Review / Where to stay in Seoul’s Mapo district: Hotel Naru Seoul takes inspiration from the artists and poets who once flocked to the area, and boasts a rooftop infinity pool and incredible Han River views

May 20 , 2024

Views for days: Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery has a warmed infinity pool with views across the Han River. Photos: Handout

Visitors to Seoul looking for somewhere other than shopping and nightlife hotspot Myeong-dong should opt instead for Mapo, a nearby area once frequented by the capital’s poets and artists

After a day sightseeing at Gyeongbokgung Palace or the hipster-heavy Insa-dong and Ikseon-dong neighbourhoods, retreating to Hotel Naru’s calming interiors is a smart move

Despite spending most of my life in Hong Kong, I had yet to visit Seoul until this spring – which is why I took a while deliberating over which neighbourhood to select as a base when booking my hotel. I finally went for the popular recommendation for first-timers, Myeong-dong, but also booked myself into Hotel Naru Seoul – MGallery in Mapo just a short taxi drive away.

Hotel Naru Seoul in hip Mapo sits on the northern bank of the Han River

Part of the MGallery Hotel Collection of boutique hotels across the globe – itself part of hospitality group Accor, which also owns Raffles and Sofitel – Hotel Naru opened at the end of 2022, and admittedly jumped out at me for one reason: its gorgeous, sweeping views of the Han River. I may have initially just daydreamed about lounging by the Insta-worthy infinity pool but, upon checking in, I quickly found plenty more reasons to be tempted not to leave my room during my stay.

The design

Hotel Naru Seoul’s gorgeous lounge is the perfect place to take in the views with a drink or two

The lobby is on the 20th floor, for maximum drama. Upon stepping out of the panoramic lift from the ground floor, the first thing you notice are the floor-to-ceiling windows that take full advantage of the river view right off the bat. The guests here are a more stylish set than the budget and business travellers in Myeong-dong, toting designer shopping bags and posing for selfies for their social media feeds in front of the windows; I give into the urge to do the same before checking in. At reception, I overhear a couple discussing how they’ve booked a stay here to celebrate their anniversary.

South Korean artist Haegue Yang’s art work punctuates the Hotel Naru’s airy lobby

Although a luxe hotel through and through, Hotel Naru leans minimalist and contemporary over glitzy and ostentatious. Think a palette that’s clean without being austere, with plenty of curved lines, tasteful metallic and marble touches, and pendant lighting. The hotel takes inspiration from the artists and poets that have historically been drawn to the Han River and surrounding Mapo area, according to its website, which is reflected in its design choices.

Various artworks are dotted about the hotel – the most arresting being Haegue Yang’s Airy Navigation, a deconstructed prism-like installation that’s given pride of place hanging from the lobby’s high ceiling, mirroring the blue of the river.

The rooms

One of Hotel Naru Seoul’s Premier River rooms

The hotel boasts around 180 rooms and 13 suites; big spenders will want to go for the Naru Suite, the most sumptuous offering in the property at 2,000 sq ft with separate living and dining areas and a private terrace. All rooms feature views of the city, the river, or of Namsan Mountain.