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I ended up picking a hostel with a surprisingly great location—Formosa 101 Hostel. Conveniently situated between the main event venue at National Taiwan University in Da’an District and the after-party spot in Xinyi District, it turned out to be the perfect middle point. While it’s not right next to an MRT station, there are plenty of bus stops nearby, with frequent routes connecting major spots across the city. That made both my visit to the big gathering in Taipei and my quick shopping trip the next day much easier.
Let me first share my personal preferences when it comes to booking accommodations:
- The price can’t be too high—my weekday budget is around NT$500, and on weekends, I won’t go over the cost of a round-trip bus ticket between Taipei and Tainan.
- The hotel shouldn’t be too far from the main destination. I don’t want to waste time on commuting．
- Convenient transportation is a must. If there’s no MRT nearby, at least there should be a YouBike station, or at the very least, accessible bus stops that aren’t too far away.
- Taking a shower is my way to relax. So, if the bathroom is bad, that’s a dealbreaker.
Since I booked my trip relatively late, I was down to just two available options. Both were similarly priced，around NT$600 per night on weekends. The other one was within walking or biking distance from the event venue, whereas Formosa 101 required a bus ride.
After a few seconds of hesitation, I went ahead and booked Formosa 101. The deciding factor? It included breakfast. Reviews of both places were fairly average, and the negative feedback didn’t mention anything that really bothered me. With breakfast included, it tipped the scale in Formosa 101’s favor—even though it was a bit farther from the venue.
I’ll briefly cover the neighborhood, the common areas, the room, and most importantly－the breakfast. Seriously, the breakfast was the star of this stay!
Hotel Location
Formosa 101 Hostel is located right across from the Linjiang Street Tourist Night Market. If you’re looking to try some authentic Taiwanese street food, night markets are a fantastic option. I once stayed at CU Hotel Taipei, which is right next to the Ningxia Night Market—and honestly, having a night market just outside the door is like heaven when late-night cravings hit!
Also, coming from Tainan, where drink shops are everywhere, I find Taipei a bit lacking in comparison. But around Formosa 101 Hostel, there’s a 50 嵐 (FIFTYLAN) right next door and a 茶湯會 (TP TEA ) across the street，that’s actually a pretty dense concentration by Taipei standards. I always make it a habit to grab a cup of 50 嵐 when I’m in the city. It’s one of the most classic Taiwanese drink chains, and because it’s run by a different team than the ones in Tainan, there are even some drinks you can only get in Taipei. So every time I visit Taipei－or before I hop on the bus back to Tainan－I have to get a cup.
he hostel is inside a commercial building, and the entrance is easier to find if you’re walking from the direction of 50 嵐. Coming from the other side, especially at night, it’s easy to miss.
Once you enter the building, just take the elevator straight to the 9th floor. As soon as the doors open, you’ll instantly know you’ve arrived at a hostel－no doubt about it.
The hostel even hosts events to introduce Taiwan to international visitors. You can tell they really care－it’s no surprise so many foreign travelers choose to stay here.
At the entrance, there’s a glass door with a key card system. Only guests with a card can go in and out. If you’re a new guest, just ring the doorbell and the staff will come out to let you in. It’s a simple and secure setup that works smoothly.
Inside the Room
Since I made the decision to go pretty late, there weren’t many room types left to choose from. So this time, I stayed in a mixed-gender 8-bed dorm. The hostel does offer gender-specific rooms as well, but they were already fully booked.
The room I stayed in was on a different floor from the reception area, so I had to take the elevator to another level to reach it.
No matter which floor you’re on, you have to take off your shoes before entering the hostel area. The hostel provides indoor slippers for guests, but I brought my own, so I didn’t use theirs.
Although the room had central air conditioning, there was also an exhaust fan running. Even the quietest fan will still make some noise while spinning, but I’m pretty used to sleeping in all kinds of noisy environments, so the fan noise didn’t bother me at all.
The beds in the room were standard bunk beds like the ones you’d find in a regular home. I’m not a big fan of this type of setup, since the top and bottom bunks can easily affect each other. From past experience in other hostels with the same kind of beds, I’ve learned that your sleep quality often depends on whoever is sleeping on the other bunk.
I also tend to worry that my own movements－like tossing and turning－might disturb other guests. So I try to stay as still as possible in bed to keep any impact to a minimum. Luckily, I was so exhausted after the day’s activities that I fell into a deep sleep soon after lying down. Honestly, I don’t even remember when I drifted off.
Each bed has a curtain on the side, but there are no curtains at the head or foot of the bed, so the room lights can still shine in. If you’re sensitive to light when sleeping, this might be something to keep in mind.
In dorm-style rooms like this, there’s always a bit of a dilemma when it comes to turning off the lights－turning them off too early might be unsafe for guests who arrive later and have to navigate in the dark, but leaving them on too late can be bothersome for those trying to sleep. It’s hard to find the perfect balance. That said, when I woke up in the morning, someone had already turned off the room lights.
Inside the bed area, there’s a power outlet, a reading light, and a slot for your key card. One thoughtful touch is a small wooden shelf where you can place your phone while it’s charging, along with other small items, it makes things so much more convenient.
