Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel is just a short 5-minute walk from the Shilin MRT Station. Looking out from our Mountain View room, the lush greenery of Yangmingshan (Yangming Mountain) added a deep sense of tranquil vacation vibes. For travelers hoping to find a touch of leisure and greenery in a bustling, easily accessible city, this is absolutely one of the best accommodation choices in Taipei!

Among all the Marriott International brands we've stayed at, Renaissance is undoubtedly one of Cherry's absolute favorite hotel brands! Simply hearing the name "Renaissance" is a guarantee of quality for her. From our experiences so far, every Renaissance property perfectly blends modern fashion with local cultural characteristics, leaving us with incredibly profound impressions. For example, the Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai situated in the desert features a camel theme, while the Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort incorporates Ikat—a traditional Balinese tie-dye weaving technique—into its guest rooms and even the restaurant designs. We love how much attention they pay to the intricate details; every corner is simply stunning!

📌'Recommended Reading': Dubai Renaissance Hotel Stay Experience｜Bali Renaissance Hotel Stay Experience

Before we booked the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel, looking at the room photos on their website… to be completely honest, while the design looked clean and modern, the rooms didn't seem particularly spacious. The overall vibe felt more like a high-end business hotel. We really couldn't spot what local cultural elements had been incorporated. Cherry even wondered, 'Is this the property that's finally going to shatter my high expectations for the Renaissance brand?' We checked in with a wait-and-see attitude, but little did we know—the final twist was that we fell so in love with it we didn't want to leave!! So, what exactly is the charm of the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel? Let's dive in and explore together!

Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel Review Contents

★ Location & Transport
★ Lobby
★ Room Tour - Mountain View Premium Room (King Bed)
★ Room Tour - Mountain View Premium Room (Twin Beds)
★ Buffet Breakfast - Shihlin Kitchen
★ Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Benefits
★ Hotel Facilities
★ Hotel Restaurants
★ Recommended Taipei Itineraries

Location & Transport

Located right next to the Shilin Residence Park, the hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 (turn left out of the exit) of the Shilin MRT Station on the Tamsui-Xinyi (Red) Line. The famous Shilin Night Market is also within easy walking distance, making both the surrounding amenities and transportation incredibly convenient. Being on the MRT Red Line means you have direct, easy access to other popular attractions like Tamsui Old Street, Beitou Hot Springs, and the National Palace Museum.

➡️ Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel Official Site (ZH) / Official Site (EN)
➡️ Agoda Live Rates
➡️ Klook Price Check

Lobby

As soon as you walk through the main entrance of the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel, on your left, you're greeted by a stunning 3D letter 'R' adorned with roses and butterflies on a sapphire blue base. On the wall behind it, there are delicate white 3D floral paper carvings. When the light hits them, they cast the most beautiful, intricate shadows. The core design theme running throughout this entire hotel is the interplay of 'light and shadow,' combined with roses and dancing butterflies. The color palette relies on warm, soothing nude tones as a base, accented with splashes of sapphire blue. Just from this small corner at the entrance, the distinct and elegant design style of the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel is fully revealed!

You can spot this brilliant 'light and shadow' design all over the hotel. Looking at the paper carvings on the wall alone might not seem like much, but once you add the beautiful shadows projected by the lighting, it transforms into a deeply thoughtful piece of art!

There are also lovely paper carvings behind the check-in counter. The entire floor is paved with nude-toned marble tiles. When the natural sunlight pours in from the doors outside, it reflects off the mirror-like floor, creating an incredibly luxurious and comfortable atmosphere.

In addition to the many paper carvings, the first-floor lobby also utilizes several floor-to-ceiling grid display shelves for decoration. Aside from the bookshelves behind the front desk (shown above), there's a whole wall of them opposite the counter. The glowing display shelves, accentuated by a few sapphire blue lights, somewhat give off the vibe of the display cabinets at the National Palace Museum.

Perhaps to echo the grid display shelves in the lobby, the adjacent 'Tea Lab' and the lobby bar, 'R Bar,' coincidentally incorporate this same grid concept into their designs as well.

The Rubik's Cube-like grid display shelves at R Bar constantly change colors. When night falls, it takes on a super trendy, nightclub-esque vibe!

The Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel has four elevators, with the left and right sides serving different floors. What we loved was the elevator space—it features a projection of several gracefully dancing butterflies!

Even the hallway design is remarkably detailed! The overall space is accented with sapphire blue, and the light projections of roses and butterflies on the walls are simply breathtaking.

