Bar Pine松 — Restaurant in Taipei

Landing in a new city after a long flight, there are two primary attitudes for confronting the inevitable jet lag and unfamiliarity. You can either hit the pavement for a grueling run, attempting to sweat out the disorientation, or, the more civilized approach: find a local bar, engage with some strangers, and let a few drinks smooth the edges. We opted for the latter, and it paid off. And, coming from an industry where service and standards are paramount, our expectations are, perhaps, a touch elevated. We settled in and, as one does, dove into the cocktail menu. Each of the four drinks we ordered (at around NT$420 apiece) was a testament to the head bartender's artistry. The entire beautiful, cleverly designed around creators of Taipei seasonal menu showcased a level of thoughtful execution that was genuinely impressive. Every drink was unique, well layered, and above all, fun to both consume and contemplate. Food-wise, the recommended bonito dish was equally stellar—a well-crafted plate that perfectly complemented the libations. Now, not everything was absolute perfection. After our initial two rounds, a New York Sour was ordered. It was certainly drinkable, but perhaps just slightly missing the precise balance of wine to whiskey sour that truly elevates the classic. Yet, in a world that increasingly seems to be losing its grip on genuine care—be it for meticulous detail or hospitality as an ethos rather than a mere profession—we found ourselves in truly excellent company. The team was fantastic, but it was the owner, Ariel, who truly elevated the experience with her presence. If you ever find yourself landing in Taipei, or if you're already wandering its vibrant streets, do yourself a favor: book a night at Pine. P.S A testament for a good night - we didn't have the time to take any pics cause we were too busy...

Taipei is a great place for bar hopping, and on our first night of a flash visit, we chose Bar Pine松 in the Da'an District. Using the Open Table app, we easily made a reservation without needing a Taiwanese phone number, which was convenient for travelers.

For wine connoisseurs, the bar counter seats are a must! You can admire the skillful bartenders up close, and they have a fresh drink menu for each season, creating anticipation.

We each ordered a signature cocktail: 🍸 Green Flower Mille-Feuille / Garlic Chives / Maruyama Shizuoka Matcha 🍸 Wild Ginger Flower / Red Heart Guava / Salted Egg Yolk

Both cocktails were impressively layered and left a strong impression! The food here is also outstanding. Though not extensive, each dish is carefully prepared and pleasantly surprising. Particularly noteworthy are the Pan-seared duck breast with jaboticaba gastrique and tana butter ean sprouts (NT$580) and theTaiwanese traditional fried sauce noodles ($280), made with fresh ingredients and skillfully prepared.

For those planning a trip to Taipei, remember to bookmark Bar Pine松! Experience fine wines, delicious food, and a...

This is actually my first time giving a review. I frequent bars in Taipei all the time and usually have a great time. This is actually the first time I had such an unpleasant experience at a bar. Not only were the drinks mediocre at best, they also wouldn’t allow me to sit next to my girlfriend despite there being plenty of space in between the tables (I’m actually pretty slim as well, not 200+ pounds). The tables beside us also didn’t mind me sitting there, as there was more than enough space between us (even with their bags sitting there, as you can see in the picture). I find it weird that the table next to us was allowed to place their bags there while I couldn’t sit next to my girlfriend, as I take up even less space than their bags. However, the waitress made me switch (twice) to the opposing seat, which actually kind of blocks the aisle, and I kept getting bumped into when people were walking in the aisle. I really wanted to like this bar but their odd regulations/service and subpar drinks ruined my experience here. I will never go back again, even if a friend pays...