Insider Guide: Best of Seoul

8/12/2019 Insider Guide: Best of Seoul

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Insider Guide: Best of Seoul

IP Boutique Hotel

The hotel's deli, Vecchia and Nuovo, has some of the tastiest sandwiches in Seoul -- the chicken

curry is near perfect.

Having re-opened in August after seven months of extensive renovations, the luxury hotel is now oneof the few in Seoul that actually houses a high-end Korean restaurant, La Yeon.Â

Dominic, 638-133 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu (??? ??? 683-133); +82 790 7588Â

Wolhyang is a makgeolli bar that doesn't look like a makgeolli bar.Â

You choose 'em, they chop 'em.

The Shilla,Â 202 Jangchung-dong, 2-ga, Jung-guÂ (?? ??? 2? 202??); +82 2 2233 3131;Â from?350,000 ($327) per night

Also on CNNGo: Simply stunning: 33 incredible Korean templesÂ

Leisure travelers revel in the nightlife of drinking in tents and clubbing until sunrise.

Manager Lee Jeong-cheol recommends the blue cheese beet salad (?18,000/$17) and the New York

strip steak (?38,000/$35).

If walking and looking isn't enough, lodged between the residences are cafÃ©s, galleries, teahouses,guesthouses and culture centers.

Anyone looking for an unusual sleeping experience can book the Korean-style suite, with atraditional Korean interior and option of sleeping on traditional thick blankets on the floor(?800,000/$700 per night).Â

The music is mostlyÂ electronic, trance, house and techno.Â

Also on CNNGo: Guide to pojangmacha: Why Koreans love drinking in tentsÂ



Pure Korea.Hanok Homestay

Shilla lobby sparkle.The ShillaÂ

The second location is in Cheongdam.

The program hosts activities for guests, including making kimchi, trying on hanbok (traditionalKorean dress) and learning calligraphy or traditional instruments.Â

A room with an awesome view. It's a place that even youngerSeoulites have started to rave about.Â

Some may find it a bit eerie to make eye contact with the fish you're about to eat, and the blood and

guts on the floor may also prove a challenge, but more often than not, foodie taste buds prevail.Â

Lotte Department Stores can be found all over Seoul -- and South Korea. But not much else.



Â

There's a second location in Myeongdong, which opened in 2012.

Timber House, 995-14, Daechi 3-dong, Gangnam-gu (??? ?? 3? 995-14, 135-502); 6 p.m.-2 a.m.;expensive

Beaker

Â

Food imitating art? Or art imitating food?Si Wha DamÂ

The hotel itself is strictly modern, with large mirror-like windows and elegant lighting.

Whether you're closing a deal for transmissions or romance, this is the place to make the person

you're treating feel like a million bucks.Â

The wine list is hundreds of labels long, the interior is inspired by the secret garden at Versaillesand the food is creative and excellent.Â



Jung Sik Dang, 3F, 649-7 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu (??? ??? 649-7 3F); +82 2 517 465

The drinks are impeccable, especially award-winning cocktails based on the traditional liquor, soju,while the cigars have also made the bar a popular spot for smokers.Â

This quaint and picturesque residential neighborhood of narrow streets and 600 years of history isbest known for its hanok (traditional Korean houses with gracefully curving roofs and sliding woodendoors).Â

Hanok Homestay, 50 Sambong-gil, Jongno-gu (??? ??? 50); +82 2 731 0114; fromÂ ?50,000 to?70,000 ($45-$60) per night

Anyway, this Hannamdong dining fixture has other draws, like the wall-to-ceiling glass windows,which provide a pretty view of the neighborhood.

The Seoul location of the Milanese concept store 10 Corso Como opened in 2008 and has establisheditself as a distinctive haven of art, design, fashion and food in the tony Cheongdam neighborhood.

Revelers accustomed to makgeolli served in dented kettles, consumed while sitting cross-legged onthe floor of a Korean-style pub, might react suspiciously to how pretty the place is.Â

Dominic has carved out a niche as a dependable place to get steak, and while "Seoul's best steak"might be an exaggeration, dependable is a fair description.

Business travelers like to drop by the centuries-old temples and palaces for a quick walk on the wayto meetings in the JongnoÂ financial district, while design fanatics devise their own tours of thelatest skyscrapers and stadiums.

