Courtyard Taipei Downtown
4-Star Marriott Hotel
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Address: No. 6, Section 3, Minsheng E Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10480
Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/tpecd-courtyard-taipei-downtown/overview/
Courtyard Taipei Downtown Overview
Courtyard Taipei Downtown is a 4-star hotel in Zhongshan District, a central part of Taipei known for its mix of traditional landmarks and modern cafes. You’ll find temples, boutique shops, and the Taipei Expo Park all within walking distance.
The hotel itself is modern, well-managed, and feels more upscale than you’d expect from a typical Courtyard by Marriott. Higher floor rooms offer skyline views that reach all the way to Taipei 101. The biggest surprise? There’s an Executive Lounge at a Courtyard – available to hotel guests in select rooms and Marriott Bonvoy Elite Members that are Platinum status and higher.
Sign for Courtyard by Marriott Taipei Downtown hotel
Courtyard Taipei Downtown Check In
Courtyards in North America are usually pretty basic – think 2 or 3 stars max. But in Asia, they level up hard. Courtyard Taipei Downtown is a 4-star hotel with service and polish that easily puts it above its weight class.
As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, we were offered the following perks:
- Room upgrade (though the hotel was fully booked, so no dice this time).
- 4:00 PM late checkout
- Complimentary high-speed internet
- Daily breakfast at MJ Kitchen (6:30 AM – 10:00 AM on weekdays, 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM on weekends).
- Executive Lounge access from 10:30AM to 10:00PM, with Happy Hour from 5:30PM to 7:30PM
Check-in was fast, friendly, and professional. Within moments, we were on our way to the room…. when we ran into a room service robot casually wheeling itself into an elevator to deliver a meal. Just another reminder that this isn’t your average Courtyard.
Food delivery robot at Courtyard Taipei Downtown providing room service with a futuristic touch in the hotel lobby.
Courtyard Taipei Downtown, 2 Twin Beds, Taipei 101 View
Getting a room with 2 Twin Beds isn’t something we usually aim for, but the hotel had no other rooms available and we wanted to stay in the area.
Our 2 Twin Room came in at a compact 323 square feet, but it was thoughtfully laid out and featured a panoramic city view with Taipei 101 in the distance.
The room was clean and minimal, with a calming neutral palette. While space was tight, it was efficiently organized, making it feel more functional than cramped.
Despite the modest Courtyard branding, the bathroom was modern and well-equipped, with a walk-in rainfall shower, bidet toilet, and nice finishes throughout.
There was a mini bar that we didn’t touch, two complimentary bottles of water, and a two-tiered closet with a room safe, drawers, bathrobes and an ironing board tucked inside.
But the surprise highlight of the room?
A drawer stocked with assorted teas and… Taiwanese drip bag coffee!
Taiwanese Drip Bag Coffee
Yes, the coffee deserves its own bolded, titled section. This humble drawer discovery turned out to be a standout moment.
The Special Blend was made from Sumatra Mandheling Coffee Beans, known for their rich, earthy profile. This one featured tasting notes of hazelnut, cocoa, and pinewood.
Let’s take a closer look at what made it SO SPECIAL!
Unwrapping the cutest little drip coffee packet and feeling like a hotel room barista at Courtyard Taipei Downtown.
Opening the drip coffee filter... and feeling way too excited for hotel room coffee!
Setting up the coffee filter on the mug. This DIY coffee kit is just too satisfying.
Pouring hot water and watching the magic happen - making coffee never felt this fun!
Voila! Freshly brewed coffee. Can every hotel please have this?
Cityscape View of Taipei 101
Apart from the coffee, the view from the room was easily the best part. Even on an overcast day, the massive sprawl of Taipei stretched out in every direction, with Taipei 101 poking through in the distance.
There’s something oddly satisfying about watching scooters, traffic, and construction from 20 floors up – it was busy, chaotic, and kind of beautiful.
Sweeping overcast view of Taipei’s skyline and main highway, captured from the room.
Taipei cityscape with Taipei 101 peeking through the clouds.
6:20AM: Serene sunrise casting warm light over Taipei’s skyline, viewed from our top-floor room at Courtyard Taipei Downtown.
MJ Kitchen
MJ Kitchen is Courtyard Taipei Downtown’s buffet restaurant, and honestly, it punched way above its weight. We came in expecting a standard hotel breakfast, but were met with a wide, well-organized spread that mixed Taiwanese comfort foods with international staples.
From freshly steamed dumplings and made-to-order noodles to pastries, fresh fruit, and even soft-serve ice cream, it felt more like a mini food tour than just breakfast.
The entrance to MJ Kitchen.
Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup
A must-try local classic, 牛肉麵 (pronounced “nyoh row myen”) is Taiwan’s beloved beef noodle soup. MJ Kitchen did it justice. The broth was rich and savory, and the beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Fresh greens and scallions balanced it out, making this bowl a standout on the buffet.
