The Shilla Seoul

This was my fourth time staying at The Shilla in the past two years. I was very touched when the reception staff at check in surprised me with a birthday gift because I had a birthday few days prior. Every staff member goes above and beyond to make me feel like a valued guest which is why I will return to this hotel whenever I’m in Seoul.

An absolutely impeccable experience. Service was excellent so were the rooms. All staff were courteous and spoke fantastic English. Location was golden and I made great use of its hiking trail. Only downsides is that all of its restaurants are very expensive

There is a reason that this hotel is popular amongst the Seoul residents and celebrities. It is a true 5 star experience. Seoul has all the big hotel names, but I cannot imagine that any of them will better the Shilla. The Shilla is located a short walk from the Myeong-dong area of Seoul, which is the vibrant centre north of the river. Given that it is not slap bang in the middle of Myeong-dong, it is less noisy, but only a 20 minute walk or a 5 minute uber to the centre of Myeong-dong, so not out of the way. One side of the hotel faces the Namsan Mountain and it is very easy to walk to it if staying here. Well worth a trek to the summit with its wonderful views of Seoul. The Shilla arranged a pick up for us from the airport and it was very smooth. Check in was very easy, with reception staff friendly and helpful. The lobby of the hotel is just grand and there is no wonder it is an Instagram hotspot. The coffee shop is adjacent and bar not far away, all well worth a visit to. The bar is particularly great in the evenings with a piano player and great music. Service at both the coffee shop and bar were first rate. My room overlooked Namsan Mountain and was stunning. A comfortable bed with all the pillows you could ever need, flat screen tv, power outlets for various nationalities (including types A and G), a desk for work and very good coffee. No milk in the room for coffee or ironing board, but a quick call to reception and both would be delivered. The bathroom had all the amenities, Molton Brown products, a great walk in shower (with a loofah that was replaced daily) and a bath. The room was situated in such a way that you could have great views of the mountain whilst in the bath. Breakfast was served on the ground floor and was a grand affair, with cuisines from all over the globe. All the food tasted excellent, but I was especially taken by the Asian cuisine on offer. High quality and very tasty. Staff were very attentive and helpful. I did not use the urban island, but used the indoor swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. This was run exceptionally well, with spotless changing rooms, which included dryers for your swimwear. The views from the jacuzzi were wonderful. The hotel does have well equipped business and meeting rooms. These are pricey, but have all the amenities needed. I am glad I stayed at the Shilla Seoul and cannot speak highly enough of it.

It was a highly fulfilling experience for me to stay at The Shilla Hotel this January. The staff were kind, polite, and helpful from the moment I arrived till the time I left. The entire time, I didn't get the feeling that the staff were performing a kind of routine or were overly formal and scripted. It was a great stay because the staff were always quick to respond to my queries and needs and they did it cheerfully as well. The daily service surprised me by being so thoughtful. The staff efficiently and professionally managed every situation, from giving directions and handling small requests to exchanging simple greetings around the hotel. I think the staff really want to please their guests and they are proud of their work. In my opinion, the Shilla Hotel has a lot going for it compared to other hotels in Korea and abroad where I have stayed. By a wide margin, this hotel is one of the best in Korea when it comes to service and overall experience. I'm sure I would return and have no doubt in recommending this hotel to anyone who is going to Seoul.

Our family of 4 stayed at The Shilla Seoul over New Year's. The hotel was beautiful, and we had a nice view of fireworks from our upgraded corner room. The service level across every aspect of the hotel was amazing, one of the best experiences we've had. The breakfast buffet was not to be missed! We found the hotel to be centrally located; about a 3 minute walk from the closest subway station.