Seoul, the glittering capital of South Korea, is an incredible blend of modern pop culture (K-pop, anyone?) and tradition. Staying at one of these cool and unique hotels in Seoul will give you an opportunity to experience the same: Korean culture, style, and cutting-edge technology.
These coolest hotels in Seoul hotels reflect the diversity, elegance, and tradition of this lively city.
Make every moment memorable at these cool and unique hotels in Seoul. Pair your stay with my list of top things to do in Seoul too!
This list featuring what I think are the coolest hotels in Seoul is divided into the following categories. There’s something for everyone here!
- Modern & Trendy Hotels
- Luxury Hotels
- Traditional Hanok Hotels (more on what that means below)
- Capsule & Budget Hotels
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Modern & Trendy Hotels
Seoul’s best modern and trendy hotels are more than just places to stay. They’re an entire personality, leaning in to elements of pop culture and the latest design, trends and styles.
This section includes Seoul hotels featuring sleek designs, amazing architecture, and tech-savvy rooms. They offer a fresh and exciting place to stay for travelers in Seoul!
1. Henn Na Hotel Seoul
The Henn Na Hotel chain hails from Japan where “Henn-Na Hotel” literally means strange hotel. This cool hotel in Seoul really lives up to its name, and the chain is also on my list of coolest hotels in Tokyo.
Henn-Na hotels are famous for having robot receptionists, and by robot I mean they could be robot humans or even robot dinosaurs who will take care of your check-in process for you!
Whether you’re into robots or not, this tech-savvy hotel offers a glimpse into an automated and robot-assisted future. It’s the perfect place to stay for anyone interested in a weird and unique accommodation in Seoul.
Henn Na Hotel Seoul is located in the Myeongdong area in Seoul’s city center, offering easy access to Myeongdong subway station. It’s also walking distance from the Myeongdong Cathedral and the Namdaemun street food Market.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
2. L7 Myeongdong
L7 Myeongdong is a youthful and vibrant hotel also located in the Myeongdong neighborhood. This trendy hotel in Seoul is located right next to the subway station in a bustling intersection, so guests can experience the neighborhood’s colorful streetscape, shopping outlets, coffee shops, and street food right outside their door.
Highlights of this hotel include its innovative and stylish interior, including its artistic lobby and colorful common areas. Guests will love the rooftop bar Floating, which offers amazing views of Seoul’s sparkling skyline. It’s the perfect place to unwind with a cocktail after a day of exploring.
In the heart of Myeongdong, L7 hotel is a modern, comfortable, and stylish hotel perfect for young people. If you like this L7 hotel, there’s one in Gangnam and Hongdae as well.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
3. Hotel Cappuccino
Hotel Cappuccino is a sleek and modern hotel located in the upscale Gangnam district of Seoul. It provides a calming haven for modern travelers to South Korea.
Hotel Cappuccino strives to create inviting and attractive spaces for their guests, while also giving back to social and sustainability initiatives. Its thoughtful design and creative spaces even put Hotel Cappuccino in the Seoul Michelin guides between 2017-2020.
Hotel Cappuccino’s location in Gangnam means there’s plenty of high-end shopping opportunities around, including Lotte’s massive duty free shops. It’s also walking distance from Eonju subway station.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
4. Hotel Lemong
Hotel Lemong is a modern yet cozy hotel in Seoul offering rustic finishes like brick facades, antique-style furniture, and greenery-covered terraces. Despite the bustle of the city, guests will feel right at home in this relaxing hotel.
Amenities here include a 24-hour front desk, rooftop terrace, and lavish breakfast facilities.
Hotel Lemong is located in the Jongno district and a short distance from the Jongmyo Shrine and Jogyea Temple, two spots on my list of top things to do in Seoul. Walking distance from both Jongo and Jongno 3-ga metro stations, this well-connected hotel is a perfect base for your next trip to Seoul.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
5. L'Escape Hotel
L’Escape Hotel is a unique hotel in Seoul which blends modern amenities with 19th century Parisian, Belle Epoque-style furnishings and finishes.
The walls are covered in murals, ornate curtains, and paintings, evoking a feeling of Paris’s fine art galleries. The rooms here are also a blend of fine art and modern luxury, perfect for unwinding. Regular exhibitions and artist events hosted here also connect guests with local and international artists. A bar and Michelin-starred restaurant are also available on-site.
