I spent my first night in Seoul, South Korea at the Grand Hyatt, a very nice property at the base of Seoul’s Mount Namsan.
Grand Hyatt Seoul Review
I booked the hotel for $180/night, which made more sense to me than using points (this is a Category 5 property in the World of Hyatt program).
From Seoul station to the hotel, the taxi took about 15 minutes and cost about 20USD.
The hotel grounds are full of finely-manicured mature trees. The hotel is a short distance from the Han River.
Check-In
During check-in, my Globalist status in World of Hyatt was recognized and I was upgraded to a room with a view of Mount Namsa (I had booked the cheapest room, which faces the other direction). No suite upgrades were available (it was already approaching 10:00 pm).
I was presented with a guide letter detailing the hotel amenities:
Guest Room
As I stepped of the elevator on the 15th floor, I was greeted by a library of books in the elevator area.
I found my room, 1553, down the hall.
The room was small, but had mirrors on both sides of the room which gave the illusion of. larger room. The room included a bed, round table with chair, and couch.
Coffee (Nespresso machine), tea, and water were included.
The bathroom was quite small, but had a toilet with a bidet, a single sink, and a shower (no tub). A window shade could be lowered to give privacy while in the bathroom (I still cannot figure out why bathrooms have windows into the bedroom…)
View from my room:
Grand Club
My favorite part of the hotel was the Grand Club, which (like many of its counterparts in East Asia) was posh and a true value-add to having Globalist status.
Breakfast included a well-stocked buffet with a selection of Korean and Western food items, omelets made to order, freshly-squeezed juices, and barista coffee.
Note: Globalists can only have complimentary breakfast here…not in The Terrace upstairs or via rooms service
Tea, coffee, water, juice, and soft drinks are available all day along with fruit and cake.
Because of my late arrival, I missed the evening spread, but I would imagine it is quite a generous spread and likely enough for a full meal (offered nightly from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm).
Fitness Center
The gym was packed at 9:00 am and still packed at 1:00 pm…I managed a workout, but it really felt crowded. I appreicated the gym had LifeFitness instead of TechnoGym equipment.
Interestingly, I came down in my own workout clothes, but everyone was wearing white Grand Hyatt workout gear, which I later noticed inside the locker room. Is this a South Korean thing? I rather like the idea of wearing workout clothes that are professionally laundered after each use.
Pools
Both the indoor and outdoor pools are located adjacent to the gym. Lifeguards monitor for safety and ensure that every person has a swim cap on (which you can purchase from the gym’s front desk, if needed).
The outdoor pool also has a nice garden area around it.
Wellness
My other favorite part of the property was the large wellness area adjacent to the gym. Like the gym, this was quite crowded too in the morning, but when I returned about 1:00 pm in the afternoon it was much quieter. Here there are two saunas, steam room, and a large heated pool with jets.
Culturally, I found it interesting that everyone is butt-naked here…but it made it easier not to have to dry off my swimming trunks…
Then everyone sits in fornt of a mirror on a little stool about a foot off the ground and gets ready.
Restaurants + Bars
As a Grand Hyatt, the hotel has several dining and drinking options.
- The Terrace – Breakfast and dinner are available here, buffet style.
- Gallery – Bar area of lobby
- JJ Mahoney – New York style bar bar
- Teppan – South Korean tasting menu
- Kauri – sushi
- The Steak House – Hanwoo beef, Australian Wagyu, and other fine meats and seafood cooked in a Spanish charcoal Pira oven
- Tenaki – yakitori-style cuisine with a variety of grilled skewers, appetizers, and deep-fried dishes plus Japanese sake and draft beer
- The Paris Bar – cigar bar live jazz performances
- The Deli – bakery and wine shop
- Room Service – available 24/7 with custom options available (you just tell them what you want) when at least 24 hours of notice is provided
Parking
If you are driving yourself, the hotel offers electric vehicle charging, including for Teslas. Most, however, appeared to be using taxis (as did I).
CONCLUSION
I chose just a one night stay so I could review the Park Hyatt Seoul as well, but I preferred this property and would happily return. Grand Club guests can expect a very nice lounge and the large fitness and wellness is quite nice, even though it does get crowded.
The facilities look excellent, but I couldn’t see myself using such a hotel other than for a staycation/resort type visit. Seoul has an excellent public transport system and the traffic can be quite bad – taxis aren’t expensive, but you really want to be near a metro station in order to avoid the risk of getting stuck in jams. Furthermore, most decent hotels in Korea have largish rooms, but this one looks both small and overfurnished for its size.
This is my personal favorite hotel in Korea. Thanks for the review. The Grand Hyatt near the airport is also quite nice but a bit far from the city.
+1 as UAFlyer said.
The evening spread at the lounge is indeed substantial. We like this much better vs Park Hyatt at Gangnam, which feels very transactional.
The deli here (and GH Incheon) knows how to bake pastries.
What we do not like: they turned off AC during winter.
It’s one of the best airport hotels I’ve been to in all aspects. However, I find service in this country to just be on another level and that’s what really elevates the experience.
This was the Grand Hyatt in town, not at ICN.
I flew into GMP – had I flown into ICN I would have spent my first night at GH ICN…it was much cheaper!
You mention the hotel is at the base of “Mount Namsa”. I just wish to point out the location’s name is actually “Namsan” (남산), meaning “South Mountain” in English.
Thanks! That was an auto-correct from Grammarly.
A gaff on my part!
Sometimes if you go during May or June, it’s cheaper to stay downtown than at the one next to the airport.
I learned when at the jjimjilbang it’s expected to first vigorously scrub every cm of your body and only submerge the body in the pools,not just the feet.
Going to address this in a post later today or tomorrow.
Having the gym provide shorts and Tshirt seems to be a Korean thing. Both the gym at the Conrad and the one in my client’s office tower do the same.
I used to stay here on business trips and it is one of my favorite hotels. Indeed the rooms are small but they have a cozy comfortable feeling. In the more than 30 stays I think I was only ever upgraded once as a Globalist…but I never really minded.
As a runner, going for a run around Namsam is heaven. Great path and just stunningly beautiful in autumn with the leaves changing color. In winter there’s an ice rink on the property ..not that I ever used it…but adds to the seasonal atmosphere.
I live close to this hotel. There is a lively jazz bar tucked away below the lobby. The outdoor lighting during the holiday season is spectacular. Also, there is a pedestrian bridge from the property to Namsan Park, which provides one of the best nature fixes in the city, as you can hike all the way to Seoul Tower by many different paths, both natural and paved. Also, blue buses 405 and 402 stop by the hotel, going to downtown Itaewon and Gangnam, respectively, or in the opposite direction to Jongno and Myeongdong.
The last time I stayed there was like 25 years ago and before “Grand” was added. Nice to see the hotel fully renovated and added the “Grand” touch to it. Looking forward to revisiting the hotel on my next trip to Seoul.