Four Seasons Hotel Seoul review

What’s the 4 Seasons Resort Seoul

4 Seasons Resort 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 fitness center and sauna, and it is well-liked inside the area people for its many eating places and a powerful buffet.

The general design of 4 Seasons Resort Seoul displays a high-end, trendy tackle the normal Korean aesthetic, and is a superb 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 soak up the sights.

e-book the 4 Seasons Resort Seoul

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

Rooms at The 4 Seasons Resort Seoul

For my two-night keep, I used to be booked in a Nook Premier room measuring in at simply over 600 sq. ft. The nook room, replete with tall home windows searching over town, felt snug from the minute I walked in, nearly like an condominium. The area was stuffed with stunning woods contrasting in opposition to white linens, a patterned blue carpet and sensible, trendy accents.

On the far aspect of the room, there was useful writing desk with an workplace chair, in addition to a lounge chair with a desk, superb for studying.

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

Coming into the lavatory, a small wash closet containing the bathroom and a sink was on one aspect. On the other aspect was the primary rest room space with a deep soaking tub providing views of Seoul, a twin self-importance, 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 superb rest room.

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 protected.

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

What I ate on the 4 Seasons Resort Seoul

If you end up on the 4 Seasons Resort Seoul, be certain that to deliver your urge for food as there are extra bars and eating places tucked round this constructing than one may notice. 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 aspect menu that includes Jongga kimchi. As somebody who’s kimchi-obsessed, I used to be in love with the kimchi mule topped with an enormous piece of dried Jongga cabbage kimchi ($22).

Yu Yuan

With one Michelin star, Yu Yuan is a Cantonese restaurant serving every little thing 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 worth, this Michelin-star expertise felt like a steal.

Charles H.

For an unique cocktail bar with a aspect 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, knowledgeable mixologists, I began with a particular provide 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 traditional 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 advocate 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 aspect dishes, like kimchi). It is a snug spot to cease for a espresso or tea whereas studying the paper, or to take a seat with a calming glass of wine after a protracted afternoon of exploring 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 little thing from Asian-style noodle dishes and soups with an array of toppings to dim sum, pastries, made-to-order choices, Western favorites and every little thing in between. The buffet can be open for weekday lunch and dinner, a preferred 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 might write a novel about all of the issues to do at 4 Seasons Resort Seoul, as a result of the choices actually did really feel countless on this towering resort. Listed here are the highlights:

• 4 Seasons Membership Seoul: This multilevel membership encompasses the resort’s fitness center and a Korean-style sauna, each of that are open to non-guest members of The Membership in addition to resort friends. The fitness center is intensive, rivaling any Equinox I’ve ever stepped foot in. The Korean sauna contains swimming pools at totally different temperatures, a steam room and a specialty bathe with jets (simply word that it is customized in South Korea to enter the waters totally nude). For me, beginning my day on the fitness center after which heading to the sauna was each enjoyable and energizing. If I lived close by, I’d 100% be part of The Membership.
• The resort has three swimming pools, together with a devoted plunge pool for youths.
• Seoul Spa provides massages, signature remedies, full physique therapies, {couples} experiences, nail companies and extra. I acquired a conventional Ok-style colour evaluation, a preferred expertise in Korea, that helped me study what colours look finest on me. It was a blast and I extremely advocate.
• A traditional barbershop provides haircuts, moist shaves, and shoeshines — and a glass of whiskey whilst you wait.
• Superstar florist Nicolai Bergmann has a floral boutique on the bottom stage of the resort.
• Mother and father can signal children up for paid actions on the Children for All Seasons Lounge, together with cooking classes taught in English.
• Visitors 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 accessible for worldwide friends on a first-come, first-served foundation between 10 a.m and 6:30 p.m. as much as 1.24 miles.
• Visitors can use Google Chromecast to stream to the TV.

Insider ideas for staying on the 4 Seasons HOtel Seoul

Accessibility

Whereas there is not an abundance of accessibility data on the resort’s web site, we did study that 4 Seasons Resort Seoul has quite a lot of accessible resort rooms accessible, together with a number of Accessible Deluxe rooms — that are among the largest within the metropolis.

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

Backside line

I completely loved my time on the 4 Seasons Resort 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 might expertise this at house.

And whereas it is a huge resort, the private service made my keep right here really feel intimate and bespoke. Regardless of a relentless stream of individuals coming and going by way of the foyer, the workers appeared to all the time acknowledge me and say hello.

The actual spotlight of my keep, although, was all of the unimaginable meals I loved. Throughout 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. One of the best half? When you’re too full to perform you may hop on the elevator and head proper to mattress.

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