Looking for a unique trip to Seoul? Stay at one of the best hotels in Hongdae! From luxury hotels to hostels, this hip & buzzing area in the Mapo-gu district is one of the city’s coolest neighborhoods and offers lodging options to fit every style of traveler. Find the perfect accommodations for your Seoul adventure with this quick & easy guide to the best places to stay in Hongdae!
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Where to stay in Hongdae
9 Brick Hotel
It’s hard to put a finger on the 9 Brick Hotel. At one moment, this wonderful hotel shows off a modern face. Guests are wowed with its contemporary furnishings and artwork. In another, it hearkens back to fin-de-siecle Europe. As you wander its arched brick hallways, elegant chandeliers dimly light the way.
In either case, 9 Brick Hotel is a gem. Each room is crafted to its own style. Some are bright and airy; others inch closer to rich and warm. All the hotel’s spacious rooms feature city views through European-style tilt-and-turn windows.
You’ll love spending time at 9 Brick Hotel reminiscing about your travels in the classy restaurant & bar. On balmy and pleasant evenings, the restaurant’s folding wall opens up to an outdoor terrace. Enjoy a beverage under the city lights here.
To travel around Seoul, 9 Brick Hotel is a quick 6-minute walk from Hongik University Station. You’re equally close to the center of the neighborhood. Wander around to dig into the area’s quirky artistic indie culture.
Amanti Hotel Seoul
Although it lacks the edge that this alternative Seoul neighborhood is famous for, the classy Amanti Hotel Seoul is still a fantastic choice for your Hongdae adventure. An elegant experience awaits from the moment you enter its doors to when you check out.
The rooms at Amanti Hotel Seoul are decidedly modern. They’re finished with rich hardwood floors and brightened up with large panoramic windows. Looking to the outside reveals epic city views.
The vistas over Seoul from the hotel’s outdoor rooftop garden are similarly awe-inspiring. In the garden, burn off some kimchi calories with a few laps.
The on-site Italian restaurant, Kitchen AMANTI, is only open for breakfast. The center of Hongdae is minutes away by foot, though. In this hip area, you’ll find a multitude of bars & restaurants, where you’ll be able to tackle any food & drink cravings that float your way.
L7 Hongdae
Don’t let the name fool you: there’s nothing square about L7 Hongdae. The property is the new front-runner for the neighborhood’s top hotel.
Like its sister hotel in Myeongdong, this newly-minted 4-star hotel from Lotte is a charmer. Its rooms teem with elegant contemporary stylings. You’ll marvel at the remarkable city views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Aside from its delightful modern rooms, L7 Hongdae keeps guests busy with its amenities. The hotel is home to a fitness center. You’ll also find a restaurant & bar where you can retire for a nightcap after a day of sightseeing.
The on-site restaurant only serves breakfast. But the location of L7 Hongdae puts Seoul’s best soul food at your fingertips. Some of te finest restaurants in Seoul are scattered around the hotel’s vicinity. Delight your tastebuds with Korean food favorites like dakgalbi, bulgogi, tteokbokki, and dongaseu.
Urbanwood Guesthouse
Travelers on a budget should look no further than the Urbanwood Guesthouse. Throughout this cozy little guesthouse, colorful furnishings and nature-inspired wall art charm. The hotel imparts a warm and inviting atmosphere for your stay in Hongdae.
Even with its delightful & comfortable rooms, the best feature of Urbanwood Guesthouse is its prime location. Staying here, you’re minutes from all the outlandish action of Hongdae. Hongik University Station, where you can reach other parts of Seoul in a flash, is also close by.
RYSE, Autograph Collection
The ultimate in Hongdae luxury hotels comes to the fore at the brand-spankin’-new RYSE, Autograph Collection. This cool and contemporary 4-star luxury hotel is one-of-a-kind. (Even in the Hongdae neighborhood, where weirdness & quirkiness reign supreme.)
Rooms at RYSE, Autograph Collection enliven guests with colourful pastel tones. They also feature tasteful modern furnishings and wide panoramic views over Seoul. Extras like Bluetooth speakers, walk-in rain showers, and bathrobes speak to the exclusivity of this hotel.
For gourmands, four on-site restaurants & bars are available at the RYSE, Autograph Collection. Gobble up exotic Thai flavors of Long Chim. Or sip an evening cocktail at the classy Side Note Club. Whatever your mood, this hotel has a food & drink option to align with it.
Ready to escape the hotel for the big city buzz? RYSE Autograph Collection is steps from all the fun things to do in Hongdae. From art galleries to flavor-blasted traditional Korean restaurants, it’s all there.
Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae
One of the newcomers to the neighborhood’s accommodation scene, the Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae is the perfect spot to add a dash of luxury to your vacation. The rooms here are sleek and comfortable, featuring warm decor with a vintage vibe.
Before retiring to your quarters, chow down on delectable Cantonese delights at Tian Mimi, the hotel’s on-site restaurant. If you don’t want to splurge for a room with a balcony, don’t leave without spending time admiring the beautiful city views from the hotel’s terrace.
Hao Guesthouse
Staying in an exciting neighborhood and getting a good deal on a well-appointed room aren’t mutually exclusive. And the wonderful Hao Guesthouse proves it.
The comfortable rooms at Hao Guesthouse come in all shapes and sizes, from dorms to simple twins and doubles to larger family rooms. The shared kitchen and guest lounge create an inviting atmosphere. They help the hotel feel like your home away from home in Seoul.
As with most smaller hotels & guesthouses, there’s no restaurant on-site at Hao Guesthouse. Guests are welcome, however, to hone their Korean BBQ skills in the outdoor garden. You can also cook to your heart’s content in the communal kitchen.
Self-catering not your cup of insam-cha? No worries: Scattered around the Hongdae area, a barrage of amazing restaurants and quirky cafés await. You’ll be able to indulge your every Korean food whim within minutes.
Why stay in Hongdae?
There are plenty of fantastic neighborhoods to stay in Seoul. But if there’s one area that’s got a slice of everything, it’s Hongdae!
The bustling neighborhood of Hongdae sits in the Mapo-gu district. Famous for its youthful vibrance. Hongdae is home to Hongik University. There’s a handful of other colleges, too. It’s created a lively atmosphere & exuberance unrivaled elsewhere in Seoul.
Cafés, restaurants, fashion boutiques, and bars all grace the streets of Hongdae. The area is one of the best places in Seoul to get to experience the Korean culinary and drinking scenes. You can also get your shopping done without breaking the bank here.
The Hongdae neighborhood also has its edge. Hongdae’s reputation as an alternative district runs deep. Walking around Hongdae, don’t be surprised to run across quirky art galleries and street art. The area even edges towards quirkier things like animal-themed cafés.