Every SingÂ

All the choices for toppings (bulgogi, chicken teriyaki, chicken breast, tofu, pork, shrimp) and rice(white, black, brown, barley) are delicious.Â

Princely palace.ChangdeokgungÂ

The club features huge LED sliding screens, a swimming pool and suspended stage.

Maple Tree is one of the most popular barbecue joints in the city, well known for not only its foodbut also English-speaking staff and classy interior designs.Â



Octagon, New Hilltop Hotel, Gangnam-gu, Nonhyun-dong 152 (??? ??? 152);Â +82 2 516 8847; 10p.m.-6 a.m.; admission ?30,000 ($26); expensive

This modern Korean fine dining restaurant looks like an art gallery on the outside and a modernmuseum on the inside.

For all that's cute, twee and trendy, this pretty ginko-lined district in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam (literally"tree-lined street" in Korean) is all cafÃ©s, boutiques, bars and brunch places.Â

Glam,Â Hamilton Hotel Annex, 116-1 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu (??? ???? 116-1); +82 2 796 6853;moderate-expensive

Â

Baesangmyeonjuga's salmon and tuna bibimbap with lemondressing.Baesangmyeonjuga

Instead of artificially trimmed hedges and beds of flowers in military-straight rows, you'll find 300- year-old trees and unassuming pavilions.Â

They make a beeline for the spicy food, street food, live food and barbecue ... Â Â



We can't tell if the Park Hyatt Seoul is trying to be mysterious or understated.

More on CNN: 10 hot South Korean fashion brands and where to buy them

In addition to offering the entire stock of every song ever recorded under the SM Entertainmentlabel (a vast library, if you consider the thousands of songs recorded by the prolific likes of Super

Junior, BoA and H.O.T.) the Every Sing karaoke system syncs the official music videos of selectedsongs to play as you belt them out.

If you're not the best meat-flipper, not to worry. The place can get incredibly crowded on weekendnights, as exhausted partygoers from neighboring clubs come to shower and crash.Â

Baesangmyeonjuga,Â Jung-gu Taepyeongro-1-ga 84 Finance Center B/1 (?? ???1? 84 B1F); +82 2773 3238; moderate

The most expensive menu (both lunch and dinner) is ?350,000 ($310) per person for 23 courses.

We recommend the soufflÃ©. Bibigo

Also on CNNGo: Seoul's 5 best Korean barbecue restaurantsÂ

Popular with younger crowds -- frequently, the younger female crowd, with the boyfriends they'vedragged along for dates -- Garosugil is lined with restaurants with fancy Western and fusion cuisine,galleries, elaborately decorated shop windows and a steady stream of equally decorated people.Â

A space as fashionable as the designer clothing sparselyscattered within it.10 Corso Como



The museum has 10 hanok structures and houses some 2,000 furniture pieces from the JoseonDynasty collected by former professor and museum director Chyung Mi-sook.Â

Some fans of Korean food may swear by grilled pork in a smoky, cramped restaurant, and whilesamgyeopsal is undeniably tasty, sometimes it's nice to enjoy a meal without donning a bib to keepoff the grease splatters.

Also on CNNGo: Seoul: 24 hours, 24 adventuresÂ

Mo Jain Song, 739-6 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu; +82 2 797 6231

The city's 10.4 million residentsÂ can also brag about the world's top airport (ice rinks and movietheaters included) and a stunningly efficient public transportation system featuring high-tech detailsfrom massive touch-screen displays at subway stations to tickers at bus stops announcing which busis coming when.

Patrons can order from a menu of fusion dishes rather than traditional makgeolli fare like white

kimchi or pajeon (Korean savory pancakes).

Enter a K-Pop fan, exit a star. People still live in theseridiculously pretty houses.

Yes, it's a chain that has an assembly line, but unlike many other chains, you get a healthy, deliciousbowl of salad and rice instead of a sad, floppy sandwich.

For photographers, Bongeunsa Temple is a best of Seoul place to shoot the contrast of elegant linesof Buddhist architecture against a skyscraper-studded backdrop. It offers good drinks, edgy yetclassic interiors and a huge crowd every night.Â



The Saturday night crowd is on its way -- it'll be as glamorouslydressed as the interior of Glam.

