Dec. 31, 2007. We know the score. You're going to stop doing whatever it is you shouldn't be doing in 2008. Like waiting until the last minute to decide where to party on New Year's Eve. Don't worry. We've done the hard work for you. Here are a few recommendations for nightspots that are guaranteed to be hopping on Monday night.
Get drunk and try to kiss random people at Barcode, one of the city's hottest nightspots and a great place to start a night on the town. Doors open at 10pm for the uber-trendy lounge's New Year's Eve party on the roof Neo 19 - a perfect location for watching Taipei 101's midnight fireworks show. Entrance is NT$1,000 and includes three drinks. There will be a champagne bar after 1am.
Downstairs, it's NT$700 for two drinks and admission to the fifth-floor lounge, with its new balcony, fabulous view of the Xinyi District and sophisticated drinks. Barcode is located at 5F, 22 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路22號5F) and is a short walk from Room 18, Brown Sugar and Mint. Call 0926-168-269 for reservations or log on at www.room18.com.tw/barcode.
Dance, dance, dance the night away to live bands and DJs at Underworld (地下社會). The indie-scene mecca starts rocking at 9pm with electronica group Digihai, veteran rock showmen 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽), new band Soft Spot and wacky experimental industrial/trance metal act Fish and the Bedroom Riot (Fish的床上暴動), in the group's last show in its current lineup.
DJs Fish, Randy Lin (林志堅) and Hsiao Yao (小姚) take over at 2am and spin dance music 'til dawn. Expect the raw, spontaneous vibe that was common when underground clubs ruled Taipei and revelers didn't waste time waiting for other people to dance. Underworld is located at B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Cover is NT$500 before 2am and includes two drinks. Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information.
More musical mayhem awaits at Bliss, with political punks Consider the Meek, alt-country band The Deadly Vibes, funk combo New Hong Kong Hair City, and the Rock and Roll Dance Party. Free for the bar, NT$200 admission to see the bands upstairs. Bliss is located at 148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號). Call (02) 2702-1855 or visit www.bliss-taipei.com for more information.
Then there's complimentary cocktails for the ladies and cheap tequila for all at Brass Monkey. Men pay NT$300 for admission and two drinks, but women get in free and can booze it up at the mini bar gratis until the ball drops at midnight. NT$100 tequila shots from midnight to 2am. The Monkey is located at 166 Fuxing N Rd, Taipei City (台北市復興北路166號), near the Nanjing East Road MRT station. Doors open at 9pm.
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