Affordable Rooftop Craft Beers at Zhangmen Brewing
Zhangmen is a Taiwanese craft brewery that’s been expanding rapidly since its establishment in 2014. They’ve opened over a dozen bars across Taiwan, and have recently started expanding overseas to both Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Although there are a handful of locations to choose from in Taipei alone, one stands above the rest. Located on the 4th floor of the Songgao Breeze Centre, this branch has a huge outdoor patio with a gorgeous view of Taipei 101.
The bar can tricky to find at first — there’s a small elevator on the ground floor next to H&M in the Breeze Centre that will take you straight up. Be sure to use this elevator, as we couldn’t find a way up using the escalators.
On the 4th floor, you’ll arrive at a chic, dimly-lit bar with a wall of beer taps. The indoor space is quite small but has a cool vibe with great music playing. There are only a couple of tables to sit at, but you can order a beer off the menu above the bar (beer names are in English), pay immediately, and take it outside to the spacious rooftop.
We ordered a variety of beers after work on a Friday evening in September. Pictured above is the highly recommended Saison (NT$200), a light and fresh ale that hits hard at 6.8% ABV. We also tried the bold and hoppy American IPA (NT$200), the sweeter and darker Dubbel (NT$220), and the smooth and light American Pale Ale (NT$200). We really enjoyed each of the beers, but our favourites were the Saison and the American IPA.
We were having such a nice time on the roof we decided to order food as well — and it far exceeded our expectations. First we tried the Duck Breast Pizza for NT$220. It had a thin, crispy crust topped with a generous layer of gooey cheese that was seasoned well. Although it was on the smaller side, the flavours justified the price. We’d order this again.
We were a bit sceptical when the Sausage Platter (NT$250) arrived, but it also pleasantly surprised us. The meat was juicy and flavourful, kicked up a notch by the accompanying mustard. It was topped with pickles that complemented the sausage nicely. Again, the portion size was small, but if you’re looking for a serious snack while you’re drinking, this hits the spot.
We stayed for a few hours on the roof as the sun set and the lights came on. It was a peaceful place to unwind after a long week — there was no music outside while we were there, but the conversation was good, and the view was spectacular. When we arrived there were only a few other customers, but more filtered in as the evening progressed. By the time we left, feeling more than buzzed from a few strong beers, most of the tables were filled.
Check out the beer and food menus here:
What’s the vibe?
Spacious rooftop bar with patio offering a direct view of Taipei 101. The vibe is generally relaxed (there was no music playing outside on a Friday evening), but it starts to get busier and the tables fill up later at night.
Worth it?
Absolutely! The craft beers were all great, and very reasonably priced considering the bar’s location — most rooftop bars in Xinyi charge an arm and a leg for drinks. The food also exceeded our expectations for both taste and price.
Would you go back?
No question. This is a perfect spot to get tipsy with friends after work, or predrink before hitting the nearby clubs. We’ll also be sure to take visitors from out of town!
Visited: September 2018
| Zhangmen Brewing Xinyi |
| Chinese name: 掌門精釀啤酒-微風松高店 |
| Phone: 02 6636 9959#8401 |
| Hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 12am Sat & Sun: 2pm - 12am |
| English Address: 4th Floor, No. 16 Songgao Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (4th Floor, Songgao Store, Breeze Department Store) |
| Chinese Address: 臺北市信義區松高路16號4樓(微風百貨松高店4樓) |