More on CNN: 12 best new restaurants and bars in Seoul

While the place becomes crowded, particularly in evenings or on weekends, people-watching is yetanother facet of its charm.Â

This UNESCO World Heritage site is as exquisite as it is exquisitely preserved, with stunning East Asian architecture and lovely gardens.

Each piece of furniture is a work of art, something you won't easily find in other public or privatemuseums around the city.

Why wouldn't he ponder the future?Bongeunsa Temple

Fun facts: SM Entertainment's official auditions take place in the basement of the Apgujeongbuilding; the company's newly acquired travel agency opened a private lounge in the building onMay 1.

You can also get your nails done, eyelashes lengthened and back massaged.Â

A brisk walk will get you from the subway to the street in 15 minutes.Â

With its distinctive, multicolored exterior, the IP Boutique Hotel manages to be an Itaewon landmark without quite joining the chaos of the party district in earnest.

Beaker,Â 738-36 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu (??? ??? 738-36); +82 70 4118 5216



Fried oyster. Closed on Mondays. from April to September, withearlier closing hours depending on month. ?3,000 ($2.50) admission

Even if the price tags on the 10 Corso Como brand items and other exclusive designer piecesinÂ stock have one too many zeroes for your budget, browsing is free. Meanwhile, the Seoul

restaurant was ranked eighth in Asia by the Miele Guide 2011/2012.Â

Myeongdong LotteÂ

A lunch set is a good way to sample a variety of dishes, and will set you back ?44,000 ($41).

Bibigo offers a modernÂ take on the signature rainbow-colored bibimbap bowl. Smiling waitressesare standing by to make sure every little piece of meat is cooked to perfection.Â

The fact that it counts Jessica Alba as one of its past visitors doesn't hurt. And you can't get morespecific than the glitzy mother of department stores, the 32-year-old Myeongdong Lotte DepartmentStore.Â

Myeongdong Lotte,1 Sogong-dong, Jung-guÂ (?? ??? 1);Â +82 2 771 2500;Â 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Here's where to find the best of Seoul.Â

Glam

Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale MarketÂ

Along with its extremely modern next-door neighbor, The Plaza, the recently renovated WestinChosun has Seoul's best location for the business traveler or first-time visitor.

More on CNN: The 'real' Gangnam Style: Beauty Belt, wedding town and 24-hour culture

But the Dragon Hill Spa rises (literally) above the typical jjimjilbang with its multiple floors of entertainment: a swimming pool in the basement, extensive arcade on the first floor, plus a PC bang,tiny indoor playground, movie theater (no seats, just a projection screen and heated floor),restaurants, snack bars and more.

Si Wha Dam, Yongsan-gu Itaewon-dong 5-5 (??? ???? 5-5), +82 2 798 3311; expensive; secondlocation atÂ 13 Insa-dong-gil, Jongno-gu (??? ???? 13); +82 2 738 8855



From Korean designer Jain Song, this is one of theÂ newest additions to Seoul's crop of conceptshops.

Everysing, Hyeseong Building, 659-9 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu (??? ??? 659-9 ????); +82 2 64049850; additional location atÂ 4F Spao, 24-23, Chungmuro 1-ga, Jung-gu (?? ???1? 24-23 ??? 4?); +822 778 9850

Random acts of commerce.MO Jain Song

Headed by Lee Boo-jin, fashionable daughter of Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee (with a net worth of more than $10 billion, making himÂ the richest man in South Korea, according to Forbes), The Shillafeatures ornate traditional Korean rooflines and a sweeping driveway, not to mention convenientparking, unusual in Korean hotels.

LuxuryÂ

The store also features clothes from Jain Song, including items from her more accessible JLite line aswell as her runway collection.

Shopping / Attractions

With perks for international travelers like a duty-free shop on the 10th floor and conveniences likeinterpretation services and personal lockers (for your haul from hardcore shopping, round one), it'sno wonder that the place is so jam-packed with glittery-eyed shoppers.Â

Maple Tree House,Â 31-1 Samcheong-dong, Jongro-gu (??? ??? 31-1); +82 2 730 7416; moderate; therestaurant has two more branches in Itaewon and Dogok-dong

And wooden letters for baby room foodies?

