23 Music Room

23 Music Room is the late-night, live-music outpost of 23 Brewing, the Taipei brewery started by American home brewers who met on a home brewing course in 2013; co-founders Brett Tieman and Matt Frazar set out to bring American-style craft beer and taproom culture to the city. The company has since grown into one of Taiwan's most recognisable independents, with its beers poured at bars and restaurants around the island and a comedy club, Two Three, alongside its taprooms.

Where 23 Public in Da'an is a compact record-shop-style bar, Music Room is the higher-energy venue: gig posters at the door and a crowd of expats, locals, music fans and beer regulars. The draught list follows the same format as its sister bar, with a dozen or more 23 Brewing beers listed on a board above the bar showing ABV, IBU and price. Expect anything from exotic IPAs to creamy stouts and the brewery's sours, plus local and international guests; the Zone Out Coffee Dark Lager is a long-standing favourite. Bartenders are known for explaining the beers well and in good English.

Food is limited to pizza and fries, and the surrounding open-air food court has plenty more if you want a proper meal first.

It sits in a corner of MAJI Square, the cluster of shipping containers, wooden sheds, food stalls, small bars and underground clubs inside Taipei Expo Park, a short walk from Yuanshan MRT. The address is Shop No. 18, No. 1 Yumen Street, Zhongshan District.

Music is the point here. Weekends bring DJs and live bands, with house, techno and drum and bass nights from promoters such as Taipeimix and Tempo Contato running well past midnight, while open-deck sessions for local DJs are announced on the bar's Instagram. Earlier in the week it is a calmer place for a few beers. Opening hours shift with the events calendar, so check its social pages before a late visit.