5 Best Nightlife in Tainan

Kinks Bar in Tainan’s East District has a distinctive ‘homey’ feel because it was converted from an old house, with many of the furnishings still in place. The vintage décor gives off a ‘70s vibe, although the music playing at a comfortable volume is generally more modern.

The bar is most famous for its Belgian beers, but you’ll also find fruity tipples and a good selection of snacks – again, mostly Belgian. It’s a tricky place to find, being hidden down a small lane by the train tracks, but it’s worth hunting for, if you want an easy-going evening in a quirky lounge bar.

Red Wolf Tavern is a well-known sports bar with several dartboards and a pool table. Its satellite TVs are an important attraction during important games. The bar offers a good range of beers and liquors and prices are pretty good. There’s also a modest selection of western food available, with the fish and chips standing out as the best offering.

The second floor is more about music than sports, with live music performances and great sets played by the in-house DJs. There’s usually a cover charge of about NT$250 (including a drink) on live music nights, which are usually on weekends. The dance floor isn’t huge, but it’s about as big as it needs to be, so the atmosphere is lively without being overcrowded.

Taikoo has a unique look, combining retro décor on the second floor with some geek cred provided by Disney and Marvel characters on the walls of the first. Like a number of other venues in Tainan, Taikoo has a homey feel and look to it, making it a pleasant place to relax and indulge in a little nostalgia.

The bar serves a good choice of Belgian beers, including some fruity options. The prices are perhaps a little higher than the average, but the setting makes them worth it. There’s a limited food menu, of which the French fries are the real stand-out choice.

Willy’s Sports Bar & Restaurant is a spacious bar in South District that’s known for its grilled food and an American-style bar. The focus is definitely on sports, with a dartboard, a pool table and a giant TV screen.

The restaurant part of the name should not be overlooked, though. The food is excellent, and you must taste the Tex-Mex delicacies, pasta dishes, pizzas and salads.

Xiaobei Night Market is one of the oldest and most popular of the many night markets in Tainan and has more than 200 food stalls. The snacks in these stalls are simply delicious. Out of the local delicacies, the rice cakes, marlin soup, and the eel noodles are all excellent choices.

Beside the food, there’s an impressive choice of stalls selling anything from homemade handicrafts to low-cost clothes. You’ll also find a good choice of fairground games, such as dart-throwing and Mah-jong Bingo. It all comes together to create a fantastic atmosphere and a great place to socialise.