Kaohsiung is a surprisingly interesting city, with lots to suit travellers of all ages and interest.  It’s not just old buildings or quiet pursuits that make this a vibrant holiday destination. The city has a lot of places which are popular hangouts for the hip and trendy, residents and visitors alike. Some are well known, others tend to be a secret for those in the know. Here we give you the rundown on some of the most popular places for the hip and trendy to hang out in Kaohsiung.

Pier 2 Art District

Pier 2 is popular with tourists but that does not mean that a lot of cool locals do not also spend their time there. In fact, this hybrid of creative spaces, shops, bars and eateries has a loyal local following among the style crowd.

Occupying a series of converted sugar warehouses close to the waterfront, the appeal of Pier 2 is a mix of its industrial architecture and stark interior décor, interesting shops some selling handcrafted items and cultural events such as street performances by singers.

Xin Xing district

This centrally located district of the city is a favourite hangout for the hip and trendy crowd.

With its prime location, great shopping options and concentration of evening and night-time venues, Xin Xing has a vibrant buzz about it. Several shopping centres make for good shopping but there are also a number of parks to offer green space. At night time the district has its own excellent night market, Liuhe. Whatever time of day you find yourself in Xinxing, you will not be bored as there is a lot to do and enjoy.

Night Markets

Kaohsiung is famous for its night markets even within Taiwan where night markets are a dime a dozen. Given the number, quality and size of Kaohsiung’s night markets, they are popular with all sorts of visitors, including hipsters who wouldn’t want to be seen at some of the tackier stalls.         

Trendy visitors looking for clothes, knick knacks and one-off design items tend to like the Xinjuejiang night market. There is a range of goods at Xinjuejiang including the normal cheap mass-produced items, but if you dig around a bit you will discover that some stalls sell items that are unusual and often creatively designed.

Coffee Shops

Taiwanese coffee shops often combine warm service, excellent coffee and achingly hip design. So it is no surprise that Kaohsiung boasts an abundance of coffee shops including some which Instagram loving trend seekers frequent.

The Apartment Café combines the cool feeling of an apartment with a style of its own. The Art House Café attracts creative types and a mixed international clientele. Another creative hangout is Ruh Café. Serious coffee lovers like Caffe Artigiano for its combination of chic design and high quality beans. My cofi is also refreshingly simple like The Apartment, with excellent coffees and a space to think.

Bars

Bars are a trendy hangout in all Taiwanese cities and this is also true in Kaohsiung.

The trendiest bars in Kaohsiung tend to have a more laid-back feeling than their counterparts in Taipei. With cool design, an increasingly innovative drinks scene and warm service they make for a great place to enjoy a happy hour cocktail or settle in for an evening’s fun. Many offer high quality food so it’s possible to spend the evening in the bar without needing to decamp to a restaurant for food. There are rooftop bars like Inyoung Hotel Rooftop Bar, waterfront spots like Wakey Wakey and cocktail bars aplenty such as hip favourite Mini Enclave, Old.Trick and the less trendy but always busy Lighthouse.

Craft beer is emerging, notably at the basically named bottle shop Craft Beer and also at Fh2 and the local branch of Taipei’s Zhangmen Brewery Craft Beers.

Nightclubs

When it comes to clubbing, the warmer, laid back coastal vibe of Kaohsiung doesn’t quite match the urbane sophistication of Taipei.

The city does still have lots of people who enjoy carousing their weekend nights away to the latest hits, however, and so its club scene though small is still fun. The standout venue is Lamp, which is beloved of local style setters and dance fans.

Another popular choice is Muse. A popular local haunt, it is always busy and offers a good night out without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, on nights when Brickyard is open, this hip but casual venue offers a less intense clubbing experience including an outdoor area to chill.

Flea Markets

Kaohsiung is famous for night markets but it also has some excellent flea markets from time to time.

These involve stalls run by locals selling handmade crafts, cool home items, hand drawn pictures, vintage style postcards and other such items. For the casual browser looking for a stylish one-off gift or souvenir, they are ideal. Your hotel may know of flea markets happening soon, often in a location like Pier 2 on the weekend.

Bookshops

Hip Taiwanese love books and magazines. That means they have some fabulous book shops which make for hours of browsing for locals and visitors side by side. Often as well as Chinese language sections, the stores offer large English language sections so that you can curl up on the floor for hours with thought provoking reading material.

Many bookshops contain a café, and often they will carry far more than just books. The popular Eslite chain has several branches in Kaohsiung including a cavernous cross-category “Spectrum” store just a couple of blocks’ walk from Pier 2. At weekends and weekday evenings, it is a popular social hub for local students, intellectuals and arts fans.

Kaohsiung has moved into a post-industrial era of chic building refurbishments and hip design. This fascinating, friendly city has a host of hip and trendy places to hang out. As a visitor you’ll soon feel right at home.