Grand Hyatt Taipei Review: Is It Worth the Hyatt Points?

I would happily stay at Grand Hyatt Taipei again for a trip focused on Xinyi. The location beside Taipei 101 makes shopping and eating around this part of the city easy, the bed in our suite was comfortable and the points prices made the hotel a strong option. It handles the basics well, even if the rooms and service are not the most exciting part of a Taipei trip.

We stayed for the first two nights of our trip and returned for another night toward the end. Across those visits, we tried a suite, a standard room and a room with an unusual angled layout. We booked room nights at 12,000 World of Hyatt points and the suite at 22,000 points per night. Here is what stood out, what I would order again and where I would set expectations.

Grand Hyatt Taipei at a glance

How we booked with Hyatt points

The points math was one of the best reasons to consider this hotel. Our room bookings were 12,000 Hyatt points per night, while the suite was 22,000 points per night. That is an extra 10,000 points for a separate living room, more space to spread out and a substantially larger bathroom.

I would consider the suite when we plan to spend time in the room. If most of the day is going to be spent eating and exploring Taipei, the standard room is a sensible place to save points. The suite in this review was booked with points, so I would not plan around receiving the same room as a complimentary upgrade.

Those are our booking prices. Hyatt uses a published category chart with five award pricing levels, rather than fully dynamic pricing, so the points required can vary by date. Check the exact room category, cancellation terms and award availability for your dates before making a transfer or reservation.

Cards for earning Hyatt points

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® lets you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio, in increments of 1,000 points. For example, 12,000 Chase points become 12,000 Hyatt points. Transfers are final, so confirm the room you want is available before moving points.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card earns World of Hyatt points directly. These are two ways to build a Hyatt balance for a stay like this; the card offers below show the current details.

Location and arrival: next to Taipei 101

The biggest everyday benefit is how easy it is to get around Xinyi. We used both the outdoor paths and the skybridge route toward Taipei 101 and the surrounding malls. The bridges save time at the traffic lights, and walking through the malls gives you a break from the heat.

The skybridge route starts from a side or rear exit of the hotel. It is worth finding that exit early in the stay, rather than heading out through the main driveway every time. This is a particularly convenient location if your plans revolve around Taipei 101, shopping and meals in this area.

Inside, the lobby has the scale of a classic grand hotel: marble floors, large columns, a fountain with flowers and open balconies above. It is a different feel from a small boutique property, and the atrium is one of its most memorable spaces.

The suite: a comfortable bed and room to spread out

The suite impressed me with its size and how fresh the space felt. The bedroom and living room could be closed off from one another, and the sofa was comfortable enough to relax on or take a nap. Mirrors, warm lighting, artwork and small decorative objects gave the living room more character than a large empty space.

The bed was very comfortable. I fell asleep quickly, and the accessible lighting controls made it easy to turn everything off at night. Windows wrapped around the bedroom, which made the seventh-floor room feel more open than its floor number might suggest.

Our view included the front of the hotel, greenery and nearby construction. Taipei 101 was visible off to the side, but this was not an unobstructed tower view. We could hear some construction noise, although it was not too bad during the room tour.

The bathroom and a few small misses

The large marble bathroom had two basins, a freestanding tub, a separate shower and a bidet toilet. The tub was comfortable for one person, the water stayed hot and the shower pressure was good. A second bathroom off the living room was useful for guests, especially because the main toilet enclosure had transparent glass.

One detail I did not like was moisture collecting around the shower door. The area looked as though it needed closer attention. The robes felt like basic towels, and the slippers were thin. Those details were less polished than the rest of the suite.

The suite also had a coffee machine, tea setup and a paid minibar. For two people working at once, the seating was less successful: Mandy took the main desk chair while I used a smaller, less comfortable chair. The suite worked better for relaxing than for a full day of work together.

The standard room: a practical place to save points

The standard room was a much more conventional layout, with the bed, sofa and desk sharing one space. I liked the Chinese calligraphy, landscape artwork and layered lighting. There was enough detail that the walls did not feel bare, and the sofa was comfortable.

