Holly
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Because my class this time was in Shilin District, and it was held on a Tuesday, traveling north just for the class did not feel very efficient. So I decided to give up on efficiency altogether and turn it into a short two- or three-night trip in Taipei. It was also a good chance to start my plan of traveling more seriously within Taiwan. That is how this stay happened.
At first, I thought finding a place to stay would not be difficult. After all, I had stayed in Taipei several times before. However, this time I unexpectedly ran into some difficulties. Compared with the Taipei Main Station area, there are far fewer hostels around Shilin, Jiantan, and Beitou. The prices are also much higher. Of course, it may also be because I started looking for accommodation too late. This trip was only decided about one month in advance, so if I had planned earlier, there might have been more options. But by then, the choices were quite limited.
At first, I found a hostel near Shilin MRT Station that had private single rooms. Its reviews were only average, and some comments mentioned things that I personally care about, so I continued searching along the MRT Red Line. That was when I found Corner Hostel & Café.
I hesitated a little because it only offered dormitory beds, while I would have preferred a private room if possible. However, its reviews were very good, the overall atmosphere looked great, and the price was also much better. Another important point was that it was very close to the Yuanshan stop of the UBus long-distance bus.
Although I still prefer private rooms, I can accept a dormitory bed when traveling within Taiwan. Accommodation in Taiwan is generally more expensive, and for domestic trips, I usually do not carry much luggage or buy too many things. This also means I do not need a lot of space to reorganize my luggage. After considering all these points, I decided to stay here.
- Luggage Storage and Cats: Make Sure to Arrive During Café Hours
- Few Restaurants Nearby, and the Convenience Store Is Not Right Next Door
- A Simple and Stylish Six-Bed Dorm with Bathrooms Just Steps Away
- Steep Stairs and Uneven Air Conditioning in the Shared Spaces
- Conclusion: A Great Location, but the Stairs Are the Main Challenge
Luggage Storage and Cats: Make Sure to Arrive During Café Hours
Corner Hostel & Café is also a café, so some things are a little different from a regular hotel. First of all, the hotel reception is actually the café counter, which means staff are only there during café opening hours. Because of this, luggage storage is something you need to pay attention to. If you want to leave your luggage before check-in, you can only do so after the café opens at 11:00 a.m.
If you want to leave your luggage after check-out, there is no strict time limit for leaving it there. However, there is a time limit for picking it up. You must collect your luggage before the café closes at 6:00 p.m. If you pick it up the next day, it will be counted as overnight luggage storage, and an extra storage fee will be charged.
Next is the check-in time. Although the café opens at 11:00 a.m., this does not mean you can check in at 11:00 a.m. Check-in still starts from 3:00 p.m. The difference is that the time with staff available for check-in is only about three hours.
If you cannot check in before the café closes, you must contact the hostel in advance. They will send another password to your email, so you can enter the hostel by yourself after opening hours. One thing to note is that the password changes every day, so it is usually sent on the day of check-in.
I originally planned to arrive quite late, so the hostel called me to explain this. However, the weather was too hot that day, so I decided to end my schedule earlier and go to the hostel first. I told them I did not need the late check-in password anymore, because I would arrive around 4:00 p.m.
For check-out, if you leave outside café opening hours, there will be a box at the café counter. You can simply put your key card into the box.
If you rent a towel or other items from the hostel, there is also a basket where you can return them. If you need to leave your luggage after check-out, you can place it in the designated luggage area. However, please note that this area is in an open space, so it is better to keep your valuables with you.
As for the cats that many people mention in their reviews, you can also only meet them during café opening hours. When I checked in on the first day, it was still during opening hours, so I could see the cats walking around the café. I wanted to play with them, but I was too tired. After entering the room, I fell asleep almost immediately. By the time I woke up, the café on the first floor had already closed. For the next two days, I left early and came back late, so I did not have another chance to see the cats. That was a little disappointing.
If you cannot arrive during their opening hours, the hostel also provides a very clear information booklet. It explains the room types, floor layout, washing machine, refrigerator, and other facilities in detail. So even if you arrive late, you do not need to worry about missing basic information. The only downside is that there will be no staff, so you cannot rent a towel at that time.
Few Restaurants Nearby, and the Convenience Store Is Not Right Next Door
If I had to say what I was not satisfied with about Corner Hostel & Café, it would probably be the distance to nearby convenience stores and restaurants. The closest convenience store was really, really far away. Among all my stays in Taipei, I had never stayed at a place this far from a convenience store.
Unfortunately, during this trip, I mainly used buses to visit most of the places on my itinerary. The good thing was that the bus stops were very close to the hostel, so I did not need to walk back from the MRT station. But because of this, it was even harder to pass by a convenience store. It was not like traveling in Japan, where you can easily stop by a convenience store on the way back to the hotel and buy some food or drinks.