A Crunchy, Gooey Croffle
This croffle (croissant dough pressed like a waffle) was the perfect sweet bite to end a meal. Topped with caramelized banana, fresh blueberries, and walnuts, it hit that ideal balance of crispy, soft, and sticky-sweet.
SPACEMAN Soft Serve Machine
Hidden in plain sight of the MJ Kitchen buffet sat this futuristic beauty: the SPACEMAN soft serve machine. Stainless steel, glowing buttons, and a promise of cold, creamy joy. How could we not?
Milk Ice Cream
And since the croffle clearly wasn’t enough anymore… we just had to try this. A swirl of milk ice cream, straight from the SPACEMAN, served in a tiny black bowl. Cold, smooth, and just the right size to justify going back for seconds.
The Gym
The gym’s up on the 17th floor and has a nice view. Rows of treadmills and ellipticals face out towards the Taipei skyline. It’s not the most elaborate setup, but it’s got what you need: a cable machine, a few resistance stations, and dumbbells ranging from 2 to 20kg. There’s a water dispenser and towels too. The cardio area is easy to move through, but the weight room’s a bit tight. Still, it’s a solid spot to squeeze in a workout after croffles and ice cream, and before heading out for more fun.
The Executive Lounge
Tucked away on the 14th floor, the Executive Lounge at Courtyard Taipei Downtown is a surprise gem. You’d never guess this was part of a Courtyard. It feels way more premium. At the entrance, there’s a quick check-in with a friendly staff member who makes sure you’ve got access. No pajamas, no robes, and yes, you’ll need shoes. Basically, dress like you’re in public.
Inside, you’ll find plush lounge seating, plenty of tables for eating or working, and a calm vibe that makes it easy to settle in. There’s also a patio outside where you can chill and grab some fresh air if you want to change things up.
The Executive Lounge is open, every day from 10:30AM to 10:00PM.
Entryway to the Executive Lounge at Courtyard Taipei Downtown.
Executive Lounge Daytime Spread
During the day, the Executive Lounge is pretty low-key with a light spread. You’ll usually find fresh fruit, bite-sized cakes, and biscuits or cookies to snack on. There’s a solid Franke coffee machine, Twinings tea lineup, juices, sodas, and a water dispenser if you want to fill your own bottle. Whether you’re hanging around the hotel or popping in after a day out in Taipei, it’s a great place to recharge.
Daytime snacks at the Executive Lounge in Courtyard Taipei Downtown, including fresh fruit, pineapple cake, and digestive biscuits arranged on a marble countertop.
Happy Hour at the Executive Lounge
The real magic happens nightly during Happy Hour from 5:30PM sharp (they don’t mess around with timing) and lasts until 7:30PM sharp (when they start packing things up immediately).
Don’t be that loud guy showing up at 7:35PM, demanding food and wine, and complaining that everything’s put away. (Yes, we saw it happen. And yes, we called him out for being rude to the staff).
The spread changes nightly, but you can count on four rotating hot dishes, soup, and something steaming in a bamboo basket. One night: mushrooms & zucchini, fried rice, pork belly, hot & sour soup, and pork dumplings. Another: saucy chicken, fried noodles, potatoes, fish, and dim sum style buns.
You can easily make dinner out of it. We certainly did… before having Dinner #2 at a night market.
Hot dishes on display during Happy Hour at the Executive Lounge in Courtyard Taipei Downtown.
During Happy Hour, the daytime spread of cake and cookies is replaced with a salad bar, cheese, cold cuts, and fancy little amuse-bouche spoons with things like zesty mustard celery and caprese tomato salad.
Cold cuts, cheese, salad, and amuse-bouche appetizers served during Happy Hour at Courtyard Taipei Downtown Executive Lounge.
But here’s where it gets fun: the drinks.
Budweiser Supreme. It’s brewed with honey malt, triple filtered, and comes in a slick gold can. At 4.6% ABV, it’s smooth and easy to drink. It’s not something you’ll find everywhere, and I’d never had one before so… This Bud’s For Me.
And of course, there’s Taiwan Beer – the classic local lager that’s light and crisp and goes well with just about everything on your plate.
And the best part of Happy Hour? There’s a cocktail-making machine! Walk up and tap your drink of choice. Manhattan? Vodka Martini? Tequila straight up? No sweat, it mixes it right there for you. No bartender required.
Feeling crafty? There’s a DIY station too, complete with recipes and garnishes. Go ahead and channel your inner mixologist. You have a full two hours to mix anything and everything. Responsibly, of course.
And I forgot to mention, all of this is included if you’ve got Executive Lounge access. No extra charges. Cheers to that!
Touchscreen cocktail machine serving drinks during happy hour at the Courtyard Taipei Downtown Executive Lounge.
Final Impressions
Courtyard Taipei Downtown surprised me in all the best ways. Professional service, an elevated lounge experience, and little touches that made the stay feel anything but standard. If this is what a Courtyard can be, I’m all in.
