MY PLACE: A TAIPEI INSTITUTION 3-1, Lane 32, Shuangcheng St., Taipei Tel: (02) 2591-4269 Hours: Sun-Thur 6.30pm-3.30am, Fri-Sat 6.30pm-4am Happy Hour: Sun-Thur 6.30pm-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 6.30pm-8.30pm

 For businesspeople traveling to Taipei and staying in the Intercontinental Hotel, My Place is often the first place they visit.

     Established in 1984, My Place is certainly welcoming. A British-style pub in the heart of the ¡§Combat Zone,¡¨ it's a good first stop on any bar tour, or a relaxing place to hang out with friends.

     The seating area is comfortable and cozy. There's a pool table and several televisions showing sports. The bar is well stocked with just about anything you could want, including brandies, wines, champagnes, and 21 kinds of whiskey. A half-liter of draught beer costs NT$150, a pitcher NT$600.

While this may be primarily a bar, My Place also serves a wide range of food. From the East, try fried rice (NT$180-NT$200), chicken satay (NT$220) or the spicy kung pao chicken (NT$220). From the West, there are large, juicy burgers (NT$300), English-style fish-and-chips (NT$300), and a range of pizzas (NT$300).      There are also sandwiches and salads. For a snack, try the My Place Nachos, with chili and cheese (NT$220), or one of the finest chicken quesadillas in town (NT$250).

   A big attraction to My Place is the service. Kilt-clad waitresses offer attentive, yet not obtrusive, service. You never have to wait long for your glass to be refilled, and they are more than willing to chat.

     Happy hours every night get the evening off to a good start. And if you enjoy your time at My Place, you can add your name to their hall of fame: a ceiling covered in namecards.