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TAIWAN FUN MAGAZINE, June 2003.

Cover Story :

      Recently, lounge venues have been sprouting up around Taipei. Here are some distinctive lounge bars where city dwellers might enjoy lingering.

-Mystic "Kama" 3, Lane 266, RenAi Rd., Sec. 4 (02) 2784-4601 Hours: 9 am-4 pm Kama has an exotic atmosphere, with a profusion of golds, reds, and blacks on the sofas, and an entire wall devoted to Indian religious texts and artworks. The stairs are lined with Buddhist sculptures, artifacts and carvings; the basement is infused with incense; the smoky, satiny air helps you unwind.

-Baroque reinvented "Eden" 98, ZhongXiao E. Rd., 10-11F (02) 6638-9988 Hours: 6 pm-3 am; weekends 6 pm-5 am Located on the top floor of Bistro 98, Eden attracts trendsetters. The lavish Baroque decor features a dazzling dance floor with a rose-embracing Venus painted on it. The ceiling has a Michelangeloesque mural of a giant Chinese face and the wall has Venice Carnival masks and a great painting of a nude woman. The fashionably-dressed recline on the large sofa, sip wine, and enjoy upscale French Mediterranean cuisine.

-The naturalistic "Villa" 30, Lane 11, LehLi Rd. (02) 2735-0880 Hours: 6 pm-3:30 am The Villa, covered in wood panels, possesses a solitary beauty. The wooden, pebble-lined pathway leads to a fishpond. The spacious first floor is stylistically divided into sections; each corner suggests the warmth of home. One has a skylight for stargazing. The light from the antique chandeliers and the red velvet curtains evokes refined yet unrelenting emotion.

-The "Whisky" of Minimalism 40, XinSheng S. Rd., Sec. 3 (02) 2363-8006 Hours: 9 pm-3 am There are no superfluous decorations here; the entrance is so plain it is easy to miss. With a few comfortable, burgundy couches and candlelight, the Whisky resembles minimalist lounge bars in New York--plain and stress free. The dense garden of palm trees, plantains, and night-blooming cereus is a rare find in urban settings. The authentic Thai cuisine is an unforgettable thrill amidst simplicity.

-Futuristic VS 208, FuHsing S. Rd., Sec. 2, B1 (MRT Technology Bldg. Station) (02) 2700-6535 Hours: Mon-Tues 8 pm¡V4 am; Wed-Sat 8 pm¡V 5 am; closed Sundays Music in an eggshell, eyeball-light covered walls, and swaying candlelight on the tables, will help you forget the frustrations of the outside world. Like entering a new dimension in a weightless state, at VS you can enjoy theme events, such as "pulsating party," "electric party," "vacuum party," and "peak party," with performances by professional DJs.

-The Zen of "G-Down" 13, FuHsing S. Rd., Sec. 2 (02) 2704-2770 Hours: 6 pm - 3 am G-Down has no signboard. Through the first floor window, you'll see a very "Zen" space, dim and narrow with a large table and a few chairs. The stairway leads down to a cozy, well-designed private living space. The owner, a former Paris resident, has shipped in furnishings and adornments from Bali, and has arranged the space cleverly to reveal a sense of Eastern spirituality.