DJ Travel Tips
Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Taipei, Taiwan
DJ Vicar
DJs may not know where to eat, stay, and play when they get booked in cities they've never been to before. To help them get the most out of their visit, DJcity launched a series called DJ Travel Tips. The series highlights some of the best things to do in some of the most popular destinations around the world.
DJ Marcus Aurelius:
"Getting some rest in a city that never sleeps is essential. If you are a straight baller, The W Taipei is where it's at. There is even a special for people attending the Red Bull Music 3Style World Finals in January. The W is located in the heart of the XinYi area, which has shopping, food, and nightlife around every corner. Also, nearby is the Grand Hyatt for those that are just medium pimpin'.
One of the greatest things about Taipei is its Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. Clean, fast, and orderly, visitors can get everywhere in the city and the suburbs within an hour. This means you can stay just about anywhere. Amba in the Ximending district is a boutique hotel with lots of flair and is located in the best people-watching part of the city. Ximending also has record stores, vintage shops with crazy sneakers at crazy prices, and a gay area that goes all night long.
Getting out of the hubbub of the city is the Fullon Hotel in Danshui. It's walking distance from the Fisherman's Wharf, a great place to YouBike around, and about a 20-minute cab ride to Baishawan Beach. It's at the end of an MRT line, too, so you can get back to business very quickly."
DJ Hailie:
"Taipei is known for two things when it comes to food: Din Tai Fung for dumplings and night markets. Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市 is my favorite for just about any street food like stinky tofu or duck's blood popsicles.
My favorite restaurant in Taipei must be TangKung/唐宮. Located on the second floor of an old apartment, TangKung is a kind of old-style Taiwanese restaurant, featuring all-you-can-eat Mongolian Barbecue and authentic meat with pickled cabbage hot pot. Never underrate TangKung because of its shabby design or reasonable price! The hot pot here is definitely the best in Taipei City. The side dish bar here is impressive, too, because it serves boiled grass jelly (燒仙草) and shaved ice (挫冰)."
DJ Vicar:
"Diggin' diggin' diggin' is what I love to do every day.
I love collecting DVD, Vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and even VHS tapes. Everything about sounds, I'll get it! My one favorite spot is a basement in a personal old apartment in the Kuting area of Taipei, but I can't tell people where that is or it will be ruined! After digging, I'll go to Ximending, which has a traditional restaurant I recommend to anyone called 黔園川菜 for lunch. After that, I'll go to pick up some clothing at a shop called DSSENT, which really supports Taiwan street culture! Around the shop, there are a lot of really dope graffiti parks for people to chill out in and see some interesting art.
After lunch, I head back to my record store, Soul Amazin' Music. There, I will clean and check the condition of the things that I found, as well as listen to music, practice deejaying, and have fun with my cat. For dinner, I frequent a Japanese restaurant called 赤綠/Taiwanippon. The owner is a chef and DJ, too, so I'll spend a lot of time at his restaurant talking about different music and cultures. Later on, I spin jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, and R&B at two luxury bars, KOR Taipei or Barcode. The next day I do it all again."
Where to Party
DJ Cross Cutz:
"Taipei has a little something for everyone when it comes to partying, just hold on to your liver. If you are looking to bang it out, tables filled with champagne, and lasers and smoke cannons, then you should definitely head to either OMNI or AI. Both venues look amazing and have a long list of International guest DJs spinning every week. At Triangle, mingling, dancing till dawn, and vibing out to more diversified music genres such as hip-hop, 80s/90s/2000s parties, house music, and funk nights on Wednesdays and weekends is a must.
The XinYi district is home to numerous clubs offering open bar nights, which attract a younger crowd in top-notch venues that play EDM, hard trap and hip-hop. IKON, WAVE, Klash, and Franny are all located next to each other and therefore makes it easy to hop from one venue to another.
The house, techno, and underground electronic music scenes are very much alive in Taipei with Korner, PIPE and 23 Music Room showcasing new DJs every weekend. "
Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Chicago
DJcity Staff | DJ Culture
DJ Travel Tips,
Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Chicago
RTST performs at Green Music Fest in Chicago on June 11, 2017. (Credit: Christine Ciszczon)
DJs may not know where to eat, stay, and play when they get booked in cities they've never been to before. To help them get the most out of their visit, DJcity has launched a monthly series called DJ Travel Tips. The series highlights some of the best things to do in some of the most popular destinations around the world.
