Four Seasons Hotel Seoul review

What’s the 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul

4 Seasons Lodge Seoul is a large resort spanning 29 flooring within the Gwanghwamun neighborhood. The resort has 285 rooms and 32 suites, a number of bars and eating places, an government membership, an on-site floral designer, a spa, a Korean sauna, a golf simulator and an indoor pool. It doubles as a membership membership, too, so locals can entry the world-class gymnasium and sauna, and it is standard inside the area people for its many eating places and a formidable buffet.

The general design of 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul displays a high-end, trendy tackle the normal Korean aesthetic, and is a good luxurious choice whether or not you are within the Central Enterprise District for enterprise or for those who’re a vacationer on the town to absorb the sights.

How you can ebook the 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul

Sadly, 4 Seasons nonetheless would not have its personal loyalty program (although we’re at all times hoping for one). Money charges at this property might be discovered as little as the mid-$400 vary, although charges sometimes hover round $600 and above.

Rooms at The 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul

For my two-night keep, I used to be booked in a Nook Premier room measuring in at simply over 600 sq. toes. The nook room, replete with tall home windows searching over the town, felt comfy from the minute I walked in, virtually like an residence. The area was crammed with lovely woods contrasting towards white linens, a patterned blue carpet and sensible, trendy accents.

On the far facet of the room, there was helpful writing desk with an workplace chair, in addition to a lounge chair with a desk, supreme for studying.

Reverse the mattress space, a small sofa sat throughout from the massive TV on a swivel mount so I may watch TV from the residing space or the plush mattress.

Getting into the toilet, a small wash closet containing the bathroom and a sink was on one facet. On the other facet was the primary lavatory space with a deep soaking tub providing views of Seoul, a twin vainness, a small TV hidden within the mirror and 4 Seasons signature ultra-plush towels. The resort makes use of lush Diptyque facilities — the cherry on high of a wonderful lavatory.

The room additionally had loads of closet area, a minibar with all of the anticipated soda, juices and alcoholic drinks, a espresso maker, an electrical kettle for tea and a secure.

And as somebody who loves massive cities and tall buildings, it was unimaginable to have these views from my very personal room.

What I ate on the 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul

If you end up on the 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul, make certain to deliver your urge for food as there are extra bars and eating places tucked round this constructing than one would possibly understand. The eating places embrace a large worldwide buffet; Italian, Japanese and Cantonese eating places; a speakeasy; a lounge; and a Korean snack and cocktail bar.

Here is a rundown of what I ate throughout my keep.

Oul

Touted as an “homage to the ever-changing identification of after-hours Seoul,” Oul is a cocktail bar with elevated Korean bar meals — and it is a actually enjoyable scene. Although you may come right here for particular person cocktails and snacks, I loved the Oul set menu (round $107). This scrumptious expertise included three cocktails, just like the Seoul Mule made with garlic butter vodka, and dishes like mouthwatering Korean fried hen, lobster tteokboki and delicate beef tartare wrapped up in quinoa popcorn.

On the time, Oul additionally had a particular facet menu that includes Jongga kimchi. As somebody who’s kimchi-obsessed, I used to be in love with the kimchi mule topped with a large piece of dried Jongga cabbage kimchi ($22).

Yu Yuan

With one Michelin star, Yu Yuan is a Cantonese restaurant serving every part from lunchtime dim sum to Beijing duck. Since I visited Yu Yuan over the weekend, I opted for the Brunch within the Rock Backyard set menu ($124), and had an exquisite time having fun with classics like pork and shrimp siu mai dumplings and roasted pork stomach, in addition to new flavors that I had by no means skilled, like abalone. For the value, this Michelin-star expertise felt like a steal.

Charles H.

For an unique cocktail bar with a facet of fried hen, the basement-level speakeasy Charles H. is a must-visit, with a bar area that is as glamorous because the menu is scrumptious. Sitting on the bar and chatting with pleasant, professional mixologists, I began with a particular supply from 6 to eight p.m. of 1 signature cocktail and one meals merchandise ($37), choosing the Manhattan flight, with varied takes from around the globe on this basic cocktail. However, in fact, I wasn’t fairly able to go — so I additionally loved the the Cannes-inspired Riviera Martini ($24).

