The Shilla Seoul

Pros: Close to Gwangjang Market, and Shilla Duty Free Shop is just a 5-minute walk away. The front desk service was good, and room service and laundry were fast and polite. Cons: Dining options nearby are inconvenient; the hotel's own restaurant requires advance booking, and it seems the only nearby places to eat are small restaurants in Gwangjang Market. The hotel lobby is always crowded, the doormen don't proactively greet guests or open car doors. The room is small, facilities are a bit old and basic, and the lighting is a bit dim.

It was raining the day we arrived, so we called the hotel and they kindly picked us up at the bus station. The service throughout our stay was incredibly warm and enthusiastic. This was our second time staying here, and it was another great experience! The bakery, as always, was delicious.

A classic luxury hotel in Korea, everything was impeccable, from the facilities to the service, it was all very impressive. I would definitely stay here again if I have the chance. The staff clearly enjoy their work, highly recommended.

This stay exceeded my expectations. The hotel's location is excellent, close to shopping districts and transportation hubs, making getting around very convenient. The room was meticulously cleaned, odor-free, and the bathroom had a separate wet and dry area. The mattress was just right, not too soft and not too hard, ensuring a good night's sleep. The front desk staff were efficient with check-in, had a gentle demeanor, and were quick to address any requests. Overall, the experience was fantastic. I highly recommend it for both business trips and tourism.

Whenever I go to Korea 🇰🇷, I always choose Shilla. What I'm most satisfied with are Shilla's bedding, which is super comfortable~ High-quality bedding really helps with sleep quality~ Of course, Shilla's service quality is beyond words, highly recommended (＾ω＾)👍

The lobby is gorgeous and has a great style. The room isn't big, but I found it quite cozy, and it was very quiet at night, so I slept soundly. We booked a twin room, but the two beds were quite small, only about a meter wide each. We had two small children with us, and the front desk charged an extra 200 yuan or so per person per day, which I found quite unreasonable. If they had provided extra towels, toiletries, or even an extra duvet, or a small toy (without being asked), it would have felt like we were getting something for that value. But as it was, there was no difference compared to not paying, especially since even toothbrushes cost extra. As for cleanliness, don't scrutinize the details too much; a germaphobe would have to turn a blind eye. For example, the bathtub felt dirty to the touch, and there was hair wrapped around the faucet, but we probably wouldn't use it anyway, so don't dwell on it too much.

Old money, very quiet location. A great experience. It's right next to Shilla Duty Free, and there's a dedicated shuttle bus for shopping in Myeongdong. When you walk to the foot of the hill, there are business vans or SUVs to take you halfway up. The hotel service is excellent; the staff are warm and polite. As a side note, the bingsu on the first floor of the hotel is worth trying – it tastes pretty good.

For this price point, the basic room hygiene was excellent, no complaints there! But apart from that, everything else was a letdown. If you're looking for a comfortable and convenient trip, this isn't the place. Location and Dining: The hotel is located on a mountain with a great view, but don't even think about walking anywhere. Besides a duty-free shop nearby (which is mostly frequented by personal shoppers), even getting a taxi is a hassle. For breakfast, be prepared to wait an hour. The front desk suggested I go before 7 AM to avoid the queue, which, to be fair, made breakfast quite good. When I checked in, I also inquired about dinner and good restaurants. The front desk staff claimed all their hotel restaurants were famous and delicious, especially the Japanese one. When I asked them to make a reservation for us, they said reservations usually needed to be made 30 days in advance. Fine. Then I thought, I'll just grab a coffee at the hotel cafe. Another wait... at least 30 minutes. Ugh... Returning to the hotel on the second evening, I found the lobby packed with people queuing all the way to the door, like a bustling market. They were all lining up for the buffet. If your F&B is that good, why bother with the hotel? Guests staying here can't even get a table because it's full of outside diners. The swimming pool was the same – tiny and completely overcrowded, impossible to actually swim. There must have been at least 50 people in there; it was more like a hot tub than a pool. Honestly, apart from sleeping, nothing else was good. Let's talk about the service: It felt like they were particularly reluctant to serve Chinese guests. When checking out, my child and I were carrying our luggage out, and there were many staff standing in the lobby who didn't offer to help. It was only when a car pulled up outside that someone came to assist us with our bags. What were all those people standing around in the lobby doing then? After my luggage was loaded, I got into the car and looked out the window to see the person who just helped me with my bags using my car window as a mirror to fix his hair. Hilarious! (This happened at 7 AM Korean time on the 19th). For this price, you're better off staying in Gangnam. Josun Palace is much better and similarly priced. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. It's a beautiful hotel, and the staff are all good-looking, but they clearly haven't been properly trained. I hope whoever cares about this hotel sees this review and seriously considers whether you are in the F&B business or hospitality. My experience of your hospitality was very poor. You did great in terms of the beautiful location and clean rooms, but you missed out on how to treat your guests that are staying at the hotel. Horrible experience. I don’t think you deserve the reputation you once had.