We 'heard' that the rose and butterfly motif pays homage to the nearby Shilin Residence (a famous historical garden). Whether that's true or not, when Cherry saw the butterflies, she inexplicably thought of the famous, poignant ancient Chinese love story of Butterfly Lovers (Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai). Thinking of it this way definitely adds an extra touch of classic Oriental romance, doesn't it?

Room Tour - Mountain View Premium Room (King Bed)

The Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel has a total of 104 guest rooms. One side of the hotel features 'Mountain View Rooms' facing the Shilin Residence, while the other side offers 'City View Rooms.' If you have the chance, we highly recommend staying in a Mountain View room to truly experience that beautiful, contrasting feeling of being on a relaxing vacation right in the middle of a bustling city! During our two-day stay, we spent one night in a Mountain View King room and the other in a Mountain View Twin room. Both layouts are about 9 pings (around 31 square meters), but the furniture arrangement is slightly different. Let's start by touring the Mountain View King Room! (Click here for the Twin Room tour)

You might not notice it during the day, but at night, the bedside lamps offer a little surprise! The light projects gorgeous shadows of roses and butterflies onto the ceiling. This tiny design ingenuity instantly elevates the luxurious feel of the entire room.

The bedside lamps use minimalist lines to sketch out a lantern shape that is full of Oriental flair—classic without being tacky. The design of the bedside table is quite unique too; the shape looks a bit like an upside-down 'R' 😆

Both the walls and floor in the bathroom use matte white marble-patterned materials, which feel incredibly premium. There's a rose pattern on the large bathroom mirror. Looking closely, we realized it's actually a built-in light that you can turn on and off! The blessing of this beautiful rose lighting definitely adds extra points to the bathroom's elegance.

At just 9 pings (31 sqm), the room size does feel comparable to many business hotels. However, the bathroom features a transparent glass design, allowing you to see right through the room to enjoy the natural scenery outside the window even while in the bathroom!

While many hotel rooms have these see-through bathrooms, having a proper glass partition effectively blocks odors from the toilet and steam from the shower, making it much more convenient to use. If you want some privacy, a simple push of a button lowers the automatic roller blind. Super practical!

The bathtub is perfectly placed so you can soak in the tub while watching TV. Absolutely wonderful!

The bath amenities are from TOKYOMILK, a brand full of mystery and high-end appeal founded by American designer Margot Elena. We previously saw this same brand during our stay at the Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort.

Other amenities like toothbrushes, combs, and razors are neatly stored in a stylish black and white box on the bathroom vanity.

The hair dryer is neatly tucked away in a white soft bag under the sink. It's a Panasonic!

Many hotels provide terry cloth bathrobes that can feel a bit heavy and scratchy. But for a terry cloth robe, the one at Renaissance Taipei Shihlin is relatively lightweight, incredibly soft, and super comfortable. It's one of the rare hotel bathrobes that Cherry actually enjoys wearing!

There are two closets right by the entrance, along with a luggage rack. The space for storing luggage isn't huge.

Fortunately, there is a marble-topped shelf beneath the TV where you can place some lighter bags or hand luggage.

The Mini Bar in the room extends all the way to the ceiling, visually increasing the sense of height and space in the room.

The Mini Bar comes equipped with a kettle, an ice bucket, tea bags, coffee pods, and more.

Inside the closet near the door, you'll find an iron, an ironing board, and a safe. The other closet has hanging space, bathrobes, slippers, etc.

This trip was actually part of our 'Babymoon' across several hotels in Taipei! However, we discovered that Babymoons don't seem to be very popular in Taiwan just yet. The Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel was one of the hotels that didn't quite get what a Babymoon was 😆😆😆 But they still sweetly sent up a small 'Happy Birthday' cake and a card along with the welcome fruits!

We have to say, the space by the window in the King Room feels a bit cramped. In addition to a single chaise longue and a small coffee table, there's a rather oversized square table. This furniture arrangement is different from the Twin Room. While it might look a bit cluttered visually, for an expecting mother, having a chaise longue to sit or lie down on is extremely important! Cherry has been absolutely spoiled by the plush sofas and chaise longues at most Marriott properties. It wasn't until she stayed at the Moxy Hotel in Taichung later in her pregnancy that she realized just how crucial a comfortable sofa chair is!

The layout in this area is quite different in the Twin Room—if you're curious, keep reading below! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

➡️ Book on Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel Official Site (ZH) / Official Site (EN)
➡️ Agoda Live Rates
➡️ Klook Price Check

Room Tour - Mountain View Premium Room (Twin Beds)

The Twin Room and the King Room are exactly the same size at 9 pings (31 sqm).