DJ Trew:
"If I'm taking a staycation, it's usually at the Blackstone Hotel located on Michigan Avenue, right along the lakefront. During the building boom that followed the Great Chicago Fire, this hotel was built as part of the Blackstone theater complex. I moved to Chicago in part for its architectural history, so staying here is more appealing personally than to be at an upscale boutique. The best way to experience Chicago history is to sleep in it! Get a lake view room and then venture out to Grant Park for some daytime exploring. Then hit the theater district at night for plays, dance performances, or live concerts."
Big Once:
"As a life-long resident of 'America's Fattest City' contender, I could go on for days about the unhealthy food options in Chicago. If you're into Italian beef, burgers, and hot dogs, hit Portillo's downtown on Ontario Street. For the best Mexican food in the city, hit L'Patron or El Cid, both in Logan Square. For breakfast, go to Cozy Corner, also located in Logan Square. There are a ton of good BBQ places too, my favorite being Fat Willy's on Schubert Avenue. For Chinese, pretty much anywhere in Chinatown will set you straight, but I'm partial to Three Happiness on Cermak. Last but not least, we arrive at deep-dish pizza. This debate can quickly lead to throwing hands among Chicago natives, but the only correct answer is Pizzeria Uno on Ohio Street."
RTST:
"One of my favorite things to do in Chicago is going to art galleries and museums. My personal favorite museum is the Museum of Contemporary Art. They curate really good exhibits within a variety of mediums. They've previously displayed work from Murakami, David Bowie, and Alexander Calder. You also can't go wrong visiting the Art Institute. They have a huge collection of art spanning different centuries as well as a great modern wing. If art history is not your thing, you can always get your 'Ferris Bueller' on and stare at La Grande Jatte. Pilsen is a great neighborhood to visit not just for its culture, but it's also home to the Chicago Arts District. If you happen to be there on a second Friday, they open up the galleries for the public to view the works they're curating."
"For the downtown club experience, your best option is Underground. It's a legendary Chicago club that has some of the best guest DJs from all over the world. Plus, they just got a major upgrade when they hired a new Saturday resident last month. If you aren't into bottles and sparklers, there are literally thousands of bars, live venues, themed spots, and dives all over the city. Because Chicago is so massive, a lot of people stick to going out in their neighborhoods or surrounding areas. If you're up for exploring, check out Logan Square, Hyde Park, Pilsen, Little Village, or the West Loop. Each neighborhood has its own unique culture and flavor that carries over into the nightlife scenes. Chicago has a lot of great DJs of every genre, so there are always multiple options for whatever you're into."
Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Berlin
Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Berlin
DJ D-Tale at The Pearl in Berlin.
DJ D-Tale:
"Because of the Berlin Wall's history, there is no single city center but different downtown areas to explore. The best hotel and Airbnb locations with easy access to shops, restaurants, and cultural spots are Rosenthaler Platz (Mitte), Kurfürstendamm (Charlottenburg), and Schlesisches Tor (Kreuzberg). If you want to go high profile and need quick access to a studio or meeting room, you should either stay at Soho House or Nhow. Another place I often recommend is Adina."
Monsieur Dope:
"Check out Adana Grillhaus in Kreuzberg for some Turkish grill. Get the spicy tomato salad, hummus, and charcoal grilled mixed meat platter. For juicy ribs, smoked meat, and mac and cheese, you gotta check Chicago Williams BBQ. The boys there will set you in the right mood. Crackers is the spot for some fine dining and one of the best tartar sauces in the city. Their cocktail menu is a good start to the night. If you're vegetarian or vegan, the restaurant Cookies Cream is it. They just became the first vegetarian restaurant in Germany to get a Michelin star. For your hangover breakfast, hit up Commonground for eggs Benedict, French toast, and a good coffee. If you're craving for a soupy hungover solution, get some pho and a four-time best burger in town 'De La Sauce' at District Mot."