Run by SM Entertainment, the label behind idol groups Girls' Generation and TVXQ, this flashy,colorful karaoke lounge is perhaps the most fun destination in the world of K-Pop.

Dining

In addition to the original Apgujeong lounge, Everysing has lounges in four other places:

Myeongdong, Coex Mall in Samseong, Gimpo Airport and even Incheon International Airport.Â

Octagon is well over a year old now, but it remains trendy with its stateÂ ofÂ the art decals stickers

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sound system, and sheer size.

Dragon Hill Spa, 40-712 Hangangro-dong, Yongsan-gu (??? ???? 40-712); +82 2 797 0002; ?12,000($10) for 12 hours, and ?1,000 (less than $1) for every additional hour

Changdeokgung,Â 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-guÂ (??? ??? 99); +82 2 762 8261; 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Octagonbeat out Club ElluiÂ for the title of largest club in the country, with three underground floors addingup to 3,305 square meters.

NightlifeÂ

Mid-range

Its location in the basement of the Finance Center, along with its decent prices and good food,makes it a solid option for lunch and dinner.

All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows -- even the bathrooms -- while the swimming pool at the topof the building is a work of art with shiny glass walls and great view of Gangnam.Â

Among budget hotels, the Ibis Myeongdong's selling point is location.Â

Lunch courses start at ?100,000 ($88) for 13 courses over one and a half hours. Whatever the case,it maintains a low profile, considering its impeccable offerings and great service.Â

The interior is also a visual treat, and while only design and fashion fanatics might consider theplace a must-see, this Cheil (a Samsung subidiary) Industries project often hosts charmingly affectedevents and makes for a diverting stop on a tour of the Hannam-dong neighborhood, which housesthe flagship store.

The Glam lounge is on the second floor. and do it all with buckets of soju.Â



Wholesome glass pitchers for alcoholic ambrosia.

In addition to the visual displays, the prices are low.

Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market,Â 13-8 Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu (??? ???? 13-8); +82 2

814 2211; Monday-Sunday,Â 1:30 p.m.-midnightÂ

Talk about a view!Ibis MyeongdongÂ

Recommended dishes: galbi with salad and mushrooms; smoked duck breast with omija sauce; andspicy dakgalbi.Â

The kind of steak you can set your watch to. Â Â

Then again, why would it need anything else? The hotel is right at the center of the lively sprawl of shopping and dining that is Myeongdong.



Changdeokgung is best known for its uniquely East Asian landscaping -- specifically, the organic wayin which the gardens blend into the regional topography.Â

In Seoul, you can shop at brilliantly lit malls at 4 a.m., sing karaoke an hour later, then getMcDonald's delivered to your doorstep for breakfast.

While bibimbap is normally served with a spicy red pepper paste, Bibigo offers milder alternatives,such as sesame dressing and citron soy sauce.Â

BudgetÂ Â

A jjimjilbang is a public bathhouse with separate baths for men and women and a joint resting areawith a sauna or more -- the fancier the jjimjilbang, the more varied the saunas.Â

10 Corso Como,Â B1F Trinity Building, 79 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu (??? ??? 79 B1F, TrinityBuilding ?? 1?); +82 70 7098 0010Â

But for luxury shopping, you have to get a bit more specific. Plus a good bar downstairs.Park Hyatt

Garosugil

The hotel itself is basic, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It's popular with expats, college students, executives -- basically anyone looking to party.Â . Be sureto take off your shoes. And then some. Watch your watch -- and your wallet!

Bukchon Culture Center, 105 Gye-dong, Jongno-guÂ (??? ?? 105); +82 2 3707 8388 (Korean); 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Â

Hanok Homestay offers a chance to sleep in a traditional Korean house, interact with a Koreanfamily and learn traditional culture firsthand.Â

Walk through and it's not difficult to see why.

In addition to the most expensive and sumptuous Chinese restaurant in the country, this best of Seoul hotel also has the most well-stocked and frequently updated duty-free store.



