Lotte Hotel Seoul vs The Westin Josun Seoul: Which Luxury Hotel Is Better?

Lotte Hotel Seoul and The Westin Josun Seoul are separated by only a short walk in central Seoul.

They are also much harder to compare than the distance suggests.

Both are long-established luxury hotels near Myeongdong, City Hall and Euljiro. Both have large restaurants, club lounges, indoor swimming pools and the sort of institutional confidence that comes from having hosted important guests for decades. Neither needs to prove that it is a proper hotel.

Yet they deliver luxury in noticeably different ways.

Lotte Hotel Seoul is large, connected and highly convenient. Its towers lead into department stores, duty-free shopping, restaurants and underground passages. The Executive Tower adds renovated rooms and one of the strongest hotel lounge experiences I have had in Seoul.

The Westin Josun Seoul is smaller, quieter and more contained. It sits beside Hwangudan, slightly removed from the surrounding streets, and feels more like an independent urban retreat than part of a commercial complex. Its rooms are older, but the beds, service and restaurants demonstrate why hotel fundamentals sometimes outlast interior-design cycles.

After several stays at both hotels, my answer is not a simple declaration that one is better.

For Marriott Bonvoy elite members, I would usually choose The Westin Josun Seoul. For travellers without status, Lotte Hotel Seoul—particularly the Executive Tower—may offer the more complete paid luxury experience.

The correct answer depends heavily on room category, lounge access and price.

Quick Verdict

Traveller or priority	Better choice
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador member	The Westin Josun Seoul
Non-elite traveller paying for lounge access	Lotte Hotel Seoul
Best club lounge	Lotte Hotel Seoul
Newer room design	Lotte Executive Tower
Best bed and sleeping comfort	The Westin Josun Seoul
Best hotel breakfast	The Westin Josun Seoul
Strongest hotel restaurants	The Westin Josun Seoul
Easiest access to casual food and shopping	Lotte Hotel Seoul
Best public-transport convenience	Lotte Hotel Seoul
Best atmosphere for an anniversary	The Westin Josun Seoul
Best for families	Lotte Hotel Seoul
Best pool and sauna	Roughly equal; Westin is easier to use
Same price with lounge access included at both	Lotte Executive Tower
Same room-only price	Depends on status and current rate

The most important qualification is that my stays were not laboratory conditions.

I stayed at Lotte Hotel Seoul three times, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, experiencing both the Main Tower and Executive Tower. I stayed at The Westin Josun several times around 2020, 2024 and 2025, in standard rooms, a Junior Suite and an Executive Suite.

Room categories differed, prices changed and hotel benefits evolved. The Lotte Main Tower is also going through a substantial transition, so my earlier Main Tower experience should not be treated as a review of its future renovated rooms.

This is therefore not a comparison of two identical rooms booked on the same night.

It is a comparison of what each hotel consistently does well—and which one I would book under different conditions.

For a wider look at the neighbourhood, see my comparison of seven hotels near Myeongdong.

Location: Convenience or Atmosphere?

Lotte Hotel Seoul has the stronger location for practical convenience.

The hotel connects directly to Euljiro 1-ga Station on Subway Line 2. It also forms part of a large complex containing Lotte Department Store, duty-free shopping, restaurants and underground retail passages.

This is particularly useful in summer heat, winter cold or rain. It is also helpful for families, travellers with shopping bags and anyone who considers crossing fewer roads a meaningful holiday benefit.

Finding the hotel is straightforward. Once inside the wider complex, finding the exact lift, tower or facility may require more concentration.

The Westin Josun Seoul is nearby but less immediately visible.

It sits behind the main roads beside Hwangudan, the historic altar whose grounds separate the hotel from some of the noise of central Seoul. First-time visitors may find the entrance slightly less obvious, and the hotel does not have Lotte’s direct subway connection.

That mild inconvenience produces a different atmosphere.

Lotte feels fully integrated into the machinery of central Seoul. The Westin Josun feels temporarily protected from it.

Arriving at the Westin through the quieter grounds creates a stronger sense of entering a hotel rather than entering a mixed-use complex. It is particularly appealing for anniversaries or short staycations, when atmosphere matters more than reaching a department-store food hall without going outside.

Hwangudan illuminated at night beside The Westin Josun Seoul — Hwangudan creates a quiet buffer around The Westin Josun Seoul, giving the hotel a more secluded atmosphere than its central location suggests.

Location winner: Lotte for convenience; Westin for atmosphere.

Rooms: Newer Hardware or Better Fundamentals?

The strongest standard room product I experienced was in Lotte’s Executive Tower Premier Room.

