The night markets 台北夜市

Some pictures of Taipei’s night markets

Introducing Taipei’s Night Markets
The night market is an integral part of Taiwan’s culture and identity. It is a place of gathering, exploration, and discovery, where it is possible to try local culinary specialties but also to find good deals. It is therefore a space where culture, gastronomy, and shopping meet, offering travelers a glimpse of what Taiwan’s nightlife has to offer. If Taiwanese people like to dine quite early, generally between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., it is because they enjoy strolling through one of the many night markets in Taipei and other cities. Among the night markets to see in Taipei, we recommend:
Raohe Night Market
Although quite small and narrow, Raohe is one of the best night markets (if not the best) in Taipei for food, which is plentiful. Try the pork soup, fried dumplings, and grilled squid. The market is located at the end of Metro Line 3 (Songshan-Xindian Line) at Songshan Station.
Shilin Night Market 士林夜市
Taipei’s largest night market and a favorite with tourists, it’ll take more than one visit to fully explore it, with its array of international and local brands, small street food stalls, underground restaurants, and shaved ice desserts. Shilin Night Market is located between Shilin and Jiantan stations on Subway Line 2 (Tamsui-Xinyi Line).
Tonghua Night Market 通化夜市
Located not far from Taipei 101, Tonghua is an interesting alternative to the local restaurants, which are more expensive than in the rest of the capital. While more intimate than other night markets, its offerings are nonetheless tempting. A must-try: the spring roll with ice cream and crushed peanuts. To get there, take subway line 2 (Tamsui-Xinyi Line) and get off at the Xinyi Anhe stop.
Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市
Often cited as Taipei’s local favorite, Ningxia isn’t exactly impressive for its small size, but rather for its abundance of food (no shops here) and its traditional setting: the market is located in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. In addition to the classic night market favorites (stinky tofu, fried chicken, etc.), it offers some unusual desserts: peanut soup, taro cake, etc.
Huaxi Street Night Market 華西街觀光夜市
This one stands out from other night markets with its array of curiosities, including snake dishes, which are the origin of the market’s other name, Snake Alley. The market is also a good opportunity to get a massage at one of the many small massage parlors and spas. To get there, take subway line 5 (Bannan Line) to the Longshan Temple stop. The market is located just north of the temple.