The coffee setup was a pleasant surprise. Even this room had the nicer Nespresso machine, rather than feeling like a major step down in every small amenity. The main trade-off was the amount of space and the smaller bathroom.

Our window looked toward the pedestrian paths and Taipei 101. Being next door did not mean seeing the full tower: an overhang blocked the top from this room. If the view is a big reason for your booking, pay attention to the view category and the actual sightline.

The marble bathroom still had a tub and shower, but the toilet sat close to the shower area. It was a more compact arrangement than the suite. Balmain products were supplied in wall-mounted dispensers.

The angled room: a junior suite-style Premium Studio

The third layout sat between the standard room and the suite in our comparison. It matches the Premium Studio shown in Hyatt’s room photos, a junior suite-style space listed at 538 square feet (50 square meters). Hyatt calls this category a Premium Studio rather than a Junior Suite; the match here is based on the photographed layout.

Its angled walls and windows gave it a different shape, with a sitting area tucked beside the glass. The sofa, round table and calligraphy made that corner feel like its own place to sit.

The suite’s main advantage was the larger living room and the ability to close off the bedroom. Here, the draw was the window seating and unusual shape.

Grand Hyatt Taipei room sizes

The standard and deluxe categories show the size range for the more conventional rooms. The exact booked category of our larger suite is not confirmed, so the two suite sizes above are a booking comparison rather than a measurement of our room.

Grand Club: a useful place between outings

We had Grand Club access through our World of Hyatt Globalist status. The lounge is on the 22nd floor, with several seating areas and city views. It gave us another place to sit outside the room, along with drinks, light refreshments and evening food and cocktails.

The evening selection included hot dishes as well as wine. I would treat the lounge as a convenient stop between outings and dinner plans. Its value depends on whether you will actually be at the hotel when the food is served, especially in a city with this much to eat outside.

Confirm lounge access and meal times for your booking. A standard room redemption by itself should not be treated as a promise of lounge access.

Breakfast: Grand Club vs. Café

Grand Club breakfast

The lounge breakfast spread was impressive for what it was, with fruit, vegetables, congee, soy milk and hot dishes. During our visit, the made-to-order choices included eggs, French toast and pork buns.

The eggs were good, and Mandy’s everything omelet was tasty once I got past a particularly cheesy first bite. The French toast used small baguette-style pieces, which gave it a pleasant chew. I also liked the squid and the warm croissants enough to go back for more.

The pork buns were a miss because they did not have much meat. The coffee tasted a little burnt to me. Overall, though, it was a good stop when lounge access was already included.

Café breakfast buffet

Café had a much wider selection. We saw a long line at the entrance but were seated in about five minutes. The wait was mainly for the team to seat people, so the line looked worse than the experience turned out to be.

The buffet ranged from Japanese noodles and Korean side dishes to curries, an egg station, steamed buns, Taiwanese rice rolls, soy milk, bread and pastries. I liked the noodles and sweet watermelon. The rice roll was good, although we had better ones elsewhere on the trip.

The surprise was a croissant filled with Nutella by the staff. I am not normally a big Nutella fan, but the hazelnut flavor worked especially well here. The pineapple bun was less memorable.

If Café breakfast is included in your booking, I would try it. If it costs extra, I would compare that price with the many breakfast options outside. The larger buffet was capable, but the food was good rather than exceptional.

Baguette: cakes and an afternoon stop

Baguette was a good stop for cakes, egg tarts and drinks. Our initial order of two cakes, two egg tarts and two drinks came to about US$30 during the visit. That is a useful example of how far a snack budget can go, rather than a current menu quote.

The raspberry rose cake was the standout. It was light and creamy outside, with a fruity center that tasted fresh. The opera cake was creamy and chocolatey, and I would happily eat it again, but the raspberry rose cake had more personality.

The egg tart was also good even though it was not fresh out of the oven. The layers came through, the filling was creamy and it was not overly sweet.

Dinner at Yun Jin: get the fish dumplings

Yun Jin was the hotel restaurant I would return to for the fish dumplings. The filling had plenty of fish and vegetables, with crunch from the vegetables and a chewy wrapper. The sauce worked well with them, and this was the clearest recommendation from our dinner.

