With a fun, youthful vibe, this CityInn branch -- one of a chain of six -- feels like a cross between a hotel and a hostel. The eight-story building is unremarkable, though the neon-orange street-level frontage is eye-catching. The busy, modern lobby (the only public space) sports a functional design, with colorful cartoon murals on walls and sliding glass doors, and floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s plentiful neutral sofa seating, with bright cushions next to wooden nest tables. The high, minimalist front desk is done out in white, against a splashback wall in the hotel’s signature bright orange. Comparatively plain hallways, with white walls and gray carpets, are spruced up with more funky murals on bedroom doors. Guests here are mostly couples and tourists on a budget, and some locals use the hotel's for a day-rate. 

The CityInn is set on a busy, gritty block in the downtown Datong District, with a sister hotel right next door, and other businesses in the vicinity. Sights, restaurants, shops, and transportation are all within easy walking distance.

• Four-minute walk to Museum of Contemporary Art
• Six-minute walk to Zhongshan MRT (subway) station
• Seven-minute walk to Taipei Main Station
• 13-minute walk to Dihua Street and Xia Hai Temple
• Seven minutes to Presidential Office Building by car (16 minutes by public transportation)
• Seven minutes to National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall by car (22 minutes by public transportation)
• 10 minutes to Taipei Botanical Garden by car (21 minutes by public transportation)
• 11 minutes to Xingtian Temple by car (18 minutes by public transportation)
• 13 minutes to Taipei Songshan Airport and Shilin Night Market by car (27 minutes by public transportation)
• 16 minutes to Taipei Astronomical Museum by car (31 minutes by public transportation)
• 19 minutes to Taipei 101 by car (33 minutes by public transportation)
• 34 minutes to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport by car

Well-maintained rooms are far more conservative and generic in design than the bright lobby, but the units are simple and comfortable. Walls are plain white and carpets are gray. Comfy beds have built-in white headboards with backlighting, and there are small bedside tables, desks, and wall-mounted full-length mirrors. Some rooms add pale-wood floor paneling, splashes of lime green, and wall murals. A few Quiksilver-themed, design-led rooms include small modern sofas. The cheapest rooms lack windows altogether; others have decent-sized windows with thin white curtains plus blackout blinds, though views of neighboring properties don't add up to much.

Generously sized and well-designed bathrooms have gray-and-white checkered floor tiling, simple modern white sink vanities, and toilets with electronic controls, plus large walk-in showers with sliding glass doors and rainfall and power showerheads. Some rooms have separate toilets and shower rooms. Glass doors may pose privacy issues for some.

Amenities include 32-to 42-inch flat-screen TVs with free movies, phones, free Wi-Fi, safes (not in cheapest Standard Rooms), mini-fridges, free snacks, coffee- and tea-making facilities, hairdryers, slippers, pump shower gel and shampoo, and miniature bathroom amenities. The priciest Family Rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning (in other rooms, it’s centrally adjusted), plus DVD players on request. Some rooms are rented to couples for hourly daytime visits. While there’s no evidence of a sleazy vibe, this does mean scoring early check-in can sometimes be tricky.

The CityInn has few conventional facilities -- and no breakfast or other meals are served -- but there are some unexpected extras. A modern and well-kept 24-hour pantry has free hot and cold soft drinks, plus a microwave, refrigerator, toaster, and sink. There’s a free 24-hour self-service laundry room with washing machines, dryers, and irons. Apple Mac computers and printing facilities are in a corner of the lobby that’s marketed as a business center, and there are free loaner strollers for families. Wi-Fi is free throughout.