Park Hyatt Seoul - Park suite + Korean Temple cuisine review

100   Recommended
suite
May 29, 2017 by

 Map | 1 Review | 100% Recommended
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Park Hyatt Seoul
 Map | 1 Review | 100% Recommended

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suite

Liked:
Location
Service
Food
Amenities
Room
Stats
Room
suite

Check In

Check in was done in room by a ground floor attendant. I've always felt it would be better suited done by the assistant manager or duty manager but it's always been the bellperson attendant.  They write down my credit card digits, ask if there's anything else and then leave.  Just the way I like it.

I'm a Hyatt Globalist and have always received the now-defunct Diamond amenity at PH Seoul.  They choose to welcome their guests with a handwritten card from the General Manager, a fruit plate and a bottle of French red wine.  This property continues to show its VIPs the full courtesies unlike certain other Hyatt hotels.

Room

Park Suite

The suite is well maintained for the most part but shows wear and tear in a few areas like the smelly couch and horrible wool carpet in the bedroom. This can also be a tripping hazard and I just fold it inwards to avoid unintended tumbles and sprains.   

I like that the hotel added bedside universal powerplugs and a USB charging ability.  One complaint that made it to fruition!

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This one is an 05 series, which, is more suitable for single travelers with only one  bathroom sink but the 10 series suite has dual vanities but loses a total COEX Gangnam view.  The 05 forward facing suites can get road noise when stupid wannabe racers reve their engines and race down Yeongdongdaero.  The 10 series can be a be quieter for those light sleepers.  I really wish all Seoul hotels would have invested in better soundproofing.  The only quiet one is Signiel because it's 80+ floors off the ground.  

Both suites are very frustrating because Superpotato designed the light fixtures to do both bedroom and living area.  It's impossible to just turn off one set.

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The dining table doubles as a desk with the power outlets right behind the chair.  You can enjoy room service or breakfast with a view.

 

Bathroom

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It's a compact design of a bathroom.  Perfect for the solitary traveler but can get cramped with a partner or spouse.   One of the reasons I stay at PH Seoul is because they continue to use Aesop toiletries.  One of only two holdouts in the chain with its sister hotel PH Tokyo.  Most Seoul luxury hotels are full of overly scented and drying toiletries like licenced Moulton Brown at the Shilla, Aromatherapy Associates at Conrad and a terrible made in China Lorenzo Villoresi product line at the Four Seasons.  

The shower handheld has terrible coverage and the rain showerhead is prone to clogging.  Something to keep an eye on.  Run the bathwater well in advance because it takes a while to fill up the Toto tub.

Service

The level of service here is exceptional for Seoul.  Much more refined than Four Seasons Seoul and leaps above Signiel in terms of English ability, grace and helpfulness.  This hotel is used to a lot more foreign guests than the Shilla and the attendants are less wooden.  It's nice to be greeted by name on the ground floor everytime coming in and out.  

Dining

PH Seoul's food hasn't always been good.  Under the previous regime, the property charged a lot for subpar food and didn't seem to care about food complaints.  Cornerstone didn't know what kind of restaurant it wanted to be - whether it was steak or French contemporary or a highend grill restaurant.  The room service burger was awful.  Small patty with vegetables overpowering it.  Cornerstone has become an Italian cucina and does homely and very decently priced Italian dishes.  

It's different now.  I think PH Seoul realized almost at the same time as Korean contemporary restaurants that Korean food can be reimagined from the boring bibimbaps, galbi ribs and so on.  I feel PH Seoul has become an unofficial ambassador for Korea’s rich food culture with the modernity, sophistication and quality you expect from a Park Hyatt. Their Gangnam comfort cuisine dishes can be creative, delicious and almost on par with offering from Jungsikdang (the famed NY and Seoul Michelin starred Korean contemporary restaurants). 

The Korean Road to temple cuisine pop up menu was something different and unique.  They even had a famed Korean Buddhist monk in the Lounge to talk about her fermented soy sauces and handpicked ingredients.  She would come around to each table and talk about the various ingredients used in the dishes.  Many hotels in Seoul have a very expensive Korean hybrid buffet but PH Seoul has a Korean dining experience.

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If you want to know what organic, seasonally based Korean cuisine is like — and you should — Park Hyatt Seoul is the place to go.

Location

The location is good if your business partners are in the Tehran-ro or COEX areas.  I can't recommend this hotel for those needing to be in Yeouido or Jongno though.

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Spa and Fitness facilities

Well equipped but small gym.  Absymal spa because of a small number of treatment rooms and many Park Club member guests wanting treatments. The sauna has a nice jacuzzi and Aesop products in the changing room.

Pool unfortunately put near the Lounge area on the 24th floor.  Superpotato were really dumb to do that one.

Overall

PH Seoul could use a lot of new everythings, but, despite age and competition, it remains a solid choice for the luxury travel traveler to Seoul.

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