Information for: Seoul
In the last fifty-five years, Seoul has grown to be one of the world’s most fascinating cities. The Itaewon area is home to most of the Western bars and there’s plenty going on in Hongdae and Gangnam too. You’ll see the US influence in a number of ways, but finding out more about the peninsula is even more fascinating.
Hotels located in: Seoul
The Shilla Hotel
The Shilla Hotel is a traditionally-designed hotel that’s a microcosm of the city as a whole. Large and lively and situated in an attractive spot you’ll findimpressive modern business facilities and amenities (including their lovely in-house spa) and a good choice of restaurants in-house – Italian Chinese and Japanese.
202 Jangchungdong 2-gaJung-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 2233 3131
W Seoul
Seoul boasts the first W hotel in Asia. And its W Hotel creates a striking first impression – an eye-catching sculpture in blue glass. There are also great commanding views from the top of Walker Hill and there’s substance to go with the style – expect impeccable service trendy eating& drinking and a delightful spa.
21 Gwangjang DongGwangjin Gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 465 2222
The Westin Chosun Seoul
Arguably the city’s top business hotel The Westin Chosun Seoul is in a great location deep in the heart of the traditional downtown area. All the facilities you could look for are present and there’s still a sense of elegance here. Look out for eight in-house restaurants including Japanese Italian and French options and the [...]
87 Sogong-DongJung-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 771 0500
Park Hyatt Seoul
The Park Hyatt Seoul is exactly the type of impressive offering you’d expect from this upmarket chain. A winning formula including sweeping viewsultra-plush amenities and gold-standard service and it Manages to pull-off the style ofthe top boutiques but with the kind of service the luxury chains do best. Look out too for the Park Club [...]
995-14 Daechi 3-dongGangnam-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 2016 1234
Lotte Hotel Seoul
The Lotte Hotel Seoul is a giant 1486-room Hotel located in the heart of downtown Seoul. A bit of a landmark now and a popular base for visiting celebs it’s laden with facilities – absolutely everything you could want is here (including a very impressive modern gym).The city’s most prestigous hotel – and probably its [...]
1 Sogong Dong Jung guSeoul
Tel No: +82 2 771 1000
Metro Hotel
First-opened in 1960 as Korea’s first registered tourist hotel the Metro Hotel is in a perfect downtown location – right in the middle of everything. Boutique in look & feel and with good in-house facilities/amenities this is a smaller and lower-cost alternative. However you’ll still enjoy the smart guest rooms and stylish restaurant and bar.
199-33 Eulji-ro 2-gaJung-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 752 1112
InterContinental Wellington
InterContinental Wellington is the only 5-star hotel in New Zealand’s capital and is well worth a visit. The hotel boasts an ideal downtown location. The award winningChameleon Restaurantoffers contemporary NZ cuisineand is open for breakfast lunch and dinner. There is also the Arizona Bar & Grill offering Tex-Mex style cooking andthis is open daily for [...]
2 Grey StreetWellington
Tel No: +64 4 472 2722
Culture & Entertainment Located in: Seoul
Above
Above is a medium-sized wine bar located next to the Hamilton Hotel. A popular spot with the Western crowd it sports an eclectic layout – part-Europe part-North-Africa part-Asia. And although the food’s a bit limited this is a straightforward and enjoyable drinking stop.
119-25 Itaewon-Dong StoreSeoul
Tel No: +82 2 749 0717
JJ’s
Locatedin the basement of the Hyatt hotelin Itaewon this is actually a huge entertainment complex that’s split into nine areas. Apopular ex-pat hangout but not much of a hit with the locals you can expect high prices – and a good time pretty much guaranteed!
747-7 Hannam 2-DongYongsan-Ku
SeoulTel No: +82 2 797 1234
Naos Nova
One of the coolestspots in the city Naos Nova is made-up ofthree floors named Hell Heaven & Earth! Striking uber-cool and well worth a visit you’ll find great city views and a huge upscale drinks list here.
