The Songshan stretch of Nanjing E. Rd — Sec. 3 from Fuxing N. Rd, Sec. 4 past the Arena, Sec. 5 to Nanjing Sanmin station — is one of Taipei's densest office belts by day. After six, every bistro on it is waiting for the same crowd: people who just clocked out.
When you leave the building decides where you sit tonight. Three shifts.
Out at 6:30: eat properly, decide about drinks later
Luckiest shift — kitchens fully open. OriginBAR Yuan at No. 31, Alley 5, Lane 133, Sec. 4 runs 4,400+ reviews at 4.9, food and drinks in one sitting, no real wait before 7. For a fuller meal, Qinglou at No. 512-1, Sec. 4 Bade Rd turns stir-fry into bar food, 2,600+ reviews, NT$600–900 a head.
Toward Dunhua N. Rd, Scumbag Taiwan Bistro at No. 13, Alley 7, Lane 120 has 3,300+ reviews of Taiwanese small plates with drinks; Shiguang Bistro at No. 16 in the same lane is quieter. Both fill after 7 on Friday and Saturday — book.
Out at 8: the last round before kitchens close
Most bistro kitchens take last orders 9:30–10, enough time to eat but not to linger. Go straight to izakaya: Civic Blvd Sec. 4 is Songshan's strip — Yoru Saku at No. 147 (4.9, 1,500+ reviews), Hachichiyo at No. 217 (1,600+), Wu Liu Shou at No. 135 (1,500+), three minutes apart on foot; sit wherever has a table. On Sec. 5, Lao Song Tian at No. 282 is close to Nanjing Sanmin station.
Izakaya don't rush you. Orders after 10 are fine.
Out at 10: drink, don't eat
Kitchens are shut, so skip food. Cellar Lounge Bar in the basement of No. 19, Sec. 4 has 1,700+ reviews and a bar counter for a slow glass; Wonder bar at No. 183 Fuxing N. Rd is near MRT Nanjing Fuxing for an easy exit before last train; Tipsy Dragon at No. 399-5, Sec. 5 does craft beer and cocktails at 4.9 with room to talk. Cocktails NT$350–500. Full list on the Songshan bar page.
Energy left to sing? ViBES KTV at No. 301, Sec. 3 (2,300+ reviews) runs late; more on the Songshan KTV list.
One note outside the timetable
On Arena concert nights Sec. 4 jams from 9:30 and the Taipei Arena MRT exit stays packed until 11 — move to Sec. 3 or 5, or walk to Nanjing Sanmin. For a massage finish, Zhiwu Chunqiu Breeze Nanjing branch at B2, No. 337, Sec. 3 has 2,400+ reviews and opens late.
Don't drive after drinks; taxis and designated drivers are quick here. To link this with Raohe Night Market, see after Raohe; for the Neihu version of clocking out, Neihu after work. The whole of Songshan on one page.