OKU Hotel Taichung, Taiwan

Set within the former Sakurada Department Store in Taichung’s historic Central District, OKU Hotel Taichung gives new life to a familiar city landmark through The Department of Travellers’ Tales. Inspired by the imagined journeys and collections of Mr. OKU, the interiors layer Art Deco influences, European vintage references, art and contemporary details throughout the hotel. Rather than separating past from present, the design allows the building’s history to remain part of the experience, creating a world shaped by stories, memories and discoveries gathered over time.

At the heart of the hotel, Ailìse Bar carries the spirit of travel into the evening. Cocktails draw inspiration from the landscapes, ingredients and memories of Taiwan, alongside impressions gathered from journeys further afield. Rising through the space, Taiwan’s tallest indoor liquor tower creates a dramatic visual centrepiece, while the surrounding atmosphere shifts between energy and intimacy, inviting guests to gather, linger and exchange stories.

From the hotel, the journey opens out into Taichung, connecting guests with the city’s streets, culture, food, art and nightlife. By day, the surrounding neighbourhood invites exploration; by night, Ailìse Bar brings the journey back through cocktails, atmosphere and conversation. Rooted in memory yet shaped for the present, OKU Hotel Taichung offers a stay defined by discovery, connection and a renewed sense of place.

“We want OKU Taichung to feel layered with stories, respecting the building’s past while giving guests a new sense of discovery.”

— Joris Angevaare, Studio HBA Singapore