448-120 HuamdongYongsan-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 754 2202
US 66
US 66 is a western-style barthat’s been a popular ex-pat hangout for years. Well-known in Hongdae and probably something of a landmark now it’s large and straightforward inside. And it can get pretty lively in here – idealif that’s the sort of night out you’replanning!
80 Sangsoo-dongMapo-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 324 5388
O’ Kim’s
Housed within The Westin Chosun Seoul isO’ Kim’s a large convivial pub with an Irish-leaning layout & food menu (although it’s not quite an Irish bar!). Smart-enough to fit well for an after-work drink or at the start of the night you’ll find most of the British/Irish pub touches here.
The Westin Chosun Seoul87 Sogong-Dong
Jung-guTel No: +82 2 771 0500
Woo Bar
Part of the super-cool W Hotel which offers three restaurants and several bars Woo Bar is a futuristic 10000 sq.ft bar at the entrance of the hotel. The clientele includes Seoul’s film fashion and art crowd – and be prepared to spend in here: the drinks are very expensive.
21 Gwangjang DongGwangjin Gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 465 2222
Restaurants Located in: Seoul
Nashville Steak House
Nashville Steak House is a popular restaurant-bar-club split into four sections. With a reputation for serving the best beef in Korea – and very popular with ex-pats as a result – it actually has quite wide-ranging menus – from upmarket French cuisine to steaks and burgers. And the lively bar makes this an excellent one-stop [...]
128 Itaewon-dongYongsan-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 798 1592
Mr. Chow
Part of the chain of exclusive restaurants owned by designer painter and actor Michael Chow this is the fourth outlet after LA London and New York. Exclusive trendy and not quite as expensive as you might think it offers-up some of the best authentic Asian cuisine in the city.
91-6 Nonhyun-dongKangnam-ku
SeoulTel No: +82 2 517 2100
Dimatteo Pizza
Seoul’s Dimatteo Pizza offers genuine authentic Italian dining. A fun popular and unpretentious option it’s not the most expensive either – expect good-value for good food. And even Bill Clinton dined here a few years ago!
1-141 Dongsoong-dongSeoul
Tel No: +82 2 747 4444
Tani Nomadic Bistro Restaurant
When the thought of fusion cuisine springs to mind no other restaurant in Seoul has cornered the market quite likeTani Nomadic Bistro. And rightfully so. With richly exotic elegant decor and unrivalled quality its appeal is unmatched and reputation rightfully cemented in the minds of its loyal patrons as the place to go to savour [...]
1F Komo B/D 116-3 Cheongdam-dongGangnam-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 3446 9982
Samwon Garden
Samwon Garden is possibly the largest restaurant in Korea serving up to 1200 people at a time. It still manages to be upmarket enough though – has seen a few celebs here over the years. In essence it’s traditional Korean restaurant meets BBQ-style food. Touristy and worth a visit.
623-5 Shinsa-dongKangnam
SeoulTel No: +82 2 548 3030
Kayarang
The essence of traditional Korean dining Kayarang has a relaxed and friendly vibe making it an ideal choice for either business or pleasure. Not the most expensive option but the food and service are good. A perfect first-meal-in-Korea for visitors.
239-4 Itaewon 2-dongYongsan-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 797 4000
Sporting/Leisure/Beauty Located in: Seoul
Cheongdam-dong Fashion Street
Cheondong Fashion Street is a long streetintheCheongdam/Apgujeon area located South of the River Han. It is home to many high-end boutiques thus earning it the name – Seoul&lsquos Rodeo Drive. Luxurious fashion stores boutiques and salons are all located in this area. Clothing and accessories in the stores are unique to this neighbourhood.
Cheongdam-dongGangnam
SeoulTel No: n/a
Insa-dong
Insa-dong is a cobblestone side street in downtown Seoul – a must -visit area for visitors . Explore the side streets and alleyways to find souvenirs: hand -made gift cards exquisitely patterned Celadon and jewellery. Beautiful clothing fromKorea made of silk linen and cotton can be found in the boutiques.