This area stuffed up throughout my Sunday night time go to, so I would extremely suggest making a reservation prematurely.

Maru

Situated simply off the foyer, Maru is an informal lounge providing Western and Korean breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. I finished in for a fast breakfast and loved a hearty soup with rice and banchan (which consists of scrumptious Korean facet dishes, like kimchi). It is a comfy spot to cease for a espresso or tea whereas studying the paper, or to take a seat with a relaxing glass of wine after an extended afternoon of exploring the town.

The Market Kitchen

For breakfast, do not miss a visit to the huge worldwide buffet at The Market Kitchen. There you may seize every part from Asian-style noodle dishes and soups with an array of toppings to dim sum, pastries, made-to-order choices, Western favorites and every part in between. The buffet can also be open for weekday lunch and dinner, a well-liked seafood night time on Fridays, and brunch all through the weekend and on holidays. Costs begin round $57 for adults for breakfast, $124 for lunch and $136 for dinner.

Facilities and issues to do

I felt like I may write a novel about all of the issues to do at 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul, as a result of the choices actually did really feel limitless on this towering resort. Listed below are the highlights:

• 4 Seasons Membership Seoul: This multilevel membership encompasses the resort’s gymnasium and a Korean-style sauna, each of that are open to non-guest members of The Membership in addition to resort company. The gymnasium is in depth, rivaling any Equinox I’ve ever stepped foot in. The Korean sauna contains swimming pools at completely different temperatures, a steam room and a specialty bathe with jets (simply be aware that it is customized in South Korea to enter the waters totally nude). For me, beginning my day on the gymnasium after which heading to the sauna was each stress-free and energizing. If I lived close by, I might 100% be part of The Membership.
• The resort has three swimming pools, together with a devoted plunge pool for youths.
• Seoul Spa presents massages, signature remedies, full physique therapies, {couples} experiences, nail providers and extra. I acquired a standard Ok-style coloration evaluation, a well-liked expertise in Korea, that helped me be taught what colours look greatest on me. It was a blast and I extremely suggest.
• A basic barbershop presents haircuts, moist shaves, and shoeshines — and a glass of whiskey when you wait.
• Celeb florist Nicolai Bergmann has a floral boutique on the bottom stage of the resort.
• Dad and mom can signal children up for paid actions on the Children for All Seasons Lounge, together with cooking classes taught in English.
• Friends can take pleasure in greater than 7,000 newspapers and magazines by way of the resort’s press reader service.
• 4 Seasons Seoul is pet-friendly, and the $184 pet price contains facilities like a mattress and meals and water bowls.
• A home automotive is offered for worldwide company on a first-come, first-served foundation between 10 a.m and 6:30 p.m. as much as 1.24 miles.
• Friends can use Google Chromecast to stream to the TV.

Insider suggestions for staying on the 4 Seasons HOtel Seoul

Accessibility

Whereas there is not an abundance of accessibility info on the resort’s web site, we did be taught that 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul has numerous accessible resort rooms out there, together with a number of Accessible Deluxe rooms — that are a few of the largest within the metropolis.

To ebook these rooms, and to be taught extra in regards to the resort’s accessibility choices, the resort requests inquiring vacationers name +81 (2) 6388-5000.

Backside line

I totally loved my time on the 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul. The property is gorgeous, and for those who spend sufficient time exploring, you may discover some great surprises round every nook, just like the Charles H. speakeasy and Nicolai Bergmann’s grand floral preparations. Taking time to lean into Korean sauna tradition helped me really feel very relaxed, and I discovered myself wishing I may expertise this at residence.

And whereas it is a massive resort, the non-public service made my keep right here really feel intimate and bespoke. Regardless of a continuing stream of individuals coming and going by way of the foyer, the workers appeared to at all times acknowledge me and say hello.

The actual spotlight of my keep, although, was all of the unimaginable meals I loved. Inside the resort partitions, one can take a culinary tour of the world, from Italy to Japan — and even with a cease at a Michelin-starred Cantonese spot. The perfect half? When you’re too full to operate you may hop on the elevator and head proper to mattress.

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