Deluxe room at IP Boutique hotel. Clothes in Myeongdong aren't just sold inside shops -- they've spilled out onto the street, with vendors and carts parked in themiddle of the street hawking leggings, jeggings, hats, handbags, scarves and shoes.Â

Jung Sik Dang is undeniably upscale, in both price and ambiance, but offers good value despite the

disproportionately large plates. Dominic

The whole bowl. The Manhattan location just earned its secondMichelin star.

No dirt allowed. Or so we'd like to think.

Print and go -- Our traveler-friendly one-page guide here: Best of Seoul

Myeongdong location:Â 130 Namdaemun-ro 2-ga, Jung-gu (?? ?? ????2? 130); +82 2118 6095

If you can get a table, that is.



The Itaewon area is already famous for posh bars and eateries, but the most recent talk of the townhas been District, which consists of a pub, lounge and club.

Each course at this best of Seoul choice is served as if it were a work of art, withÂ menus printed onhandmade paper scrolls, food brought in on hand-crafted artisan plates and poems deliveredalongside the food.

Park Hyatt, 606 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu (??? ???? 606); +82 2 2016 1234;Â from ?270,000 ($240)per night

Culture / History

Korean Jeju black pork is a smart starter, followed by pork jowl, rib eye and marinated bonelessshort ribs.Â

Wolhyang, 335-5 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu (??? 335-5 Â ???); +82 2 332 9202;Â noon-4 a.m.,Thursday-Saturday, noon-1 a.m.;Â additional locations in Hongdae and Hannam-dong; moderate

You've never had a bath like this. In their jjimjilbang outfitsthey're free to roam the saunas or catch a nap on some unoccupied space of the heated floor.Â

If you haven't heard of this best of Seoul palace, you're probably one of the last. Pierre GagnaireÂ ÃSÃ©oul

Billing itself as a Western-style restaurant, Dominic's deceptively natural wood-and-metal interiorand vaguely Italian menu still has subtle hints of Korea, like the pork (samgyeopsal) fusilli or barleyrisotto.

Garosugil is in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, and is accessible via subway from Sinsa Station (TransitLine 3).

Pierre Gagnaire Ã SÃ©oul,Â 35/F Lotte Hotel Seoul, 1 Sogong-dong Jung-gu (?? ??? 1, ???? 35?);+82 317-7181-2; expensive

HotelsÂ

The Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is a market/eatery where you can choose what you wantto eat while it's still alive and have it served up then and there.Â



Most of the hanok are private residences, but that's what makes the place so popular -- it's no cheapand sterile movie set for tourists. Or jumbo Skittles, we didn't think to ask.Jung Sik Dang

Try the soju cocktail and you'll want to come back the next day.Reason enough for us to do the same.Octagon

More on CNN: Introducing the most beautiful museum in Seoul

Golden location.Westin Chosun

In this sense, Dragon Hill Spa is like the many other 24-hour jjimjilbangs scattered across Seoul.

The Bukchon Culture Center, a former residential hanok, now hosts classes in traditional Koreancrafts, such as calligraphy, tea ceremony and embroidery.Â

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bongeunsa Temple,Â 73, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu (??? ??? 73??); +82 2 511 6070; temple lifeprogram held every Thursday and starts at the front gate, cost is ?20,000 ($17) per person, availablein English

Hotel bars can be a clichÃ©, but there's nothing boring about the Timber House at the Park Hyatt.Â

IP Boutique hotel straddles the parties of the Itaewon strip on one side -- walk towardÂ Itaewon

Station and you'll pass hotspots like Boom Bar and B1one before hitting Glam -- and the quiet, prettyneighborhood of Hannamdong on the other.

Another lifestyle store beloved by Seoul residents for stocking foreign brands like Rag & Bone or



Helmut Lang.

Cheongdam location:Â 78-6 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu (??? ??? 78-6); +82 2 543 1270

Ibis Myeongdong, 59-5 Myeong-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu (?? ??1? 59-5); +82 2 6361 8888; from?158,000Â ($148) per night

When in Korea, grill as Koreans grill.

