Xinzhuang’s night starts with a headcount.
One, two, six, twelve. Four kinds of outing, each matched to a station and a shop. Not sorted by district; Xinzhuang Temple Street night market and Fuducing each have their own piece. Every name and number comes from the Xinzhuang shop registry.
One person
A counter, or a massage bed.
Xinzhuang Rd 483, 摩多居酒屋, 4.9 stars and over 5,450 reviews, the top izakaya by review count on file in Xinzhuang. Sit at the counter alone, order three skewers and a drink, leave in forty minutes, nobody looks. From MRT Xinzhuang Station (Zhongzheng Rd 138, B1) walk along Xinzhuang Rd about eight minutes.
Not drinking. Zhonggang Rd 375, 大腳將軍足體按摩會館-新莊館, 4.8 stars and over 1,980. 優慢解壓所 新莊 at Zhongyuan E. Rd 143, a perfect score and over 2,080, the most-reviewed massage in Xinzhuang, reservation-only. Foot massage about NT$800 to 1,200 an hour, posted prices rule.
Xinzhuang for one loosens after nine. Before eight the counters are full.
Two people
Small rooms.
Zhongzheng Rd Lane 514, two shops in one lane. No. 9, 2F, MON 茫 Bar, 4.8 stars and over 540; No. 19, HONEY Brunch&Bistro （哈尼餐酒館）, 4.9 stars and over 360. 左轉靠右咖啡酒吧 at Fuhui Rd 6-1, 4.5 stars and over 490, for anyone who wants to talk without music over it.
🍺Night&Night Lounge Bar at Xinzhuang Rd 395, 4.7 stars and over 280, a walk along the same road; two stops, no taxi.
Cocktails NT$250 to 400, posted prices rule.
Six people
Book.
Zhongzheng Rd 309, 老串角居酒屋-新莊店, 4.9 stars and over 5,140. Fuxing Rd Sec. 1 No. 197, 鳥藏燒き鳥居酒屋, a perfect score and over 4,630. Zhongzheng Rd 231, 老味噌居酒屋 - 新莊店, 4.9 stars and over 4,850. Fourteen thousand-plus reviews between them, all built for six-tops and up.
Friday and Saturday from seven to nine without a booking, a half-hour wait at least. Call two or three days ahead. Weekday nights after eight have room.
Plainly put, six people on a Saturday whim will not get into any of the three. Switch to Cow杯居酒屋 at Zhonggang Rd 570, 4.8 stars and over 1,310, or 老酒霸居酒屋 新莊店 at Xintai Rd 40 with over 2,650, one notch smaller, one notch better odds.
NT$500 to 800 a head.
Twelve people
A private room.
Zhonghua Rd Sec. 2 No. 19, 凱悅YESKTV 新莊店, 4.9 stars and over 20,400 reviews, the most-reviewed shop on file in Xinzhuang in any category. Large rooms exist, twelve fit. 歌喉讚KTV(新莊店) at No. 1, 2F, 4.8 stars and over 2,290, when Hyatt is full. 星光大道KTV新莊店 at Min’an Rd Lane 188 No. 5, 6F, over 1,190, the third backup.
Weekday afternoons are cheapest; Friday and Saturday after eight, call 02 8991 6066 first. How pricing works is in How to choose a New Taipei KTV.
Late-night food for twelve after singing is around Touqianzhuang, laid out by three time slots in Fuducing late-night eats.
Getting there
MRT Xinzhuang Station at Zhongzheng Rd 138, Touqianzhuang at Siyuan Rd 18, one stop apart. The Zhonghua Rd Sec. 2 KTVs are about ten minutes on foot from Xinzhuang Station, the temple market five. Last train around midnight, Taipei Metro’s notice rules.
Twelve people singing until two are long past the last train. If you drink, taxi, or a designated driver.