The largest and most famous market in Taiwan, the Shilin Night Market is located in the capital’s Shilin district within a maze of alleyways around the now demolished old Shilin Market building. It includes a large food court along its western edge where visitors can sample the traditional local cuisine, together with both locally and internationally produced merchandise in the surrounding streets.

The Shilin Night Market is a great opportunity to soak up the local atmosphere, showcasing many of Taiwan’s traditional handicrafts and a huge range of imported goods, as well as being the perfect opportunity to sample some of Taipei’s specialties. Among its most popular local dishes are Giant Fried Chicken Steak, Oyster Vermicelli, and the notorious Stinky Tofu, as well as perhaps its most famed specialty, Oyster Omelet. There’s also a cluster karaoke bars, cinemas and video arcades in the surrounding streets, making it a popular destination to socialise in the evenings for both tourists and locals alike. The market starts in the late afternoon as students and workers are finishing up for the day and often extends well beyond midnight.

The Shilin Night Market is situated just a few steps away from the MRT Jiantin Station, located diagonally across from the exit around Dadong, Danan, Wenlin and Jihe roads. Alternatively, there’s a large parking lot on the second floor for those who are self-driving.

The night market was established near what was originally a wharf on the Keelung River, with agricultural produce from Shilin’s farms being sold here before being shipped to other ports. In 1909 a daytime market first opened, but due to demand from an influx of patrons, food vendors and other businesses began establishing themselves and the night market eventually evolved.