It is not that there are no restaurants nearby. For example, there are restaurants such as Elephant House, which mainly serves curry, Boom Q American Fried Chicken, and Jinchunfa Beef Restaurant. However, I felt that the choices were quite limited, and the prices were more like regular restaurant prices. They were not really my usual options for a simple weekday dinner. Also, most of them seemed more suitable for eating in the restaurant, while I wanted to buy food and bring it back to the hostel. The atmosphere at the hostel felt more relaxing.
After looking for a while, I finally chose Long Ye Feng Niang Soup. The price was a little high, but the food was really good. The fish soup had large pieces of fish, and the rice noodles were very reasonably priced. The only thing that disappointed me a little was the butter king oyster mushrooms. This dish did not really match the other items and felt a bit out of place. Other than that, the overall meal was very satisfying.
If you want more food options, there are more choices near the MRT station. There are also bubble tea shops, and especially many breakfast shops. A long time ago, when I came to Taipei for an event, I tried the peanut butter pork chop toast from Zhen Fang Charcoal Grilled Toast. I remember it being very delicious. So after thinking about it for a long time, I finally accepted the fact that I had to walk to the MRT station area for breakfast.
After breakfast, I walked back to the bus stop near the hostel and waited for the bus, getting ready to visit the Beitou Hot Spring Museum.
A Simple and Stylish Six-Bed Dorm with Bathrooms Just Steps Away
The rooms here are divided into two types: some require you to take off your shoes before entering, while others do not. The room I stayed in did not require taking off shoes. However, blue and white slippers were provided outside the rooms, so I was not very sure what the actual difference was between the two types.
Room
Although this was a six-bed dorm room, one of the bed spaces was used for a small table and chairs. So strictly speaking, it felt more like a five-bed room.
One thing I really have to praise is the air conditioning in the room. It was strong enough, which was especially important because I visited in summer. The moment I entered the room, I felt saved. I had just come back from Houtong, and after spending so much time outside under the sun, I felt like my whole body was damp. After staying in the air-conditioned room for one night, I finally felt like I had been dried from the inside out.
Depending on the bed type, the locker for the bed I stayed in was right next to the bed. The good thing about this design is that it feels safer. The downside is that you cannot bring your suitcase into the sleeping area.
The locker provided by the hostel was quite large. There was also a rail at the top, so you could hang clothes directly inside. From what I could see, it should be tall enough for longer tops or a regular long coat. However, if you use it this way, there may not be much space left at the bottom.
Also, the bottom part of the locker is slightly recessed, so you really need to check carefully when checking out. This kind of inward space makes it easy to leave small items behind.
The locker itself can be locked, and the lock is connected to the key card provided by the hostel. I also want to praise the hostel for one small but very thoughtful detail. On the back of each key card, they mark the room type, bed number, and the layout of that floor. I really liked this, and I would definitely give them extra points for it.
There was also a small storage space near the head of the bed, which was useful for placing small items such as a phone while charging, glasses, or other personal belongings. I felt that there were enough power outlets. At least when I was charging my power bank, camera battery, and phone, I did not have any problem using them at the same time. This was another good point. There was also a reading light beside the bed, and the hostel even wrote the Wi-Fi name and password there, which I thought was very thoughtful.
As for the pillow and mattress, I felt they were fairly standard. After a full day of traveling, I was already very tired, so I basically fell asleep as soon as I lay down. Still, the bed was comfortable enough. At least when I woke up in the morning, I still wanted to stay in bed and be lazy for a while.
Washing Area
Because the building is not very large, the washing area is basically right next to the rooms. You do not need to walk a long distance to get there. On my floor, there were three toilets and two shower rooms. The shower rooms were much larger than I expected, but the toilets were quite small. It felt a little like the space of two shower rooms had been divided into three toilet stalls.
The shower rooms provide shampoo and body wash. However, the storage space for your change of clothes and other items is a little limited. There is a small shelf in the front, and a bag at the back where you can put some things, but I still recommend not bringing too many items with you. Otherwise, you may not have enough space to put everything.
The sink area was designed in a way that seemed more suitable for hand-washing clothes. This is convenient if you need to wash some small items by hand, but it is not very convenient for washing your face or brushing your teeth. Water can easily splash out.
The hair dryer was made by Panasonic, and it worked quite well. It was also my first time seeing a hair dryer cord that was so soft and flexible. The only small problem was that after untying the cord, it was a little difficult to roll it back neatly.