Staying at L’Escape Hotel is like immersing yourself in a work of art. It’s a unique experience that’s hard to find anywhere else in the city.
Find the latest prices and availability here.
Luxury Hotels in Seoul
6. Signiel Seoul
Signiel Seoul is the perfect hotel in Seoul to experience the city’s luxury. It’s located on the 76th to 101st floors of the iconic Lotte World Tower building, making it Seoul and South Korea’s tallest hotel location. Needless to say, it offers stunning panoramic views of the city of Seoul below!
Rooms here offer guests a true royal experience, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, premium bedding, smart technology, and elegant marble bathrooms. On-site amenities include a Michelin-starred restaurant “Stay”, an indoor infinity pool, a luxurious spa, and 24-hour butler service.
Experience the top of Korea at this luxurious and unique hotel in Seoul. If you love Signiel Seoul, be sure to check out Signiel Busan too!
Find the latest rates and availabilities here.
7. Ananti at Gangnam
Ananti at Gangnam is a premium and luxurious hotel in Seoul. In the heart of the high-end Gangnam district of the city, the hotel is famous for its high-quality comforts and premium experiences. Its frequently by business travelers as well as international tourists and even caters for long-term stays.
The hotel seamlessly blends traditional Korean design with modern elegance. Rooms are notably spacious, and full suites, cabins, and even penthouses are also available for guests seeking an elevated stay.
Amenities available to guests include a spacious outdoor pool, and European-style indoor pool, sauna, and luxurious spa. A fine dining restaurant, cafe, and salon are also available on-site.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
Note a dress code applies for guests staying at Ananti at Gangnam. Ananti also has two locations in Busan: Busan Village and Busan Cove.
8. Josun Palace Luxury Hotel
Josun Palace Luxury Hotel is another cool hotel in Seoul that perfectly blends modern comfort and unique artistic design. This Marriott-brand, 5-star hotel is located in the Gangnam district of Seoul.
The hotel is known for its spacious and tech-savvy rooms, each having beautiful views of Seoul’s skyline.
Amenities available to guests on-site include a swimming pool, gym, gift shop, convenience store, and restaurants featuring different international cuisines.
Josun Palace in Gangnam is located near Gangnam’s high-end shopping opportunities as well as Namdaemun market and Gyeongbok Palace.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
Image courtesy of The Luxury Collection
Traditional Hanok Hotels
Hanok hotels in Seoul offer a peaceful and authentic glimpse into the city’s rich history. They’re often located in quiet and more traditional neighborhoods, which provide a peaceful alternative to modern city-center accommodations. They’re known for their classic Korean elements like futon bedding, wooden finishes, and traditional furnishes.
Hanok houses are especially famous in Jeonju, which is home to the largest Hanok village in Korea. If you don’t stay in a Hanok house in Seoul, be sure to check out my list of amazing Hanok stays in Jeonju.
9. SeoulStory Hanok
SeoulStory Hanok is a unique hotel in Seoul that serves as a living reflection of Korean history and culture through its preservation of traditional Hanok architecture.
The hotel allows guests to enjoy Korean traditional elements while experiencing modern hotel comforts. Admire their exposed wooden beams, traditional paper sliding windows and doors, and above all, the peaceful atmosphere that will make you forget you’re in a metropolis like Seoul.
Despite the traditional look, rooms here are equipped with modern upgrades like private bathrooms, WiFi and air conditioning. Guests here are also welcomed with warm and attentive hospitality that Hanok stays are known for.
SeoulStory Hanok is located in one of the best places to explore Seoul. It’s centrally located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Jongmyo Shrine.
Find the latest prices and availability here.
10. Hanok Hotel DAAM
Hanok Hotel DAAM is a cool and unique hotel in Seoul that is a modern rendition of the traditional Hanok house. It offers both private rooms and capsule-hotel style single and double rooms, so there’s something for all types of travelers.
Guests can enjoy the sleek lobby space and lounge areas here, and admire the traditional woodwork and natural light that Hanok homes are known for.
Hanok Hotel DAAM is located south of the Bukchon Hanok Village, across the street from the Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine – all on my list of top things to do in Seoul.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
11. Rakkojae Seoul Main Hanok
Rakkojae Seoul Main Hanok is a picture-perfect hanok stay in Seoul, located in the heart of the Bukchon Hanok Village. Guests here can experience the beautiful and peaceful atmosphere of a traditional Hanok home, which looks straight out of the movies (or K-Dramas, whichever you prefer).