The entrance and bathroom layouts are identical to the King Room.

The bedside lamp between the two beds in the Twin Room is square. Cherry personally thinks it's even prettier than the round one in the King Room!

The rose shadows cast by the bedside lamp at night are just so beautiful~

The bedside table on the other side also looks like a big upside-down 'R' 😆

There's also a rose light shadow behind the bamboo chair in the room. Cherry searched for ages trying to find where the projector was hidden, only to realize later that the rose on the wall isn't a shadow at all—it's a wall lamp!

By the window, there's a small round table and two chairs. Welcome fruits were also placed on the table for us.

Although it doesn't have the chaise longue like the King Room, the Twin Room actually feels much less cramped visually!

➡️ Book on Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel Official Site (ZH) / Official Site (EN)
➡️ Agoda Live Rates
➡️ Klook Price Check

Buffet Breakfast - Shihlin Kitchen

The buffet breakfast at the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel is served at the 'Shihlin Kitchen' on the first floor.

Stepping into Shihlin Kitchen, you're greeted by a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. The natural sunlight pouring in makes the space incredibly bright and elegant!

The other side of the restaurant, which doesn't get natural light, is designed in a completely different, warmer style.

It features plenty of wood tones, paired with chalkboards next to each food station, beautifully illustrated with various foods. In addition to breakfast, Shihlin Kitchen also offers all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner buffets. Although we were out exploring and didn't get a chance to try them, the online reviews are fantastic! Based on the dishes drawn on the chalkboards and the refinement of the breakfast, the other meals must be delicious. Combined with the elegant dining environment, it's definitely worth a try if you have the chance!

➡️ KKday Shihlin Kitchen Discount Vouchers

Because of its proximity to the famous tourist hotspot, Shilin Night Market, 'Shihlin Kitchen' deliberately drew inspiration from night market pathways to create a unique, open-kitchen layout.

The breakfast spread mainly features Taiwanese and Western options. The Taiwanese selection includes unsweetened soy milk, congee, BBQ pork buns (char siu bao), braised pork rice, fried rice noodles, and a made-to-order noodle station. For a hotel breakfast, the noodle station is seriously impressive! They genuinely use a rich, slow-simmered mushroom and chicken broth as the base and add plenty of vegetables (having a piping hot, nutritious, and delicious bowl of chicken soup first thing in the morning made this expecting mom very, very happy 😋😋😋).

For tea, they offer Chinese tea bags from CHA CHA THÉ, as well as Western tea bags from Twinings. Unfortunately, they didn't provide decaf coffee, which was a little disappointing for Cherry, who was trying to limit her caffeine intake.

Cherry usually doesn't fancy Western breakfast options at hotels, but this time she was genuinely amazed by Renaissance's roasted vegetables in tomato sauce! The pastries, freshly made pancakes, and omelets also performed exceptionally well. Overall, while the variety isn't the most extensive for a hotel breakfast, and the dishes didn't change much over our two consecutive mornings, the refinement and quality of the food were memorable and left a very positive impression on us.

During our 11-day Babymoon in Taipei and Yilan, we stayed at six different hotels: 'Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel', 'The Westin Yilan Resort', 'Courtyard Taipei', 'Humble House Taipei', 'W Hotel', and Hilton's Tapestry Collection property, 'Hotel Resonance Taipei'. Before we experienced the breakfast at 'W Hotel', the breakfast at 'Renaissance Shihlin' held the number one spot in our hearts among all six hotels!

📌Recommended Reading: [Taipei · W Hotel] The Top Choice for a Stylish Getaway | W Taipei with a View of Taipei 101!

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Benefits

For this stay, we checked in with Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. At check-in, the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel provided the following explanation of member benefits, which we’re sharing as a reference for our fellow Marriott Bonvoy members.

Club Lounge

We stayed in April 2021. It was a bit of a pity that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club Lounge on the 9th floor of the Renaissance Shihlin had been closed. So, we couldn't experience the lounge during this visit.

As a result, daily breakfast was moved to Shihlin Kitchen on the 1st floor, and the Happy Hour was relocated to R Bar, also on the 1st floor.

Happy Hour

To be honest, aside from breakfast, the operating style of a hotel's Happy Hour is something many Marriott Bonvoy members pay close attention to.