The chicken and fish maw soup was another dish I would strongly consider ordering again. The broth had a good chicken flavor without being too herbal, and the fish maw was a generous piece with a gelatinous texture and some chew. At about US$14 during our visit, it was an expensive soup by local standards, but the portion of fish maw helped explain the price.

We also ordered loofah and fried duck with buns. The duck had a distinct white pepper flavor and was lean and dry, with very little sauce. I was happy eating it, but it would not be my first recommendation over the dumplings and soup.

We had wanted the Peking duck, but it required an order three days ahead during our visit. If that is the dish you want, arrange it with the restaurant before arriving.

Nearby dining: Din Tai Fung and Kura

The Taipei 101 location makes it easy to fit in Din Tai Fung. We ordered soup dumplings, pork chop, beef noodles, greens and dumplings in chili sauce. The thin wrappers and flavorful soup made the original soup dumplings an easy recommendation, and the braised beef in the noodles was another highlight.

This branch can have a long wait. I would take a number and use the time to walk around, rather than spend the whole wait standing outside the restaurant.

We also tried Kura for conveyor belt sushi. It was a casual, inexpensive meal and a fun experience, although I preferred Sushiro overall. The soft-shell crab was the item I liked enough to order again. Both are meals outside the hotel, separate from the lounge and restaurant offerings.

Pool, gym and Club Oasis

The outdoor pool and Club Oasis are on the fifth floor. The pool is temperature controlled, with greenery and loungers around it. Looking down from our suite, I was surprised by how busy it was early in the morning. It was quieter during one of our later checks.

The gym had a smaller strength area, a larger main workout area and a studio space. Equipment covered cardio and strength training, with dumbbells up to 30 kilograms. The smaller area had a low ceiling, so I would be careful about choosing a spot for exercises that need overhead clearance.

Timing made a noticeable difference. Mornings were busy, afternoons were better and the gym was much quieter in the evening. It was a useful facility, but its size could feel tight relative to the number of guests.

The separate men’s and women’s wet areas have a sauna, steam room, whirlpool and relaxation space. These areas are for guests 16 and older, and swimsuits are not permitted. Spa treatments are also available, but this review does not include a treatment rating.

Service and my overall verdict

Compared with other urban hotels with a similar range of services, I gave the rooms and facilities a B+ and service a B. The staff were generally friendly and capable, and the hotel handled the basics well. Service was good, but it would not be the reason I chose this hotel on its own.

The location and points prices are the stronger reasons to book. At 12,000 points for a room and 22,000 for our suite, the hotel made sense for our trip. The suite added a lot of space, while the standard room still had a comfortable sofa, thoughtful lighting and a good coffee setup.

I would return when we want to stay around Xinyi. I would choose the standard room for days spent out exploring and consider paying the extra points for a suite when we want more time in the room. I would also plan around the busy morning facilities and leave room in the itinerary for meals outside the hotel.

Grand Hyatt Taipei FAQ

How many Hyatt points did Grand Hyatt Taipei cost?

Our room bookings were 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night, and the suite was 22,000 points per night. Grand Hyatt Taipei was a Category 3 hotel for our stay. These are our booking prices; search your dates for the applicable award rate and room availability.

Is Grand Hyatt Taipei connected to Taipei 101?

Yes. A skybridge route connects the hotel with Taipei 101. We used the hotel’s side or rear exit to reach it and found the bridge route convenient for the surrounding malls.

Was the Grand Hyatt Taipei suite a complimentary upgrade?

We booked the suite with 22,000 Hyatt points per night. The room shown here should not be treated as a guaranteed complimentary upgrade on a standard room booking.

Is Grand Club breakfast better than Café?

Café had more variety, while the Grand Club was a good stop when lounge access was included. I liked several lounge dishes, especially the eggs, French toast and croissants, but the coffee and pork buns were weaker. The Café buffet was good overall, rather than worth a special trip on its own.

Would we stay at Grand Hyatt Taipei again?

Yes, particularly for a trip focused on Xinyi and Taipei 101 at a competitive points or cash rate. My ratings were B+ for rooms and facilities and B for service.