3 stylish boutique hotels in Seoul
From hip fashion trends to the sleek aesthetics of South Korean architecture, Seoul's refined tastes are reflected in the city's boutique hotels.
Here are three that stand out.
IP Boutique Hotel
Formerly known as the Itaewon Hotel, the IP re-opened in March 2010 after extensive re-modeling.
Each of the sleek, futuristic-styled rooms comes with its own iPod station and complimentary Wi-Fi.
While the hotel’s central location in the heart of Itaewon makes traveling around easy, the super-comfortable beds may get in the way of any early-morning sight-seeing plans.
Rooms from US$347.
737-32 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu (한남동 용산구 737-32); +82 2 3702 8000, www.ipboutiquehotel.com
Metro Hotel
Each of the 75 guest rooms has been designed in soothing light -- wooden tones that are both tranquil and inviting. The rooms also come equipped with all the extras -- laptop adaptors, Internet phone -- needed while on the road.
Guests can start their morning with a lavish breakfast at The Clubhouse or use the private dining room for a cheery party or business event.
Take one step outside the hotel and you're already in a prime spot for some of the city’s finest shopping. Don’t worry, you can splurge a little from what you saved from a relatively cheap night’s stay.
Rooms from US$83.
199-33, Euljiro-2-ga, Jung gu (중구 을지로2가 199-33); +82 2 752 1112; www.metrohotel.co.kr
Hotel April
It's a cozy hotel with rough brick walls, high ceilings and minimalist interiors reminiscent of New York-style loft apartments.
Roam through the gallery room to view some examples of Seoul’s growing art scene. Catch up on your reading on a comfy leather couch in the dimly lit lounge, or sit quietly in the central courtyard.
The hotel’s prime location in the center of Seoul will allow you easy access to the busy downtown area.
Rooms from US$120 for half-a-day.
720-20 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu (강남구 역삼동 720-20); +82 2 3452 4900, www.hotelapril.com
