Out of anywhere I've visited in the last few years, Taipei was the one city where I found it impossible to settle into a consistent daily rhythm. Even after visiting ten or more places, I struggled to land on a regular spot to work from, which was a genuine anomaly. Interestingly, the city has no shortage of spaces geared up for working from. In fact it's one of the more work-friendly cities you'll come across. But nothing quite matched my rather specific requirements of abundant natural light, large tables, plentiful toilets and staying open late into the evening.

ALL DAY ROASTING COMPANY - This is where I eventually settled on as my primary workspace which I've written about in detail further below.

WeWork - Before arriving in Taipei my intention was to work from here for the month, but the Taiwan business now falls under WeWork China rather than WeWork Global, which means if you have an All Access Pass you're limited to ten visits per quarter. These have to be booked manually through their support team by email, and access is restricted until 6pm. Unlike other WeWorks with fixed end times, this is a hard out at 18:00, with staff promptly chasing you to return your ID and get you out of the building so they can end their day. In terms of ambience it's actually a great place to work from, with plenty of natural light and never that busy. But all in all it's just not worth the hassle. If there's one benefit of WeWork access it's convenience and reliability, and you'll get neither with this offering.

CE' & LIB-RARY 遼寧店 - An interesting concept combining cafe, library and coworking space across three floors. Access to the working area on the third floor costs 140 NT for the day, with unlimited espresso drinks included, making it exceptional value. The drawback is the silence. I could sense genuine agitation from the book readers in the room at the faintest sound of a chair scraping. Perfect if you don't need rock-solid internet and have no calls to take.

Plats Work & Coffee - Another novel concept where you book a desk by the hour through their LINE booking system. Entirely unmanned, you receive a QR code on booking which grants you access, with payment by card at the end of the session. Again great value, but the near-total silence makes it impractical if you need to take calls at any point. Clean, well maintained and with robust internet.

SkyCo Nanjing Fuxing - Likely your best option if you want a dedicated coworking space in Songshan. I came close to signing up but decided against it after finding the air conditioning shuts off at 6pm, and the space already felt stuffy when I visited mid-afternoon. Good quality interior in a solid location.

Starbucks Reserve - Starbucks is generally one of the last places you'll find me recommending as a serious workspace, but if you need somewhere with minimal fuss around Da'an, this one is worth serious consideration. Possibly the largest outlet I've ever set foot in, with large tables and power sockets set up with workers in mind, open until 10pm daily with speeds of 80mbps or above.

‍Sky Cofi - Part of the SkyCo coworking space, occupying the top floor of the office building and open to the public. Pay as you go with a minimum spend per hour, or take a day pass with unlimited drinks. No proper desks, so you're working from stools, but it's lively and ambient if you need somewhere to take calls throughout the day.

The Common Table - A recently opened coworking-focused cafe opposite the Taipei Dome. I'd have spent more time here had it been closer to where I was staying. The best internet speeds I encountered in the city at 600mbps or above, with large, purpose-built desks. Operates a minimum spend policy across a two-hour window, open until 6:30pm.

FutureWard Central - Worth skipping. Situated in the basement with little natural light, it had the atmosphere of somewhere you'd struggle to get through a full working day without a creeping sense of dread.

JustCo - Arguably the nicest dedicated coworking space I looked at, but the sign-up process felt needlessly bureaucratic for a short stay, requiring a call with their sales team and a two-month deposit. Worth investigating if you're planning an extended stint in the city, but not if you're passing through.

Taipei is something of a mixed bag when it comes to value but if you are coming from Western Europe or North America there's areas where it will no doubt excel,

The cost of eating out is remarkably low. A simple rice or noodle meal, or an assortment of breakfast items in a local resturaunt can easily cost under 100 Yuan. Larger sitdown lunch time meals in casuak Korean, Jaopanese or Vietnamese place routinely come in or around the 200 Yuan with healthy portions and a quality which you would spend several times higher than in somewhere like the UK. More western food items.

As someone who routinely eats out x4 times a day, it felt incredible value and in someways cheaper than even somewhere like Thailand.

Rides on the MRT cost around 20 Yuan with longer rides on local trains being not too much higher. Travelling around the country via the High Spped Train netwrok is at prices which may only get you to the next town in the UK.

Prices begin to creep up for items like speciality coffee which can begin comes in at a par with what you may expect to pay in Western Europe, with the prices feeling like they carry a weightring for the experience of drinjking in, often attached wirth fized time lits for your stay.

The prices for craft beer begin to exceed what you may expect to pay in the UK, with less than a pint of a local IPA coming in 360 Yuan.

Accomodatiion is where you are likely to see a dent in costs but if you are eating out heavilty it may just balance the books at the end of the month,

Taipei has what I could best describe as a modest charm. Even its biggest fans would likely stop short of proclaiming it among the world's greatest cities.

Its personality is orderly and functional. Its character is measured and mature. It lacks the frenetic energy and immediacy of its Southeast Asian neighbours like Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh. It doesn't feel like a city yearning for global recognition, somewhere entirely content with its place and purpose, serving its residents rather than performing for a constant stream of tourists.

Looked at strictly through the lens of its urban environment, Taipei can feel underwhelming. When the clouds and rain settle in for a prolonged stretch, there can feel very little to justify your presence. Navigating between its near-identical blocks of commercial buildings and often drab building stock can feel unrewarding.

But when the clouds lift, it becomes an entirely different proposition. Hiking reuiqres next to no eoffrt or pre-preparation with an array of ttails  easily accessible from almost anywhere within the metropolitan area. The Hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths line the flood defences along the city's rivers, make for perfect routes to explore the citites suburban areas. The numerous night markets carry a renwed energy with more crowds drawn out.

If you can magically time the weather, Taipei has a lot to offer. But it's worth baking in the flexibility to change your plans should the weather have other plans.