This glamorous, high-tech refuge is an ideal base from which to explore Taiwan’s largest port city.

First impressions might not be everything, but InterContinental Kaohsiung sure knows how to make a statement. Cue the airport pick-up in a Porsche hybrid vehicle for the short drive into town, where the hotel occupies the first 16th floors of Kaohsiung’s second-tallest building. My late-afternoon arrival at the first InterContinental-branded property in Taiwan (it debuted in November 2021) proves to be serendipitous. The long waiting time at immigration is instantly forgotten the moment a key card opens the door to my King Classic Harbor View room: I’m stunned as the window blinds automatically retract, revealing the setting sun over Kaohsiung port and the landmark 85 Sky Tower.

The Look

Upon arrival, I’m greeted by staff members smartly attired in uniforms by Jamie Wei Huang, the first Taiwanese designer to take part in London Fashion Week’s official show. InterContinental Kaohsiung owes its contemporary-chic appearance to a handpicked crop of local interior design studios. The ocean is a recurring theme, expressed in everything from the lobby’s wraparound aqua-blue panels to the seats and wave-like light fixtures at Chinese fine-diner Zhan Lu. Even more eye-catching is Wa-Ra, the fifth-floor Japanese restaurant and bar at the base of a 30-meter central void. This soaring space is put to good use through light shows held at 8 and 10 p.m. every weeknight, when moving images inspired by Kaohsiung’s history and its imagined future are projected onto the walls and ceiling. Multiple viewing windows in the corridors allow guests to take a peek en route to their quarters.

The Rooms

All 253 guest rooms and suites are characterized by a sleek, pared-back aesthetic with a subdued color palette. My Classic Harbor View had wood veneer walls in cream and taupe, black cabinets with golden accents, a gray chaise-longue in front of the plush king bed, and a dark blue rug. In the early mornings, the window-side sitting area made for a fine place to watch cruise ships coming into port as I sipped a cup of loose-leaf tea from Nantou near the island’s center. There’s also a Nespresso machine and Bose sound system, and even a stylish InterContinental-branded tote bag guests can borrow during their stay. Clad in beautiful faux-marble tiles, bathrooms feature a deep soaking tub, Byredo Blanche bath amenities, a Dyson hairdryer, and a heated Toto toilet that self-rinses once the compartment’s glass door swings open. The most impressive piece of in-room tech is the Aiello Intelligent Voice Butler, a bedside Siri-esque box that can help you set an alarm, turn out the lights, order some ice, or play a bit of jazz music.

The Food

At Wa-Ra, the menu features ingredients smoked with rice straw and crowd-pleasers like grilled unagi eel or sesame miso somen. Taiwanese produce is showcased at Zhan Lu, where chef Nelson Wang and his kitchen team plate up contemporary Cantonese and Shanghainese dishes. Notably, signature drinks at both BL.T33 lobby lounge and Wa-Ra were created by TCRC, a progressive Tainan cocktail den that was previously recognized in Asia’s 50 Best Bars list.

Seeds, the all-day dining venue on the ground floor, should not be overlooked. While the breakfast spread presents a satisfying mix of Asian and Western favorites, it’s the excellent Taiwanese-French tasting menu at dinnertime that takes the cake. Seafood-lovers are in for a treat: on my visit I sample a first course of osmanthus-smoked tiger prawn from the Penghu Islands, cooked low and slow in prawn oil tinted the fiery orange of a tropical Kaohsiung sunset. The undisputed highlight is Yilan squid in ink sauce, served with potatoes, delicate cubes of confit ginger preserved in olive oil, and finely grated wuyuzi, or cured mullet roe — an ingredient that has been highly prized in Taiwanese cooking for centuries.

And if you can’t polish off dessert or the loaf of homemade sourdough with moreish seaweed butter, you need not feel guilty: food waste is fed into an on-site composter, which supplies fertilizer to an organic farm in neighboring Pingtung County, the source of all vegetables used across the hotel restaurants.

What Else?

The young, enthusiastic concierges are commendable: a casual question about local specialties during the drive from the airport was eventually (and unexpectedly) met with a large envelope containing the addresses, opening hours, and photos of two recommended restaurants printed on an A4.

For getting around independently, guests will find both a metro and light rail station just a few minutes away on foot. It may come as no surprise that the InterContinental is styled as more of a business hotel, especially given its proximity to the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. But although there may not be a spa, the sixth-floor Health Club does contain a sauna and steam room in the male and female changing rooms. The adjoining swimming pool is a striking place for a dip, thanks to its barrel-vaulted ceiling and a series of windows looking out toward the harbor. On the same level, a compact gym comes equipped with treadmills, dumbbells, and a Precor Flex strength training machine.

ickaohsiung.com; doubles from US$181