Opium Den No opium here, but there is a good dose of Taipei high-flyers and their big cigars. During the week just about everybody is welcome, as long as you're not wearing shorts and thongs. Wed. nights is now "Sensual  Salsa Nite"aimed at attracting more foreigners to the place. Come Fri. and Sat. nites however, and you have to be either Andy Lau or in with the bouncers to get in.  Cover is NT$500 on Fri. and Sat. and includes 2 drinks from the bar, (if you can get in!).  No cover on weeknights. Open from 8 - 3 a.m. B1, 32 Jen Ai Road, Sec.3. (02)2705-8922.
Twins Disco Pub High-tech setting and food, 6 p.m. - 6 a.m.; local singers/bands play three sets daily; minimum is NT$350; all bottled liquors 2-for-1; B2, No. 223 Tunhua S. Road., Sec. 1, Taipei; 2740-6199. 
Hollywood 
Underground		 The restaurant/bar is open from 11 a.m. 2:30pm and again from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.  Bands play from 9:45 -1 a.m. Cover is NT$280 and includes a drink from the bar. Happy Hour drinks, two-for-one, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. B1, No. 201 Tunhua S. Road, Sec. 2, Taipei; basement of the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel. 2376-3219.
Mix 50/90 A great alternative to the standard disco fare available throughout the city. Mix 50/90 features the best of live bands and disco beats. Minimum charge is NT$580. A few hookers hang out here looking for bigshots staying in the hotel, so be careful who you try to chat up! Lai Lai Sheraton, B1, No. 12 Chunghsiao E., Road, Sec. 1, Taipei; 2321-5511 ext. 8333.
Q-Bar This neat little bar and restaurant is a good place to either eat or drink. It has a pool table and a good kitchen which cooks up snacks and full course meals. Drinks are bottled beer for NT$100 during happy hour which runs from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m daily. Popular with foreign embassy staffers. No. 16 Chunghsiao E. Road, Sec. 4, Lane 216, Alley 19, Taipei;  2771-7778.
Ziga Zaga Thursday is Ladies’ Night. Cover is NT$350 on weekdays and NT$500 on weekends. A band usually kicks in nightly after 9. A good way to dodge the cover charge is to get in before 9 p.m. and sample one of the pizzas. Whipped up by resident Italian chef Nino, they are a good size and very reasonably priced at around NT$360 each. Grand Hyatt Taipei, No. 2 Sungshou Road, Taipei; 2720-1200 ext. 3288.
Capone's Something new is going on at Capone's Chophouse & Cabaret weekly. Capone's is offering a great promotion for lady's to ignite dancing fever every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. After 9:30 p.m., the DJ spins the latest tunes until closing time. Ladies get in free and get their first drink for free from the happy hour menu, and a second drink is two-for-one. (Better put on our wig and high heels guys). Every night there is an after-dinner Showgirl performance to enflame desires. Happy hour for guys takes place from  9:30p.m. until closing every night(except Fri.&Sat.) when beers and house wines are 2-for-1. No. 166 Fuhsing N. Road, Taipei; 2545-9365.
TU Fun  'n' extra filthy boogie depot. A little small and smokey, but let's face it, that's one of the reasons for going there! Thurs., Sat., & Sun the TU New Orleans band whips the crowd into a frenzy. Fri. nights are reserved for the smooth sounds of the Rhythm Kings. Cover is NT$200 Sun. - Thurs. and NT$300 Fri. and Sat. Ladies Night on Wed.; B1, No. 249 Fuhsing S. Road, Sec. 1, Taipei; 2704-7290.
The Church New on the block this place really rocks, so I can't understand why no one is going! It's cheap to get in, the music is good and it is decked out in some really wicked religious effigies. The only thing missing from this place are the pews and a copy of the good Book. Entry costs NT$350. Be there and be pious, after all it's a church (so no funny business on the premises). B1, No. 279, Hsinyi Road, Sec. 4, Taipei; 2747-7560 ext. 206.
Apocalypse Now Long a favorite amongst locals, this is a true Taiwanese style drinking house. It is black, loud and is designed for big groups. They serve beer by the barrel, so get down there and guzzle up. Should be a live band and if there isn't, the DJs are pretty good. No. 323 Fushing N. Rd. (02) 2545-4628-31
Boogie Live music is featured every Friday and Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Put on your best flares and practice your John Travolta moves before you go. Minimum charge is NT$100. No. 55, Lane 553, Alley 22, Chunghsiao. Road, Sec. 4 Tel: 2769-6817.
Easy Five English pops are sung at each night time; Free Men band takes stage on Sun.; minimum is from NT$350 to NT$400; No. 211 Anho Road, Sec. 2; 2738-3995.
Chateau Angel A classy place to treat even the most  cultivated of palates to some of the world's finest vintages. Serving wines from France, California and even Israel, a night at the Chateau won't come cheap with some of the `cheaper wines costing a paltry NT$2000. Classic Shanghai style cuisine is served from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 7 days. (bookings are necessary). Paul Tsao croons out love songs after 9 p.m. No. 142, Tunhwa S. Road,  Sec. 1, Taipei; 2721-1811.
Sirduke Basically a jazz club with high ceilings and wooden interior serving Californian food, wine and live music.Three course set menus for lunch from NT$280. Local singers perform three sets with the house band. No. 100 Anho Road, Sec. 2, Taipei; 2701-7877.

 

Many thanks to The China Post's Prime Time team for giving the green light to reproduce their great pub listings published every Friday. 1998 Copyright The China Post
Last updated Jan. 25, 1999