Jongu-guSeoul
Tel No: +82 2 732 2240
Hansang River Ferry Cruise
The River Ferry Cruises are the best way to enjoy the scenery around the River Han that flows through Seoul. Enjoy the cool breezes and surrounding scenery especially in the evening. Currently there are two types of cruise going from Yanghura to Jamsil and they operate throughout the year. Cruise 1 is a return trip [...]
85-1 yeouido-dongYeondeungopo-gu
SeoulTel No: n/a
Anyang Benest Golf Club
Located abouttwenty kilometres south of the city Anyang Benest Golf Club is rated as one of the topfive courses in the Seoul area. A US-style course that’s a good challenge for all levels of player as well as the course there’s a swimming pool and a whole host of other activities.
Bugok-dongKunpo-si Kyonggi-do
South KoreaTel No: +82 2 866 1414
Dongdaemun Market
Dongdaemun -Great East Gate – is a gigantic shopping zone which opened in 1905. There are 26 shopping centres over 10 blocks with 30 000 specialty shops and 50 000 manufacturers . Look for silks clothes and leather goods. It is open for approximately 18 hours a day but try to got later in the [...]
24-1 Chungmuro-1-ga Jung-guSeoulTel No: +822 2261 2192
The Spa
Exhausted by shopping and sightseeing ? Then a luxurious spa visit is the answer. The Spa Grand Hyatt offers a blend of Korean and European spa philosophies each based on natural botanic therapies promoting positive health. The Spa offers Korean treatments to provide a true experience of Korean wellness and balance. Try Signature Ginseng – [...]
Grand Hyatt Seoul747-7 Hannam 2-Dong
Yongsan-KuTel No: +82 2 797 1234
Entertainment located in: Seoul
Gyeongbok Palace
If you have time for one palace visit – it must be this one. Gyeonbok means Shining Happiness and was built in 1395 by King Taejo the founder of the Chosin dynasty. Sadly it has had a rather chequered history . It was destroyed in 1592 during the Japanese invasion and left in ruins for [...]
1 Sejong-noJongno-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 732 1931
Namsan Park
Namsang once marked the southern edge of Seoul but nowadays it stands in the centre of the sprawling city . It covers a vast area with many species of plants trees and animals. It has hiking trails and special exercise areas – very popular with local people. The park is so vast it includes other [...]
100-177 Hoehyeon-dongSeoul
Tel No: +82 2 753 2563
Nanta Theatre
Nanta Theatre is one of the famous theatres in Seoul. Since it s opening in 1977 it has drawn large crowds to its performances. Nanta refers to the Korean non-verbal performance using kitchen utensils. It is a non-verbal high energy percussion show with lots of comic and dramatic elements and thus entertaining for all age [...]
1st floor Kyung Hyang Newspaper BuildingJeong-Dong Jung-Gu
Seoul (Ticket Office)Tel No: n/a
Seoul Tower
The Seoul Tower located at the peak of Mt. Namsan is 370 meters tall. Seen from every corner of the city the tower was opened to the public in 1980 and has since become a favorite tourist attraction ever since. From the observation tower you get a panoramic view of the bustling city andyou can [...]
Yangsan-dong 2-ga San 1-3Yangsan-gu
SeoulTel No: +82 2 772 1621
National Palace Museum of Korea
Set up in 1993 to put the souvenirs and antiques of the Joseon Dynasty on display to the public. These wonderful collectors&rsquo items belong to the period 1392 to 1910 and hold immense historical and cultural significance. More than 20 000 such items from the royal households of several palaces and Jongnugo Shrine have been [...]
1-57 SejongnoJongno-gu
SeoulTel No: -11121
Bahrain National Museum
The Bahrain National Museum is the largest and one of the oldest museums in the country.It’s located near the King Faisal Highway and holds a rich collection of Bahrain’sancient archaelogical artefacts covering an amazing6000 years of history. Open daily.
King Faisal HighwayManama
Tel No: +973 1729 8777