A landmark 1908 red-brick complex at the edge of Ximending—Taiwan’s first government-built public market, now a cultural-creative hub. Its octagonal “Red House Theater” and cruciform building make a quick, photogenic stop before street food and a late-night stroll.
A landmark 1908 red-brick complex at the edge of Ximending—Taiwan’s first government-built public market, now a cultural-creative hub. Its octagonal “Red House Theater” and cruciform building make a quick, photogenic stop before street food and a late-night stroll.
Updated June 20, 2026
MapVisualize where this fits in your day (and plan nearby pairings).
A few good pairings within easy reach of this spot.
Quick facts資訊
CostHoursTime neededGetting thereBest time / forGood to knowDistrictBest forClosed
Highlights亮點The Red House is a perfect “quick texture” stop: you get heritage architecture and a lively plaza mood without needing a big plan. Built in 1908 and designed by Japanese architect Kondo Juro, it was Taiwan’s first government-built public market—and it adds real depth to a Ximending night while giving you a clear landmark to orient yourself.
It consists of two connected red-brick structures: the octagonal “Octagon Building” (the Red House Theater) and a cruciform building behind it. If you’re walking Ximending anyway, it’s one of the easiest high-payoff detours.
The Red House has worn many hats over the decades—market, department store, cinema, and, from 1945, a theater—reflecting the changing life of the city around it. It was designated a Class III Historical Site in 1997, and since 2007 it has been managed by the Taipei Culture Foundation as a cultural-creative hub.
Today that means exhibitions, performances, design shops, and a weekend Creative Market in the plaza. Because it’s a working venue, the Octagon Theater interior may be in use for events rather than open to casually browse—so treat the architecture and plaza as the reliable draw.
Stop by before your snack crawl so you have energy to look around, ideally late afternoon into evening when the light is good and the weekend Creative Market is liveliest. General admission is free, though some exhibitions and performances are ticketed. Then let the rest of the night be simple: neon, people-watching, and food.
Note the hours: open Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 11:00–21:30, Friday and Saturday until 22:00, and closed Mondays. The MRT Ximen station (Blue and Green lines), Exit 1, is barely a minute’s walk away.
The Red House is as much about its plazas as its architecture. The front square is a relaxed gathering spot with creative-market stalls on weekends, while the rear plaza is the heart of one of Asia’s most visible LGBTQ+ nightlife clusters, lined with open-air bars that fill with a friendly, welcoming crowd after dark. That combination — heritage landmark by day, social hub by night — gives the spot an energy you won’t find at a more conventional museum.
Inside and around the brick halls you’ll also find a well-curated shop of work by Taiwanese designers and craftspeople, making it one of the better places in Ximending to pick up a souvenir with some substance. Add the constant flow of people through the adjacent MRT exit and the surrounding pedestrian streets, and the Red House works perfectly as the orienting first stop of a Ximending evening before you dive into the neon and street food.
This stop pairs best with a classic “Taipei night”: a short heritage moment, then street food and lights. Because MRT Ximen sits right outside, it slots naturally between a Wanhua temple loop and a Ximending evening.
Quick answers to common planning questions.
Official pages and references for planning details.
Hand-picked next reads to make your Taipei plan smoother.
Taipei’s most famous pedestrian shopping area—bright signage, pop culture, and a steady stream of snacks and late-night eats. Compact, walkable, and endlessly photogenic, it’s the city’s easiest ‘Taipei at night’ to dive into on day one.
Read more →
Taipei’s oldest district: temple atmosphere, heritage blocks, and everyday street scenes—best explored slowly with snacks and short walks. Anchored by Longshan Temple, it’s where the city’s lived-in history is most palpable.
Read more →
Taiwan’s first tourist-designated night market, a covered ~600 m lane in Wanhua next to Longshan Temple. Nicknamed “Snake Alley” for its historic snake and medicinal foods, it’s more about atmosphere than endless options—best paired with Wanhua’s heritage streets.
Read more →
Founded in 1738 in Taipei’s oldest neighborhood, Longshan Temple is a working Buddhist-and-Taoist shrine wrapped in ornate Taiwanese craftsmanship—and the perfect gateway into the old streets of Wanhua.
Read more →
A neighborhood-first nightlife guide: where to spend your evening, how to keep it low-stress, and how to balance bars with Taipei’s best late-night food culture.
Read more →
A practical night-market playbook: what to expect, how to order, crowd strategy, and which markets fit your vibe.
Read more →Start with a simple loop: one neighborhood stroll, one iconic sight, and one night market. Taipei rewards balance.
Tip: hours, prices, and seasonal schedules can change. When something matters (like a museum ticket or a special exhibition), check the official listing before you go.