4 Seasons Lodge Seoul evaluate

What’s the 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul

4 Seasons Lodge Seoul is a large lodge spanning 29 flooring within the Gwanghwamun neighborhood. The lodge has 285 rooms and 32 suites, a number of bars and eating places, an govt 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 local 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 standard Korean aesthetic, and is a good luxurious possibility whether or not you are within the Central Enterprise District for enterprise or in case you’re a vacationer on the town to soak up the sights.

Find out how to ebook the 4 Seasons Lodge 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 usually 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. ft. The nook room, replete with tall home windows looking over the town, felt comfy from the minute I walked in, nearly like an condo. The area was stuffed with stunning woods contrasting towards white linens, a patterned blue carpet and good, trendy accents.

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

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

Coming into the toilet, a small wash closet containing the bathroom and a sink was on one facet. On the other facet was the principle 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 lodge 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 massive cities and tall buildings, it was unbelievable 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 may notice. The eating places embody 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 possibly can 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 an enormous piece of dried Jongga cabbage kimchi ($22).

Yu Yuan

With one Michelin star, Yu Yuan is a Cantonese restaurant serving all the things 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 a beautiful 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 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, skilled 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 world wide on this basic cocktail. However, after all, I wasn’t fairly able to go — so I additionally loved the the Cannes-inspired Riviera Martini ($24).

This area crammed up throughout my Sunday evening 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 calming 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 possibly can seize all the things from Asian-style noodle dishes and soups with an array of toppings to dim sum, pastries, made-to-order choices, Western favorites and all the things in between. The buffet can be open for weekday lunch and dinner, a well-liked seafood evening 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 countless on this towering lodge. Listed here are the highlights:

• 4 Seasons Membership Seoul: This multilevel membership encompasses the lodge’s fitness center and a Korean-style sauna, each of that are open to non-guest members of The Membership in addition to lodge company. The fitness center is in depth, rivaling any Equinox I’ve ever stepped foot in. The Korean sauna consists of swimming pools at completely different temperatures, a steam room and a specialty bathe with jets (simply notice that it is customized in South Korea to enter the waters absolutely nude). For me, beginning my day on the fitness center after which heading to the sauna was each stress-free and energizing. If I lived close by, I might 100% be a part of The Membership.
• The lodge has three swimming pools, together with a devoted plunge pool for youths.
• Seoul Spa presents massages, signature therapies, full physique therapies, {couples} experiences, nail companies and extra. I obtained a conventional Okay-style colour evaluation, a well-liked expertise in Korea, that helped me be taught what colours look finest on me. It was a blast and I extremely suggest.
• A basic barbershop presents haircuts, moist shaves, and shoeshines — and a glass of whiskey whilst you wait.
• Movie star florist Nicolai Bergmann has a floral boutique on the bottom degree of the lodge.
• Dad and mom 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 via the lodge’s press reader service.
• 4 Seasons Seoul is pet-friendly, and the $184 pet payment consists of facilities like a mattress and meals and water bowls.
• A home automobile is on the market 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.
• 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 info on the lodge’s web site, we did be taught that 4 Seasons Lodge Seoul has plenty of accessible lodge rooms obtainable, 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 concerning the lodge’s accessibility choices, the lodge 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 in case you spend sufficient time exploring, you will 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 dwelling.

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

The actual spotlight of my keep, although, was all of the unbelievable meals I loved. Throughout the lodge 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 very best half? When you’re too full to operate you possibly can hop on the elevator and head proper to mattress.

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