Today’s guest post is written by Yi – Creative freelancer and lover of photography, travel, sneakers & street art.

Taipei Nightlife – The Taiwan Beer Bar

On Friday, there’s no better way to greet the weekend than with cheap beer, food and a live band. Surprisingly, you can find all three at the Taiwan Beer 346 Warehouse Restaurant, right in the heart of Taipei.

The 346 restaurant (by short) is situated on Bade Road, inside Chienkuo Beer Brewery. The brewery itself has been running for almost 100 years. Built in 1919, it was Taiwan’s first beer factory and is now considered a city heritage landmark.

By day, the brewery is very industrial as it churns out Taiwan Beer. By night, it’s a much more relaxed atmosphere as friends and family gather around the 346 restaurant. The restaurant use to be a storage warehouse for all the beer and it still has kept that rustic, grundge exterior.

Photo thanks to DuReMi

The food served is like the atmosphere — no fuss, laid back and relaxed. The meals aren’t going to wow you over, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Stir fried beef might sound mediocre, but you’d be surprised. The marinated sweet soy sauce, fresh basil and sprinkles of black pepper can really tantalise your taste buds. The fried sweet potato chips are a refreshing change for the usual french fries.

The meals are cheap and the beers are cheaper. A freshly brewed Taiwan beer straight to your glass costs less than $3 USD for half a liter. If you’re with friends, you can grab the 4-liter barrel for less than $20 USD.

Photo thanks to balaocat

To get into the mood, there’s usually a live cover band playing on a Friday and Saturday night. You can be sure to hear all your favorite rock hits from the early 90s and if you’re lucky, then some rendition of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face too.

Photo thanks to jccchou

The 346 restaurant is definitely worth a visit if you’re in Taipei and looking for a relaxed and cheap way to start your evening. If you’re more of a day person than night, you can also take a tour around the brewery. Although, you must book ahead beforehand.

For more information, check out:
http://www.nv.com.tw/346beer