DJ Abuze:
"Berlin offers tons of great museums ranging from the world famous Pergamonmuseum to the Computer Game Museum, where you can play yourself thru the gaming history of PC, Atari, Commodore 64, Nintendo, Sega, and more. On a chilled sunny Sunday during summer, the whole town meets at Mauerpark. Drink a cold beer, enjoy a free karaoke show, and hunt some rare vinyl at the biggest second-hand market in town. Secret tip: Berlin Musictours gives a guided tour thru Berlin's music history of the past 30 years. Visit the world-famous Hansa Studios, where U2 and David Bowie recorded legendary albums."
DJ Craft:
"The best places for parties in Berlin are Prince Charles, 808 Club, Musik & Frieden, Avenue Club, The Pearl, Puro Sky Lounge, Festsaal Kreuzberg, and Bricks. My favorite place is Prince Charles because of their built-in Funktion-One sound system. I also love the selection of artists that play there like TroyBoi. The best venue for live shows is Columbiahalle, where they have artists like D'Angelo and Kendrick Lamar."
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Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting London
Travel Tips for DJs Visiting London
Wiley (left) and Martin 2 Smoove (right) at Ministry of Sound in London. (photo credit: Milkshake)
DJ Nick Bright, BBC Radio:
"If you're balling out, then you have to stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard. It has the sickest views of London as it's the highest hotel in the city. It's right above London Bridge station so getting around is easy. If your budget isn't quite at superstar rapper level, then the Ace Hotel is a decent alternative. It's right in the middle of Shoreditch, one of the busiest and coolest areas in the city. If museums and local culture are more your thing, I would recommend The Nadler Kensington. It's a quick walk or train ride to the museum quarter and has a really cool boutique vibe."
DJ Cable, BBC Radio 1Xtra and DJcity:
"Check out ICCO on Goodge Street if you're into pizza and Chisou on Princes Street for Japanese. Brick Lane has loads of options for a curry, not to mention one of the nicest bagel spots in the city, Beigel Bake. And of course, no trip to London would be complete without a visit to Morley's for a late night three-piece chicken and chips after a night out. I'd also recommend the restaurant in the Mondrian. Not only is the food great, but the service is always top quality."
Martin 2 Smoove, Ministry of Sound and Capital FM:
"In London, something is going on every night of the week. If it's clubbing you want, you have to check out the newly reopened Fabric or Ministry of Sound, where I'm currently a resident. There's always good live music throughout the week, from the big venues like The O2 to intimate places like the Notting Hill Arts Club. When I'm not DJing, my favorite place to hit up is Hip Hop Karaoke at The Social on Thursday night. It's one of the best places to have unpretentious fun!"
DJ AIK:
"There are a lot of really good venues in the West End where you can experience a mixture of house and hip-hop. Tape, Toy Room Club, Libertine, and Cirque le Soir always have great DJs and are favorites of a lot of big American rappers and celebrities. Drake, Big Sean, Young Thug, and Travis Scott have all been there recently. My favorite West End club has to be The Box. It attracts an eclectic crowd, and their shocking live shows leave little to the imagination. The combination of house music, vintage decor, and "trash" stage performers makes for an interesting club concept. If you want to experience electronic music or the underground music scene in London, Shoreditch is a good place to go. Check out Brick Lane on a Sunday where you'll find some house day parties going on. You can also stop by the headquarters of the legendary Defected Records."
Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Houston
Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Houston
Ape Drums (credit: P.O.P Photography)
DJs may not know where to eat, stay, and play when they get booked in cities they've never been to before. To help them get the most out of their visit, DJcity has a monthly series called DJ Travel Tips. The series highlights some of the best things to do in some of the most popular destinations around the world. For this edition, DJcity spoke with four DJs from Houston, a longtime hip-hop hub and the location of Super Bowl 51.
Ape Drums:
"Stay at Hotel ZaZa, it's located in the Museum District and is one of the nicest hotels in Houston. If you're into arts and culture, there are several museums to visit in the area. If you're on a budget, the Hilton and Hyatt Regency in downtown are also very nice and surrounded by things to do, such as parks and places to eat."