There’s also a double wall hook on the outer side of the bed, perfect for hanging a jacket or towel. You don’t have to leave your belongings out in the open, which feels both safer and more convenient.
There’s a personal locker provided in the room, which I really appreciate, especially after staying in places without one. Now, anytime a budget hostel includes a locker, I’m genuinely thankful!
The main set of lockers is located right by the entrance, so you’ll see them as soon as you slide the door open. There are also two more lockers placed next to a pair of bunk beds on the other side of the room, which I assume are designated for those two beds.
Overall, the room felt quite spacious. There was no sense of crowding, which made the whole stay feel a lot more comfortable.
The lockers are stacked in three tiers, and mine was on the top. At 165 cm tall, I could still reach it without any trouble.
Each guest’s bedding is stored inside the locker. Once you take it out, you can use the space to store your own belongings. The locker is actually quite big and deep—you could easily fit a 22-inch suitcase in there without a problem.
Shared Bathrooms
The hostel has bathroom facilities on two separate floors, and your key card only grants access to the bathroom area on the floor where your room is located.
On the 9th floor－where the front desk and common lounge are－there’s also an extra bathroom area near the elevator. This one doesn’t require a key card, so if the bathrooms on your assigned floor are all occupied, you can just head up to the 9th floor and use the facilities there.
No matter which floor you’re on, the bathrooms are decorated with beautiful patterned tiles that instantly lift your mood. The shower area was probably the biggest I’ve ever seen in a hostel－it felt incredibly spacious and relaxing. The rainfall showerhead was large, and the hot water felt amazing.
There was also a storage box with a lid inside the shower, which helped keep my things dry and protected from the spray.
The bathrooms also provide shared shampoo and body wash, which is really convenient. I usually prefer to bring my own, but I still appreciate that they offer these amenities.
Although the bathroom was quite spacious, it did take up a fair amount of the overall room space. Since they also included sinks in the layout, the hallway ended up being a bit narrow.
The number of toilet stalls was clearly reduced to make room for the larger shower area－there were only two or three stalls available. They were also quite small, so if you have a larger build, you might find it a bit tight to move around comfortably.
The sinks for brushing teeth and washing up were set up in a separate area from the main bathroom. Since it’s an independent space, it feels more open and less cramped when in use.
The hairdryers were all from a long-established Taiwanese brand known for its durability. I actually have one at home that’s been going strong for over ten years－it just refuses to break, so I’ve never had a real reason to replace it!
Even though it’s an old brand, the white design gives it a surprisingly modern and stylish look.
The water dispenser and sinks were in the same area, with cups provided on the shelf above. After washing your face, you could easily fill up a cup of water to take back to your room—very convenient and efficient.
Lounge & Common Areas
Right next to the front desk is the common lounge. The space isn’t very big, but it’s cleverly divided into three different seating areas.
There’s a sofa area where people can casually chat—it gets especially lively at night, with lots of foreign travelers hanging out and sharing stories.
At the far end of the room, there’s a cozy corner with a raised tatami-style platform and a small table. It’s the perfect spot for two people to talk and enjoy the view outside the window. I really wanted to sit there, but sadly, it was always occupied.
There’s also a dining table area that seats about four to six people. It’s a good spot for writing, using a laptop, or just getting some work done. There’s a TV mounted on the wall across from the table, so even if you’re there alone, it still feels comfortable. In the morning, this is also where most people eat breakfast.
The laundry room is located to the left when you exit the front desk area, and to the right of the elevator. Inside, there’s a washing machine and a dryer.
A single load of laundry costs NT$30. I’m not exactly sure about the price for the dryer, though.
Just beside the washing machine is the bathroom area I mentioned earlier, the one that doesn’t require a key card to enter.
Generous Breakfast Buffet
What attracted me the most was actually the breakfast. Even though it didn’t look as abundant or varied as some other hostels I’ve stayed at—judging from the photos—I was honestly just happy to have breakfast included at all, especially considering the price and how last-minute my booking was.
One of the reasons I care so much about breakfast is because I usually come to Taipei not for sightseeing, but for classes or events. Being able to sit down and enjoy a proper breakfast at the hostel is incredibly important for the day ahead. Sometimes, that might be the only full meal I get to sit down for all day. So having a solid breakfast really makes a difference when I’m spending a full day running around Taipei.
Breakfast at Formosa 101 Hostel is served in the common lounge. The space isn’t very large, but they do their best to offer a variety of options. It’s a self-serve setup, you grab your own plate, and after you finish eating, you’re expected to wash your dishes yourself!
Out of all the breakfast items they offered, my favorite was definitely the sausage. Honestly, the moment I saw in the hostel photos that they served sausages, I was sold－I love sausages.
The ones at Formosa 101 had a texture somewhat similar to a crisp-skinned sausage, though not quite as snappy. Still, they were way tastier than what you’d get at most Taiwanese breakfast shops.
The classic toast with jam is a staple at many backpacker-style hostels that offer breakfast－often, that’s all you get. But at Formosa 101 Hostel, they go beyond the basics and offer more variety.