Also on CNNGo: Harnessing K-Pop for tourismÂ

But with undeniably excellent and organic makgeolliÂ served in tall glass jarsÂ -- available in proofsof up to 15%, or in cocktails with flavors like honey, citrus, apple and tomato -- the comfortableinterior is a plus.Â

For shopping, Myeongdong is more than sufficient. But the Myeongdong Lotte is Lotte's first andflagship store for a reason.Â

Wolhyang

Walking into the past.

Westin Chosun, 87, Sogong-dong, Jung-guÂ (?? ??? 87); +82 2 771 0500;Â from ?380,000 ($335) pernight

For visitors who don't have much time to explore Seoul's palace walls or national museums, theKorea Furniture Museum offers the best of both.Â

But while it's true that some of the deceptively simple items on display can go for millions of won,the place doesn't discriminate against cuter, less expensive items that cost closer to ?10,000 ($10),and also stocks local brands, kitchen accessories, and stationery.

In fact, it doesn't look much like a bar at all, with warm colors and yellow lighting, Korean indie poprock playing at a reasonable level and even a well-lit reading corner with bookshelves.

The second floor of the Apgujeong lounge features a gift shop selling everything from Girls

Generation diaries to full portraits of Super Junior, and a sticker photo booth where customers cantake pictures after dressing up in idol costumes actually worn in SM's music videos.



The lobby is open and sociable and the location is ideal.

Â

Run by a traditional Korean liquor company of the same name, Baesangmyeonjuga features a fusionKorean menu in a modern setting.Â

And, unlike traditional Korean course meals (hanjeongsik), Jung Sik Dang dishes feature interestingculinary juxtapositions like foie gras with chicken, sea urchin in a bibimbap or anchovies in a paella.

Bibigo,Â Officia Building, 163 Sinmunri-1 ga, Jongro-gu (??? ???1? 163 ??????); moderate;Â +82 2730 7423

Sizzling popularity.Maple Tree House

Living up to its pedigree, this best of Seoul restaurant features a tasting menu of the company's various liquors, including a milky, fizzy and delicious makgeolli.Â

Martha Stewart and former chief designer for BMW Group Chris Bangle are fans.Â



Like many other temples around Korea, Bongeunsa offers a two-day stay program, plus a one-hourtemple-life program.Â

The place hasn't even been aroundÂ a year, but has already created buzz in its home neighborhoodof Hannam-dong with its appealing terrace cafe and several stories of whimsical lifestyle items --everything from ridiculously expensive harmonicas to miniature toys for the kidult crowd.

Korea Furniture Museum, 330-577 Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu (??? ??? 330-577); +82 2 7450181;Â tours and restaurant reservations by appointment only; guided tours, ?20,000 ($17)

To soak in the place, you can do the entire tour: pub Prost on the first floor, Glam on the second andclub Mute on the third.Â

Patrons stash their clothes in a locker and receive a set of jjimjilbang clothes and two towels. TimberHouseÂ

Time passes differently in here. Korea Furniture MuseumÂ

Then, of course, there are the saunas, of various temperatures and materials and different healthbenefits. Dragon Hill Spa

Â

One of the fanciest, if not the fanciest hotel in Korea, The Shilla has the prices and luxurious detailsto prove it.

If you're with a larger party, it's best to try all the meats one at a time.

One of the "Five Grand Places" in Seoul dating from the Joseon Dynasty, Changdeokgung may havebeen the secondary palace in the royal pecking order (beneath the larger Gyeongbokgung), but formany Joseon princes it was the favored palace.Â

More on CNN: Secrets of a Korean scrub mistress

But the TImber House offers a cozier atmosphere, with interiors based on traditional Koreanarchitecture.Â

Pierre Gagnaire's original Michelin three-star restaurant in Paris ranks 17th on this year'sS.Pellegrino list of the world's 50 best restaurants. And the store itself is worth a look, from the



foyer designed by Kris Ruhs, to the restful outdoor cafe.

There's nothing lacking; the 280 rooms are clean and have free Wi-Fi. Dinner starts at ?150,000($130) per person for 15 courses over two hours.

IP Boutique Hotel,Â 221 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu (??? ???? 221); +82 2 3702 8000; fromÂ ?220,000($205) per night

The Lotte Department Store and Myeong-dong shopping district are a few steps away, as is theEuljiro-1-ga subway station.

Jessica Alba stopped by

Insider Guide: Best of Seoul

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