The gay capital of Asia

Will draws a colorful portrait of his home city, Taipei. As a misterb&b host in the capital of Taiwan, he's the perfect match to tell you about all things gay there: bars, clubs, events and must-sees. Experience your pride in Taipei and explore the world with misterb&b. 

How gay-friendly is Taipei?

Taipei is without doubt the most gay-friendly city in Asia. The government recently approved gay marriage, making it the first Asian country to open its arms to gay couples. Taipei is the heart of gay culture in Taiwan, and it's not uncommon to see two men or two women freely holding hands. 

© Pixabay/tingyaoh

What are the best gay events in Taipei?

Taiwan LGBT Pride Parade. Every last Saturday in October, Taipei hosts the biggest gay pride parade of Asia. Many Asian countries are not as gay-friendly as Taiwan. As such, Taipei LGBT Pride attracts thousands and thousands of gays from neighboring countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. This creates a truly international experience and the ability to connect with gays from all around the world.

© Pixabay/tingyaoh

We only have 48 hours in Taipei. What can’t we miss?

In terms of tourism, every tourist should visit Elephant Mountain. It's a 20-minute hike up a steep hill. Be sure not to skip leg day at the gym if you want to make it all the way up! :) But, when you get there, the view is magnificent: it's the perfect place to snap selfies for your Insta followers. Any time of day you can view the entire city, including the famous Taipei 101 building.

Actually, if you have time, be sure to go to Taipei 101. Between 2004 and 2010 it was the highest building in the world. It has many stores, restaurants, and even an observatory on the top floor. If you want to recreate a sappy rom-com with a partner, Taipei 101’s observatory deck is where you want to be!

Taipei 101 © flickr/tasiian

What’s your favorite gay place to grab a bite to eat?

A café called A Thoughtful Place. You can hang there with your gay entourage and enjoy a bite to prepare for a long night of dancing! I go there often with my friends Jack, Franc, David and Harry. The last two are international students studying Chinese in Taiwan. They've found a warm, welcoming environment in Taipei, due in part by our time gossiping and giggling at A Thoughtful Place!

Sounds great! OK, we’re ready to party! Best gay clubs?

In terms of gay culture, you can’t miss the Red House area. This is the Taipei equivalent of the Castro district in San Francisco. It has a very Western vibe and there are multiple gay bars, shops, and clubs to visit. Or you can try Abrazo Bistro; it's a wonderful bar. After a few hours of partying, you can meet up with some friends at the Huang Ding, a gay-friendly hot spring.

© Pixabay/tingyaoh

What are the best alternative gay venues in Taipei?

For the kinkier kind, Commander D is the place to be. It's an underground BDSM club that has everything for those feeling naughty when they're leather-clad!

Finally, where can we get the best view of Taipei? 

Again, Elephant Mountain and Taipei 101 are by far the best places for good views. Seriously, you don’t want to miss them! ●