There were two types of toast: white and whole wheat. For spreads, they had three kinds of jam, plus smooth and creamy peanut butter, sweet chocolate spread, and rich garlic spread. If you’re not into spreads, they also had cheese slices and butter as alternatives.
If you’re not in the mood for toast, you can also go for dinner rolls or croissants or both! There’s even a toaster oven available for heating them up.
The first time I used it, I wasn’t familiar with the temperature settings and ended up burning my roll. I had to peel off the charred parts, but it was still edible. After that, I paid more attention to the heat and timing－no more burnt bread!
The hostel also provides butter, cheese slices, and spreaders, so you can enjoy your roll with a bit of butter while taking your time. It made for a surprisingly relaxed, café-like vibe.
The drink options included coffee, cocoa, and tea. I didn’t get a chance to try the coffee, but the cocoa tasted a lot like the cocoa powder from Costco.
The tea was surprisingly good. They brewed a big pot of it, and somehow managed not to overdo it—it wasn’t bitter at all. I couldn’t quite figure out what kind of tea it was, but it tasted pretty nice.
What really surprised me was that they even offered fruit. They served it in small bowls with three types of fruit inside. There was no limit on how many you could take－if you finished one, you could simply go back for more. The staff would keep refilling the fruit as guests took them.
The portions weren’t huge, but the fruit selection actually changed from day to day. I stayed for two nights and noticed that the types of fruit were different each morning.While the breakfast selection wasn’t as extensive as what I had at CU Hotel Taipei, it was still more than enough to fill me up. I tried a bit of everything and ended up feeling completely full.
In fact, I was so full that when I went to the event later that day, even though the organizers had thoughtfully prepared snacks to help us recharge, I just couldn’t eat anything－I was still stuffed from breakfast!
Location & Transportation
The nearest MRT stations to Formosa 101 Hostel are Xinyi Anhe Station and Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station on the Tamsui-Xinyi Line, and Liuzhangli Station on the Wenhu Line.
Even though there are several MRT options nearby, they still felt a bit too far for me. Plus, getting to my destination would have required multiple transfers, which can be a hassle. So for this trip, I mainly relied on the bus system.
Transfers between the Tamsui-Xinyi Line and the Wenhu Line can be exhausting－the walking distance between platforms is surprisingly long.
The nearest bus stops to Formosa 101 Hostel are Sanxing Elementary School and Sanxing Elementary School – Linjiang Street Tourist Night Market. One is right downstairs, and the other is just across the street. These two stops were the ones I used most often—and found the most convenient.
Although there aren’t that many bus routes passing through, heading north takes you through Xinyi District and to the Taipei City Hall Bus Station, which is really handy if you’re arriving in Taipei by long-distance bus or heading out of the city. It saves you the trouble of going all the way to the main Taipei Bus Station near the train station.
Heading south, it’s about a 15-minute ride to National Taiwan University. Since many events are held at the university’s gymnasium, this location is also quite convenient for people attending activities at NTU.
If you’re planning to head toward Taipei Main Station, you can walk a bit further to the Xinyi-Guangfu Intersection bus stop, where there are many more bus routes available.
And if that doesn’t work out, the Xinyi Anhe MRT Station isn’t too far from there either－you can always walk over and take the MRT instead.
Final Thoughts – Breakfast, Service, and Great Value in Xinyi (If You Don’t Mind the Beds)
Normally, when staying at backpacker-style hostels, I don’t pay much attention to the staff’s attitude—after all, you get what you pay for. But the service at Formosa 101 Hostel was genuinely impressive.
After confirming it was my first time staying there, the staff didn’t just hand me the key and point me to the room. Instead, they personally walked me over, introduced the facilities, explained how things worked, and showed me where everything was. Most places just give you a quick rundown at the front desk, so I was really touched by how much effort they put in.
While the staff weren’t overly smiley or cheerful, everything they did showed they were looking out for the guests. For example, one night I was writing in the lounge and suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom. When I asked where the bathroom was on that floor, they didn’t tell me to go back to my assigned floor or direct me to the one outside—instead, they kindly unlocked the partition and let me use the restroom right there. I really appreciated that kind of thoughtfulness.
They also offer luggage storage, which I really appreciated. At first, I thought they’d just leave the bags near the front desk, but it turns out they store them in their food storage room.
Many hostels place luggage in open areas, and since Taiwan is generally very safe, I usually don’t mind that. But having my bag kept in a closed, private space gave me an unexpected sense of security.
The hostel itself isn’t particularly large, but they make the most of the space－creating an environment that feels both cozy and convenient. Considering that I only paid around NT$600 for a weekend night in the Xinyi District, I’d say Formosa 101 Hostel did a pretty impressive job overall.
Formosa 101 Hostel
- tel： 02-2377-1579 / 095-578-0359
- mail：[email protected]
- Address：9 F., No. 115, Sec. 2, Keelung Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110610, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
- Official Website： hostelformosa.com/location_cn.html
- Room Type：8-Bed Mixed Dormitory
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