Where is it? Situated on the slopes of Mount Acha, away from the neon lights of the urban resort destination of Walkerhill, the 14-storey glass tower offers spectacular views of the Han River and the city. The area, good for both spa visits and walks in the forest, is also home to Seoul's only casino.
New or traditional? When it opened, the wacky, witty W Seoul became the brand's 21st property. The W concept is supposedly based on a new vision of hotels, one that rejects the carbon copies on which so many others seem to be founded. Each W hotel has its own 'personality' but guarantees a high level of service and reliability.
What's the ambience? The design may be hip but the place is also retro and calming. In the lounge and bar area, interactive artwork catches the eye. One piece is a wooden-framed 'mirror' that reflects passing objects or people by arranging its pixels to display a picture. Watch out for
the glowing neon rings in the lifts and sink into one of the egg-shaped chairs in the lobby.
The property's 253 rooms come in four 'flavours':
Scent rooms full of the relaxing vapours of aromatherapy oils; Media rooms with the latest in home-theatre entertainment; Spa rooms with bathtubs looking out onto the river; and serene Wonderful rooms, which measure 42 square metres, with river or mountain vistas.