Steep Stairs and Uneven Air Conditioning in the Shared Spaces
When I read reviews of Corner Hostel & Café, many people mentioned that there is no elevator. If you stay on a higher floor, carrying luggage upstairs can be very tiring. I completely agree with this. Even with only a small carry-on suitcase, I still found it quite exhausting.
However, I later realized that the real problem was not just the lack of an elevator, but that the stairs were very difficult to climb. At first, I thought it was because of my own feet, but later I felt that the design of the stairs might be the real issue. Each step was only about two-thirds the length of my foot. It reminded me of the very difficult stairs in some old houses in Tainan. Because the steps were too narrow, it was hard to place my feet properly. Also, the last step suddenly changed into a wider platform, so the width was not consistent. This made the stairs feel quite dangerous to walk on.
In short, these stairs reminded me of something I once read about stairs from the Victorian era in Britain, which were even nicknamed “death traps.”
The stairs leading to the rooftop did not have this problem, so I think the issue was really with that particular staircase. It also affected my willingness to use the shared areas later. To get to the shared space on the second floor, I had to go up and down two flights of those stairs. Just thinking about using them made me feel nervous. Although the atmosphere on the second floor was better, the stairs made me give up, so I usually went to the shared lounge on the fifth floor instead.
The hostel has two types of shared spaces. One is the hostel-only shared area on the second and fifth floors. The other is the café on the first floor, which is shared with café customers. Because the café is open to the public, guests cannot bring outside food there during opening hours. However, hostel guests can get a 10% discount if they order food or drinks from the café. After the café closes at night, there is no longer a rule against bringing outside food. However, the air conditioning is also turned off after closing, so the whole space feels quite stuffy. If you really want to use this area after closing, it may be more comfortable in winter.
Second Floor
The shared space on the second floor was actually quite large. It felt like a group room had been turned into a common area. When I first saw photos of it online, I thought it was one of the hostel’s room types. Along the wall, there were three bed-like spaces built with wooden pallets, which made the area look very much like a large shared sleeping room.
There was also a large table suitable for several people to sit together. If more than three or four people want to eat together or discuss something, this space would be a better choice. The fifth floor does not have tables and chairs this large.
If there are only one or two people, there are also smaller two-person tables across from the large table. In addition, there is a small seating area that looks a little like a tatami-style space, made by changing a bunk bed into a two-person sitting area.
There is a water dispenser and cups available on the second floor. However, if your food needs to be heated, you have to go to the fifth floor. The second floor is more suitable for food that can be eaten right away.
Fifth Floor
The fifth floor includes most of the shared facilities, such as the washing machine, refrigerator, and microwave. There is both a washing machine and a dryer, but they only accept NT$10 coins. If you do not have enough coins, you will not be able to wash or dry your clothes.
If you plan to use the laundry machines, remember to prepare enough coins in advance. This is especially important because many people now use electronic payment, so they may not carry much change. Also, drying clothes here is not cheap. It costs NT$80 each time. If the machine accepted NT$50 coins, it would still be easier, but if you want to both wash and dry your clothes, you need thirteen NT$10 coins in total. That was really difficult for me.
In the end, it felt like I could wash but not dry, or dry but not wash. The nearest convenience store was also far away, which made things even more inconvenient. If it is still during café opening hours, you may be able to ask the staff to exchange coins. But if it is already nighttime, then it can become a real problem.
I am not sure if it is because some people stay here for a longer period and cannot always use the dryer, but there is also a drying area behind the lounge. I originally wanted to use it, but I only saw the staff on the first day and did not meet them again after that, which was a little unfortunate. I visited in June, and the sun in Taipei was very strong. If I had been able to hang my clothes there, they probably would have dried in less than a day.
On the fifth floor, only RO water is available. If you want water at other temperatures, the second floor would be a better choice.
You can also wash dishes, cups, and other small items here, so it is more convenient for cleaning up after a meal.
As for the refrigerator, microwave, and other shared items, they are placed in the room in the middle of the fifth floor. Normally, the air conditioning here is only turned on at night. However, if you need to use this room after noon, you can tell the staff, and they will come to turn on the air conditioning. It seems that the air conditioning is only available until midnight. At least when I went there to take photos in the morning, the room felt quite hot and stuffy.
The tables and chairs here are more suitable for chatting or relaxing. If you really need to use a laptop, there is one proper desk available. The other seats are mostly sofas and more casual seating.
Since quite a lot of people used the fifth floor, I mostly stayed by the window, where there was a set of seats made with wooden pallets. I used this area for eating and writing, and overall, I thought it felt quite nice.
Later, I noticed the long white sofa at the back. Someone even slept there for a whole night. One day, when no one was sitting there, I tried lying down on it, and it was actually very comfortable. The table in front of the sofa was the kind commonly seen in Taiwanese living rooms. Surprisingly, the sofa and the table matched quite well. I have to say, the hostel was quite good at arranging the space.