On our first day, because there were quite a few guests, the hotel divided the Happy Hour into two sessions to maintain the dining quality. However, when we went down for the 6:30 PM session, R Bar was essentially full, so we were seated next door in the Tea Lab.

The Happy Hour operated semi-buffet style, with servers handing out a beverage menu for us to order from.

For food, we had to walk over to R Bar to grab it ourselves. The hot food that day included: braised pork rice (lu rou fan), scattered sushi (chirashi), soup of the day, Western-style salad, a cheese platter, bread, fruits, and small cakes for dessert. The spread leaned heavily towards carbs and starches. Since we arrived just as the food was nearly wiped out, we had to wait quite a while for the empty trays to be replenished. Because an expecting mom's dietary needs require more than just carbs and starches, we actually headed out to Shilin after Happy Hour to grab some skewers and load up on protein!

Interestingly, when we returned to R Bar for Happy Hour on the second evening, it didn't feel crowded or bustling like the day before at all. It wasn't set up semi-buffet style, either. Silly us, we assumed there was no Happy Hour that day or that we got the time wrong (though we confirmed via the Marriott app that the time was correct). We were so hungry we ended up ordering some Taiwanese popcorn chicken on our own dime just to tide us over, before heading out to dine with friends. Because of this stark contrast with the previous day, we brought it up with the hotel during check-out. It turns out that on Sunday evenings, the Happy Hour is changed to a 'set menu ordered through the servers.' The issue, however, was that when we arrived during Happy Hour, the staff never informed us of the Happy Hour ordering options. Even when we paid for our a la carte food and reminded them to apply our member discount—meaning they knew our elite status—they still didn't offer the complimentary Happy Hour meal service. You could tell there was a lack of familiarity with member benefits among the staff, though this is definitely something that can be improved with better training.

Due to this slightly negative experience, our advice for Marriott Bonvoy members planning to grab a light bite during Happy Hour at the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel is to remember:

1. When you arrive, verify the Happy Hour service style with the staff: is it a semi-buffet, or is there a menu to order from?
2. If you order anything outside of the complimentary options, make sure they apply the proper discount based on your elite tier.

Overall, our Happy Hour experience at the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel was a mixed bag. As we mentioned, the operations of the Club Lounge and Happy Hour are crucial factors for many Marriott Bonvoy members. If you're looking for stellar Happy Hours at Marriott properties in Taipei, we highly recommend the W Hotel and Courtyard Taipei—both do a phenomenal job!

For friends who are Marriott Bonvoy members or are planning to join, we strongly suggest booking the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel directly through Marriott's official website to ensure you receive all your elite benefits and earn points. If you book through a third-party site, there's a very high chance you won't be able to enjoy your elite perks during your stay!

➡️ Book on Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel Official Site (ZH) / Official Site (EN)

Hotel Facilities

Swimming Pool

When you visit the Renaissance Shihlin, you absolutely cannot miss the most stunning and resort-like facility in the entire hotel: the rooftop swimming pool!

Surrounded by magnificent mountain views, you can swim while soaking in the scenery. The moment we stepped out to the pool, we had the illusion of being at a secluded mountain resort—it was hard to believe we were just steps away from the Shilin MRT Station!!! Finding an oasis of calm in a bustling city is truly one of the hallmark features of the Renaissance Shihlin Hotel, and this rooftop pool is an absolute must-visit!

Fitness Center

The fitness center at the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel isn't particularly large. It has three treadmills, three stepping machines, dumbbells, and some other basic equipment. As hotel gyms go, it doesn't have an overwhelming amount of gear.

But the view outside the window is just too beautiful! Working out in this gym instantly lifted our spirits, which adds huge bonus points to the space!

Hotel Restaurants

The Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel sits right next to the Shilin MRT Station and the Shilin Residence, putting it close to many sightseeing spots. Its overall environment is chic yet deeply infused with classic Oriental culture. The four restaurants inside the hotel each have their own distinct characteristics and themes. Every single one provides a unique, relaxing dining atmosphere. Even if you aren't staying the night, we highly recommend visiting for a wonderful visual and culinary journey!

Shihlin Kitchen

This is the all-day dining restaurant of the hotel. The Buffet Breakfast is served here, and they also offer all-you-can-eat lunches and dinners. While we didn't try the later meals, the breakfast was so refined and tasty that we definitely want to come back to try their lunch or dinner buffet next time!

➡️ KKday Shihlin Kitchen Discount Vouchers

Wan Li Restaurant (Chinese Cuisine)

Located on the first floor, 'Wan Li Restaurant' is an elegant Chinese dining establishment serving a la carte dishes, primarily featuring classic Shanghai and Zhejiang cuisines.