Eddie Deville:
"Check out Laurenzo's on Washington Ave for the prime rib or fish and grits, Frank's Pizza for a pie, and The Turkey Leg Hut, which is known for their stuffed turkey legs and exotic surf and turf plates. The hut also has DJs at night. For your Sunday morning gig hangover, try the chicken-fried lobster brunch at MAX's Wine Dive. If you want to see the origins of Houston's chopped and screwed culture, take a trip to MLK Boulevard and hit up Timmy Chan's for some wings and rice served with your choice of Kool-Aid."
DJ T Gray:
"If you have a good amount of time on a nice afternoon, a trip to NASA's Johnson Space Center is always a fun and educational adventure. Houston's Museum District offers various facilities ranging from the Museum of Natural Science and to the jaw-dropping Holocaust Museum. Rice Village, home of Rice University, has a lot of boutique shopping and great restaurants and bars. Also, hit up Vinh or George at Mega DJ Center to get the latest and custom DJ gear and accessories."
Tony Styles:
"If bar hopping is your thing, Midtown is your place. Start at The Dogwood on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, and make your way around the block and down the streets. Washington Ave also has a bar hopping buzz. Start at Kung Fu Saloon and make your rounds on foot from there. One of the newer, high-end spots in the city is Clé. Big names roll through there on the regular, like Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Drake, and Justin Bieber. It has an outdoor pool with cabanas, and in the summer during "Sunday Fundae," it feels like Vegas. AURA and La Roux often have some great talent also."
Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Philadelphia
Ape Drums, DJ T. Gray, DJ Travel Tips, Eddie Deville, Tony Styles,
Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Philadelphia
DJ Royale at Philadelphia's Voyeur Nightclub in 2015. (credit: Drew Gurian / Red Bull Content Pool)
DJ Wreckless:
"If you're playing downtown, I recommend Loews Philadelphia Hotel since it's near all the major clubs in the area. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia is also a nice spot and good second choice. If you're looking for a budget hotel, Days Inn and Holiday Inn Express offer a pretty good bang for your buck. And of course, there's always Airbnb."
"There's a lot of great places in Philly to eat but first things first, get some cheesesteak! All tourists usually go to two famous spots in South Philly: Geno's Steaks or Pat's King of Steaks. Both places will satisfy your cheesesteak fix and are located right next to each other. You can choose one or the other or both if you're about that life. If you're in the Chinatown area, there are two must-visit Chinese spots. The first is David's Mai Lai Wah, which is known for their salt and pepper chicken wings. The second is and Ken's Seafood Restaurant, which is known for their salted fish fried rice, chicken pan-fried noodles, and salt and pepper squid. If you're in the mood for Spanish food, Tierra Colombiana is where to go! It's located in North Philly (not too far from the city) and they have amazing food!"
DJ Royale:
"Even though Philadelphia is the fifth largest market in the US, it's been somewhat slept-on up until recent years. From chef-owned restaurants and beer gardens to warehouse parties and historical monuments, Philly is bursting with gems. The city's Mural Arts Program has enabled professional artists to express themselves since 1984. It features over 3,600 murals throughout Philly, making the city the mural capital of the world. From world famous artists like Shepard Fairey and Keith Haring to local students, there's a vast magnitude of styles. The program offers both walking and trolley tours and offers an authentic experience outside of the downtown business centers and historical monuments. As for record stores, Brewerytown Beats and Milk Crate Cafe are two of my favorites. Brewerytown is one of the most recent additions to the city and has everything from $1 crates to new gems. If their selection on the floor doesn't fill your appetite, ask the owner if you can check out the basement where there's unsorted house records and more. Milk Crate is a record store and cafe located in the now bustling Fishtown neighborhood. It's a cool spot to grab tunes and fill your stomach. It's also a good place if you need to hop on Wi-Fi and get some work done, and it's just minutes from a ton of bars and restaurants."
DJ Reed Streets:
"If you're into dancing and laid back vibes, The 700, Silk City, L'Etage, Frankie Bradley's, and Saint Lazarus Bar are always a win. If bottle service and a big club is more your style, check out Coda in Center City; you can catch anyone from Snoop Dogg to Miami Horror playing there. Another can't-miss spot during the summer is Morgan's Pier."
Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Atlanta
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