The biggest feature of the fifth floor is that you can see airplanes. Since the hostel is located under the flight path of Songshan Airport, the planes are already close to landing when they pass by, so they fly quite low. The first time I came out and saw a plane flying right in front of me, I was honestly startled.
After that, I checked the flight arrivals and departures at Songshan Airport because I wanted to try taking photos of the planes. However, I did not see any planes flying that low again. Also, I did not realize how difficult it was until I actually tried taking photos. Even though the planes were already slowing down for landing, by the time I raised my camera, it was basically too late. On top of that, it was very hot outside at night. After trying a few times, I gave up decisively.
However, I do want to praise the hostel for this. Even though there is loud airplane noise outside, and the building is also close to the MRT line, the soundproofing and vibration control were very good. Inside the room, I could not feel the planes passing by or the MRT trains going past at all. This was especially clear in the shared lounge. When I sat inside, I could not hear the sound of the planes, so even if I wanted to rush outside after hearing one, I could not do that. There was simply no sound to remind me.
Conclusion: A Great Location, but the Stairs Are the Main Challenge
Overall, I do not think Corner Hostel & Café has any major problems. There were some small inconveniences during check-in, but since I was in Taiwan, I could simply call them and communicate directly, so I felt it was acceptable. In this article, I tried to organize the details I asked about before my stay, so people who do not want to make a phone call can check the information more easily. After all, I actually liked this hostel quite a lot.
It is not easy to find a good-quality hostel around Shilin and Beitou. At one point, I even considered staying near Taipei Main Station and just spending more time on the MRT. In the end, I still chose this place because of its location and good reviews.
The lockers in the room were placed a little randomly, but I really liked that they came with a pull-out clothes rail. I did not need to worry about having nowhere to hang my clothes. The bed was also comfortable for me, and the air conditioning in the room was very strong. In the hot weather, it honestly saved me. Although the air conditioning in the shared spaces was only average, the shared area on the top floor was cool and comfortable. You could also see airplanes and MRT trains passing by from there.
The only thing that really made me suffer was the stairs. I often wear short boots when traveling, and my feet are already larger than those of many women. Walking on these narrow and steep stairs was especially painful for me. I had to walk sideways or turn my feet outward. There was a handrail on the first floor, but not on the upper floors, and there was no landing in the middle where I could pause properly.
On the first day, when I carried my carry-on suitcase upstairs, I truly felt the pain. I was already extremely tired from the day’s itinerary, and by the time I returned to the hostel, I still had to climb those strange stairs. It was so exhausting that I almost wanted to give up on life for a moment. In the past, I had carried a 26-inch suitcase up to the third floor in Japan without any problem, so I thought this hostel would be fine too. I did not expect to be defeated by the slope and design of the stairs.
I strongly recommend not bringing a large suitcase if you plan to stay here. Otherwise, you may end up making things very difficult for yourself.
As for daily convenience, the main downside is that there are no convenience stores or drink shops nearby, and the dining options are limited. However, this depends a lot on personal travel style. If you really do not want to walk too far, you can still order food delivery, but delivery fees in Taipei are a little expensive, so I would only use this option if I really had to.
On the other hand, there are many bus routes around the hostel. It is very convenient to travel to Shilin, Beitou, and nearby areas by bus. My original plan was to buy food or drinks on the way back when I took the MRT, because one reason I chose this hostel was that it was close to an MRT station. I thought I would mainly use the MRT during the trip. However, except for the first day when I arrived, I ended up taking buses almost the entire time during these three days. The bus stops were all close to the hostel, so I had almost no chance to stop by a convenience store on the way back. If I wanted to buy something, it would have meant making a detour.
In short, if you do not have much luggage and want convenient transportation, Corner Hostel & Café is a good choice. If I visit the National Palace Museum again, I will probably choose this hostel again, unless something unexpected happens. However, next time I will wear lighter shoes and use a travel bag instead of a suitcase. The lighter, the better. That way, going up and down the stairs will be much easier. During this stay, every time I thought about using the stairs, I felt a little hesitant.
Corner Hostel & Cafe
- Address: No. 33, Minzu West Road, Datong District, Taipei City
- Phone:：02-2599-1699
- Café Opening Hours：11:00～18:00
- Hostel Check-in Time：15:00
- Hostel Check-out Time：11:00
- Social Media：Facebook
＊Unless otherwise noted, all photos in this article were taken by the author (yanshoto.com) during personal travels and are fully copyrighted. Please do not reproduce or use them for commercial purposes without prior permission. Thank you for your understanding and respect.