Hotel Review: JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Seoul

A cool urban sanctuary in the heart of Dongdaemun that boasts the city’s largest swimming pool.

Arriving in the vast metropolis of Seoul for the first time can feel daunting to even the most experienced of travellers. Not least for the sheer size of the sprawling city, which has around 10 million inhabitants, coupled with a confusing subway system, infuriating traffic, and English-speaking locals being a rarity.

This is why for anyone wanting to visit and explore the Korean capital, location is key when choosing where to stay. So with its central location and easy access to Seoul’s top tourist sites, we thought the Boutique JW Marriott Hotel in Dongdaemun Square could be the perfect choice…

Setting the Scene

Opened in 2014, the 170-room hotel includes 15 suites, three restaurants, a bar, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and L’Occitane spa. The hotel attracts a refined and trendy crowd of European and other Asian tourists, given the reputation for the area as a shopping hub, a local crowd of hip fashionistas hang out at the ground floor lounge. Guests are welcomed through the grand yet contemporary light-filled reception.

Location: Dongdaemun

Situated in the heart of the Dongdaemun area, Korea’s largest shopping district, the hotel overlooks the Great East Gate, also known as Heunginjimun, a vast oriental-style structure and historic landmark that dates back to the Joseon Dynasty.

From here, Zaha Hadid’s architectural marvel and retail and arts hub, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, is less than a 5-minute walk. The tourist hotspot, Gwangjung Market, offering oodles of authentic Korean street food, just a 15-minute walk away. And it’s a short drive to the Samcheong-dong area, known for its abundance of art spaces, including the Kukje Gallery and the Kumho Museum of Art. 

Rooms With a View

Catering to savvy globetrotters who prefer iPad-controlled lights and appliances to switches and remotes, the rooms are modern, high-tech, and functional, decorated in haute furnishings in greys and light beige. I stayed in one of the Executive Sky View Rooms on the 10th floor that came with blockbuster views over the East Gate and floor-to-ceiling blackout blinds, which felt very James Bond as they opened each morning to reveal the city skyline.

Fabulous Facilities

The utterly grand subterranean swimming pool is lit by three chandelier lights suspended from the high ceiling, while three giant mirrors adorn one wall. Along with a massive Jacuzzi, electric fire and cosy white cushioned deck chairs, it’s the ultimate spot from which to relax and forget what time of day it is. For anyone wanting treatments, the L’Occitane Spa offers body scrubs and facials, using ingredients from the brands headquarters in Provence.

Dining Destinations

The property’s main all-day dining restaurant, Tavolo 24, on the 2nd floor, offers unmatched views over the East Gate thanks to its large floor-to-ceiling windows. The breakfast buffet includes Eastern and Western cuisine and everything in between. Guests can sample Korean specialties or visit the live omelette station. For those wanting to sleep in, the room service breakfast menu doesn’t sacrifice the quality or choice of the buffet (it was great value too), arriving silver dome-style on a white table-clothed trolley.

For tourists craving something closer to home, the hotel’s outpost of the New York-based BLT steakhouse restaurant, with its menu spanning seafood, steaks, and salad, should do the trick.

Cocktail Hour

Exceeding all expectations of a hotel bar, the 11th-floor Griffin is a speakeasy-style rooftop watering hole. With its wood-panelled walls and velvet curtains, this truly seductive drinking den manages to pull in a cool crowd that extends far beyond the hotel’s guests.

The menu’s classic and signature cocktails are well worth a try, as is the cigar menu and expansive wine list. Open Tuesday – Sunday until 1am with live jazz four nights a week – a perfect nightcap you don’t have to travel for.

Top Service

Confident, never overbearing, but always one step ahead of the curve. All staff speak a high level of English – a significant advantage for any international traveller.

The Verdict

A relaxing city break may seem like an oxymoron to some, but with JW Marriott Dongdaemun’s central location, proximity to tourist attractions, seamless and efficient service, the hard work has been done for you. Add onto that the enormous pool, jacuzzi and spa offering, it’s a true a spot to unwind, relax, and recharge before sightseeing again.