Holiday cheer is everywhere — in store windows, on television, and in the heart of your local barman. In Taipei that means one thing: lots of Christmas dinners and parties at pubs and other nightspots across the city. As always, there's a preview of hip-hop and electronic music parties in the Vinyl Word, and a list of live music performances in today's Events and Entertainment section. Continue reading for a list of bars and pubs where you can gather to celebrate the holidays.
Christmas dinner
Citizen Cain (02-2708-4557) is offering an “international” turkey set meal (NT$590) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The restaurant/bar's kitchen opens at 6pm and at first will only be serving the prix fix menu, which comes with an appetizer, mashed potatoes, stuffing and dessert. For an entree, choose one of three varieties of turkey — Italian-, Mexican- or North American-style. Both Christmas dinner and the restaurant's regular menu will be available each day after 8pm.
If the holiday season gives you a superhuman appetite, check out JB's (02-2364-8222). Starting tonight and continuing through Christmas Day, the English-style pub will be serving a gargantuan set menu (NT$1,000) that includes turkey, roast beef with gravy, sausage wrapped in bacon, stuffing, mashed and roast potatoes, vegetables with cheese sauce and homemade cranberry sauce. These aren't choices — you get a plate piled high with all of the above. Dinner is served from 6pm to 11pm, and food must be ordered before 10:40pm.
If you want to exchange gifts with a Secret Santa, On Tap (02-2741-5365) is where you should go. The Irish/New York-style pub is offering a buffet (NT$350) on Christmas Eve, which will be available between 8pm and 10pm. Happy Hour will also be extended until 10pm, and patrons are encouraged to bring a “sexy” or “funny” present worth around NT$500 to exchange with a randomly selected fellow customer at midnight.
Among the other pubs and bars serving holiday meals are the following: The Shannon (02 2772-0948), which will have a Christmas buffet (NT$1,200) from 9pm daily, starting tomorrow and running through Christmas Day; the Tavern sports bar (02-8780-0892), where you can get a turkey or steak set meal (NT$690) for dinner on Christmas Eve; and Carnegies (02-2325-4433), which is offering Christmas dinner with champagne (NT$1,500), also on Christmas Eve.
Tonight's events
Now for the merrymaking. Tonight's most notable party— and it's very notable — is Citizen Cain's sixth anniversary party. From 6pm to 9pm, there will be an open bar. And it will be free. That's right, a free open bar. The Cain has already notified people on its e-mail list, but anyone can show up and join the celebration.
Also tonight and also free, there's live music at Bliss (02-2702 4371), with rock bands The Riot and Black Summer Days, followed by a solo acoustic set from Matt Nicodemus. The first act takes to the stage around 10pm.
Alternatively, if you're looking for something more cerebral or just want to conserve energy for tomorrow, head to On Tap for tonight's Christmas pub quiz. Those interested should RSVP by contacting Niall Clinton on Facebook.com, sending an e-mail to him at niallclinton@yahoo.co.uk or by calling the venue on (02) 2741-5365. You pay NT$500 to participate in the competition, which starts at 10:30pm. There's a maximum of four persons per team, winner takes all, and On Tap will throw in an extra NT$1,000 bar tab for the winners. If you don't have a team but still want to participate, register as soon as possible and Clinton will get you sorted.
RSS