The interior features a massive wall decorated with 528 bamboo steamer baskets! Paired with retro lighting on the ceiling, the whole space is brimming with traditional Chinese charm.

We originally wanted to dine here, but since there were only two of us, it was a bit tough to order family-style dishes, so we gave up on the idea. However, we stayed over a weekend, and the business at this Chinese restaurant was incredibly brisk—it was packed to the brim! With a crowd like that, the food must be stellar!

➡️ KKday Wan Li Restaurant Discount Vouchers

Tea Lab

Also located on the first floor next to the lobby, the 'Tea Lab' is a Chinese-style tea house modeled after the traditional study at the Shilin Residence.

The full-height, dark wooden grid cabinets serve as display spaces for various exquisite goods while casting a deeply mysterious Oriental aura. The dining area has windows on three sides, bringing in fantastic natural light and surrounding you with greenery. Enjoying a lazy, leisurely afternoon tea here must be pure bliss~

The English-style afternoon tea for two at Tea Lab costs $1,580 NTD + 10% service charge on-site (as of April 2021). If you're interested, we recommend booking through KKday to snag a better price than walking in!

➡️ KKday Tea Lab & R Bar Afternoon Tea Discount Vouchers

Aside from food and tea, Tea Lab also sells exquisite tea sets. The mooncake-shaped 'Double Happiness' couple cups pictured above were just too cute—Cherry couldn't resist buying a pair to give away as a wedding gift!

R Bar

The 'R Bar' on the first floor is a spot that boasts completely different vibes between day and night. During the day, sunlight pours freely through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the vibrant greenery outside makes you feel exceptionally relaxed.

When night falls, colorful lighting illuminates the bar, instantly cranking up the nightclub vibes. It feels like a completely different place! Besides offering a wide array of alcoholic beverages, the English-style afternoon tea for two mentioned earlier is also available at R Bar during the afternoon hours. Definitely check it out!

➡️ KKday Tea Lab & R Bar Afternoon Tea Discount Vouchers

To sum up, the Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel masterfully uses the projection of light and shadow, combined with the elegant theme of roses and dancing butterflies, to weave classic Oriental colors into the subtle details of both its restaurants and guest rooms. It manages to do this without being cliché, all while maintaining a highly sophisticated, modern feel.

The majestic, lush mountain views out the window make it hard to believe you're on a prime piece of real estate just a 5-minute walk from the Shilin MRT Station. While the guest rooms aren't massively spacious, the overall design makes you feel incredibly comfortable. The resort-style rooftop pool, the fitness center, and the dining environments and reviews of the restaurants are all fantastic. Whether you're planning to sightsee along the Tamsui MRT line or just want to laze around and relax in the hotel, this is an excellent choice for accommodation. It's a hotel Cherry genuinely loved and highly recommends!

Recommended Taipei Itineraries

★ Tours | Beitou & Yangmingshan Day Tour | Yehliu, Jiufen, Shifen & Golden Waterfall Day Tour
★ Tickets | Taipei 101 Observatory | National Palace Museum | Maokong Gondola Combo Ticket
★ Private Charters | Jiufen, Pingxi & North Coast | North Coast IG Hotspots Private Charter
★ Beitou Hot Spring Stays | Radium Kagaya Taipei

Taiwan Hotel Experiences

Taipei · W Hotel
Taipei · Aloft Taipei Beitou
Taipei · Courtyard Taipei
Taipei · Humble House Taipei
Yilan · The Westin Yilan Resort
Taoyuan · The Westin Tashee Resort
Taoyuan · Sheraton Taoyuan Hotel
Taichung · Fairfield by Marriott Taichung
Taichung · Moxy Taichung

Marriott International Hotel Experiences

Dubai · Renaissance Downtown Hotel
Bali · Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort
Phu Quoc, Vietnam · JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort
Fiji · Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
Maldives · Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

Hilton Hotel Experiences

Tahiti · Conrad Bora Bora Nui
Maldives · Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa
Fiji · DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Fiji - Sonaisali Island
Finland · Hilton Helsinki Airport
UK · Hilton London Bankside

Other Travel Guides

★ Europe: Finland | UK
★ USA: New York | San Francisco | Las Vegas
★ Middle East: Doha | Dubai | Abu Dhabi
★ Southeast Asia: Bali | Phu Quoc | Koh Samui
★ Islands: Tahiti | Maldives | Fiji