The W Taipei is a five-pearl high-rise hotel in an upscale part of town, with a rooftop pool that stays open all night. Its 405 glossy-white rooms come with booze-filled minibars and white noise machines, making it a good choice for both the party set and the business crowd. There are a full spa, a fitness center, and a pair of restaurants, along with a cocktail lounge that turns into a nightclub. The nearby Grand Hyatt Taipei is closer to the exhibition centers around the Taipei 101 skyscraper, and the more conservative Okura Prestige Taipei across town has better dining at considerably cheaper rates.

Its business district location near Taipei Songshan Airport puts Mandarin Oriental, Taipei a bit outside of the city’s major shopping, sightseeing, and nightlife, but sumptuous interiors, an excellent array of facilities, huge and lavish rooms, and superb service make this five-pearl hotel one of the city's finest. A 20-meter, year-round outdoor pool, full-service luxury spa, and several well-reviewed dining and drinking venues (including innovative Italian and Chinese restaurants and a Champagne bar) are on-site. The 303 huge guest rooms all come with plush beds, 46-inch flat-screen TVs, stereos with iPod docks, and marble bathrooms with separate showers and soaking tubs, but a fee is assessed for Wi-Fi for most bookings. The Regent Taipei is a bit less luxurious than the Mandarin, but it's in a better location for sightseeing and shopping -- and rates are much lower. 

The Palais de Chine Hotel is a luxurious 286-room property next to Taipei's main transportation hub. The refined rooms are covered in wood paneling and all have large bathrooms with soaking tubs. In an odd quirk, the balconies are locked, depriving guests in those rooms of both views and square footage. The moody interiors may not be for everyone, but a glamorous sense of style makes everything from the restaurants to the meeting rooms more intriguing. Note that while there is a fitness room, there's no pool or spa. It's worth comparing rates and amenities with the esteemed Okura Prestige Taipei, which has an outdoor pool.

The Grand View Resort Beitou is an 80-room luxury hot spring property on the outskirts of Taipei, with a serene hillside location overlooking Danfeng Mountain. There’s a stylish, airy feel and popular amenities include public hot spring pools (these can get busy), a spa, and small gym. Spacious rooms have hot spring fed tubs, Nespresso coffeemakers, free minibars, and thoughtful touches like pajamas. The set breakfast is free and two restaurants serve excellent French and Chinese set lunch and dinner menus. There’s free parking, free Wi-Fi, and free transfers from the subway. Those looking for something with a downtown location might consider the W Taipei, which has a full spa plus a 24-hour gym and rooftop pool. Rates are cheaper, but there are no hot springs. 

Towering next to Mall 101 in Xinyi District, the five-pearl Grand Hyatt Taipei is a gigantic business hotel with 853 rooms, all with sleek -- if generic -- interiors and marble bathrooms; many have excellent skyline views. The hotel, near the convention center, is geared toward business travelers, with multiple meeting places and free parking and Wi-Fi. It also has 10-odd restaurants and bars, and a top-notch fitness center complete with a heated outdoor pool (it's open to non-guest club members, so the space risks getting crowded). Travelers looking for something a bit trendier might want to check out the five-pearl W Taipei, which caters to a less corporate crowd.

The Okura Prestige Taipei is a high-end, 208-room hotel in Taipei's bustling Zhongshan commercial district. It has a gorgeous rooftop pool with a sundeck that has panoramic views of the city, along with a modern fitness center and spa. Its rooms are large and luxurious, with Nespresso machines and big marble bathrooms. Decor throughout is conservative and elegant. Travelers may also want to check out the much larger and also luxurious Regent Taipei, just a few blocks to the north.

The Sherwood Taipei is a sophisticated luxury hotel that caters to business travelers, in part due to its location in Taipei's business district. For tourists, it's not a prime spot, though the hotel is in walking distance to the MRT and restaurants. The property features four stylish on-site restaurants serving everything from Italian to Japanese food, a cozy club-style bar and lounge, a big fitness center, an indoor pool set under an atrium, meeting and event rooms, and an exclusive Executive Club Lounge. Its 343 guest rooms are spacious with neutral decor, plush armchairs, dressing areas, and luxe bathrooms with heated toilet seats, deep-soaking tubs, and separate shower stalls. The Mandarin Oriental Taipei, which opened in 2014, is the area's main luxury competitor -- its fresh, lavish decor is more characterful, but the Mandarin can cost nearly three times the price of The Sherwood.

The Regent Taipei is probably the city's most famous luxury hotel, and not just because it was a favorite of Michael Jackson. Its service and facilities have been top-of-the-line for decades, and it houses its very own shopping mall filled with high-end retailers like Chanel. There's a rooftop pool, a fitness center with personal trainers and a full spa, and rooms on the top two floors get 24-hour butler service, along with a free breakfast buffet in a dedicated lounge. All 538 rooms here are large, stylish, and luxurious, with perks like Nespresso machines, down comforters, and marble tubs. Travelers may also want to compare rates and amenities at the luxurious Okura Prestige Taipei, arguably the Regent's biggest competitor.