it rains.

Several spots are close enough to visit together. Learn Bar and Zhangmen Yongkang are about two blocks apart near Dongmen MRT. Taihu Landmark, Amber Land, and Flow are all walkable between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 stations. Floating Taipei, Jim & Dad's, and Mikkeller are down the street from each other in Dadaocheng.

FAQ

How much is a craft beer in Taipei?

Usually NT$200–300 (US$6.28–9.37) for a large, and NT$340–400 or higher (US$10.62–$12.50) for imports. Happy hours can bring Taiwanese beer down to NT$200.

Can I get a craft beer in the afternoon?

Yes, but you have to pick your spot. Hit Cat, Nearby Cafe, Zhangmen Yongkang, and Learn Bar all open before 3 pm on at least some days.

Should I order a beer flight in Taipei?

Check the price first. Flights at NT$680 (US$21.24) are common, and that's usually for about a pint's worth of beer.

Is there a service fee or tipping?

Some bars add 10%, like Taihu Driftwood and Floating Taipei. Floating Taipei waives it when paying with cash. Tipping is not expected in Taiwan, but some places have a tip jar out.

Where can I get craft beer near Taipei 101?

Taihu Landmark, Amber Land, and Flow Brewing are all within about a ten-minute walk of the 101. Amber Land has an amazing view.