The wooden structure where guests stay has been preserved for centuries, as has other buildings in the Bukchon Hanok Village. The home also has spacious outdoor gardens and courtyards, making it a perfect place for travelers who want to spend time relaxing during their trip to Seoul.
Plenty of Seoul’s top attractions are right at the doorstep of this Hanok house: Gyongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung, Jongmyo Shrine, and of course the rest of the Hanok village.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
Capsule & Budget Hotels
12. D A L Premium Capsule Hotel (women only)
D A L premium capsule hotel is a cool and unique Seoul hotel that caters to women travelers only. It provides a secure, comfortable, and private atmosphere, perfect for solo female travelers.
The capsules here are modern and comfortable, providing a personal resting space and plenty of privacy. They each have adjustable personal lights and charging ports too. The hotel itself blends modern aesthetics, wooden features, and traditional Korean design elements to create a calming atmosphere.
This capsule hotel in Seoul is located near the Dongdaemun metro station, and is near many shopping malls and markets, including Dongdaemun Market and Gwangjang Market.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
13. Dormy Inn Seoul Gangnam
Dormy Inn Seoul Gangnam is a unique hotel in Seoul that offers hot spring facilities for their guests. A perfect way to unwind after exploring the top things to do in Seoul!
Dormy Inn is a hotel chain that started in Japan and has expanded to Korea. It’s known for its budget-friendly rooms and for having on-site onsen (or hot springs) facilities. Other perks when staying in Dormy Inns include complimentary ‘night time ramen’, another tradition from onsen hotels in Japan.
This budget-friendly, cool hotel in Seoul is located in Gangnan, near Sinnonhyeon subway station.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
14. H Hostel Itaewon
H Hostel Itaewon is a popular hostel located in the multicultural Itaewon district of central Seoul. It’s well known among backpackers and budget travelers in Seoul, partially because it’s a great location to experience the city’s nightlife.
H Hostel provides a relaxing and comfortable environment for their guests. Like most modern hostels, they have clean dormitory rooms, a spacious shared lounge, shared bathrooms, and a chill, outdoor rooftop space. They also have private rooms available for guests who prefer more privacy while still enjoying the social vibe of the hostel.
The hostel is near great nightlife and street food spots, and is walking distance from the Itaewon market as well.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
15. Doksan 3S Hotel
Doksan 3S Hotel is a budget-friendly hotel that offers exceptional value for travelers to Seoul. It provides spacious rooms with high-tech amenities, in-room computers, generous bathrooms with soaking tubs, and workspaces as well. Doksan 3S hotel provides a rare combination of space, comfort, modern facilities, and affordability.
What’s the catch? The hotel is located on the south side of Seoul in the Doksan-dong neighborhood, so to get to some of the key places of interest in Seoul will take a bit longer on public transit. That being said, the Doksan metro station is near the hotel, and you can easily pop over to Seoul’s neighbor city Gwangmyeong from here as well.
Find the latest rates and availability here.
That’s all for my list of cool and unique hotels in Seoul! I hope you’ll find your perfect Seoul accommodation on this list to make the most of your next trip to this beautiful city.
Tip: You can easily spend a full week in Seoul exploring all of the city’s unique neighborhoods. Consider spending half of your time in a traditional Hanok house, and the other half at another of the cool and unique hotels in Seoul on this list!
Are You Prepared For Your Trip To South Korea?
- Book Your Flights – To find the cheapest flights, flexibility is key. I use both Google Flights for their low fare calendar, and Skiplagged, which uses airfare loopholes to get the lowest prices. For a trip to South Korea, check flights to Seoul, Jeju Island, and Busan.
- Getting Around South Korea: Prepare your Korea Rail Pass and order a T-Money Card before you depart.
- Book Your Accommodation – Check out Booking.com for the largest selection of accommodation in South Korea.
- Book Local Excursions – Don’t miss out on one-of-a-kind experiences, like the full-day DMZ tour, by booking tickets online now. Check GetYourGuide and Klook for fun experiences all around South Korea.
- Stay Connected: Order a pocket WiFi for airport pickup if you’re traveling with family or with a large group. Solo traveling to South Korea? Order a SIM card just for you.
- Pack Your Essentials – Check out my posts about Long Term Travel Gear, and Carry-On Luggage Packing Essentials.
- Read more on my Travel Resources page!