The Executive Tower had completed its renovation before my stays, and the Premier Room felt fresh, spacious and properly luxurious. The interior was more contemporary than the Westin’s standard rooms, with enough floor space and storage for two guests to settle in comfortably.

The Main Tower Deluxe Room I experienced was not unusually small either. However, the Main Tower is changing, and I cannot fairly predict what its renovated rooms will feel like until the new product is fully established.

Premier Room in the Executive Tower at Lotte Hotel Seoul — The renovated Premier Room in Lotte Hotel Seoul’s Executive Tower felt spacious, contemporary and clearly newer than the standard rooms I experienced at the Westin Josun.

The Westin Josun’s standard rooms are also reasonably sized. I never felt that two people would struggle to store their belongings or open luggage.

They do, however, show their age.

The design is traditional, and certain finishes can feel dated when compared directly with the renovated Executive Tower. Anyone choosing between the hotels based primarily on photographs may find Lotte more immediately attractive.

The Westin wins elsewhere: the bed.

The Westin bed remains one of the hotel’s strongest fundamentals. Even when a room looked older, it was comfortable in the way that matters after a long day in Seoul. The mattress, bedding and overall sleep environment gave the room more value than its interior age initially suggested.

Guest room with bed and seating area at The Westin Josun Seoul — The Westin’s rooms are not the newest in Seoul, but they remain comfortably sized and are built around an excellent bed.

My most impressive individual room was a large suite at the Westin Josun. It was exceptionally spacious and felt suitably grand. But that does not mean the Westin automatically wins the room comparison. I received an upgrade, and comparing that suite directly with a paid Premier Room at Lotte would reward my membership status more than the hotel’s standard inventory.

The fair conclusion is narrower.

Lotte Executive Tower has the better contemporary room design. The Westin Josun has the better bed and stronger sleeping fundamentals.

Service: Two Strong Hotels, One More Personal

I have received good service at both hotels.

Lotte Hotel Seoul did not feel careless, cold or poorly managed. Staff interactions were polished and appropriate for a major luxury property.

The difference was scale.

Lotte is a large operation with multiple towers, extensive facilities and a constant flow of guests. Even when service is efficient, the hotel can feel institutional simply because so much is happening around it.

The Westin Josun felt slightly more personal over repeated stays. Staff recognised me, treated me consistently well and created the impression that returning guests were not entirely anonymous.

There was no dramatic story involving a rescued anniversary, a recovered passport or a room problem solved at midnight.

Good service is not always a heroic recovery narrative. Sometimes it is simply being remembered, welcomed and treated kindly every time.

That was the Westin’s advantage.

Still, this is not a category in which Lotte loses badly. Both remain examples of experienced traditional hotel service.

Service winner: The Westin Josun, by a modest margin.

Club Lounges: This Is Where Lotte Pulls Away

The clearest difference between the two hotels is the club lounge.

The Westin Club is useful, especially for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members. The hotel currently lists complimentary Club Lounge access for Platinum members and above, while Marriott describes lounge access as a benefit for eligible top-tier members and one guest staying in the same room. Benefits and operating arrangements should always be confirmed for the specific booking on the official hotel page and the Marriott lounge-access guide.

During my stays, the Westin lounge offered breakfast, evening food and a basic alcohol selection.

The evening spread was not poor, but it was not especially memorable. There were usually only a few hot dishes that stood out—perhaps three or four—alongside lighter items and desserts. The alcohol selection covered the expected categories, but sparkling wine replaced Champagne.

The lounge could also become crowded because the hotel attracts many Marriott elite members. On some busy weekends, timed evening sessions made the benefit less flexible.

The high-floor view was pleasant.

Unfortunately for the Westin, Lotte also has a good view.

High-floor seating and city view in The Westin Club at The Westin Josun Seoul — The Westin Club offers a pleasant high-floor setting and a useful evening service, although it can become busy when many elite members are staying.

Le Salon in Lotte’s Executive Tower was a much more distinctive experience during my stays. The lounge felt like a central part of the Executive Tower product rather than merely an added elite benefit.

The food was substantial enough to replace dinner, the environment felt more indulgent, and the alcohol selection was considerably stronger.

Taittinger Champagne was served during my earlier stays and became the defining memory of the lounge.

That specific brand is no longer the current standard offering, and readers should not book expecting Taittinger. Champagne is still offered, but the precise label and service can change.

The historical detail matters because I do not want to turn an old photograph into a current guarantee.

Taittinger Champagne served during an earlier stay at Le Salon in Lotte Hotel Seoul — Taittinger Champagne was served during my earlier stays at Le Salon and became the defining memory of the experience. It is not the lounge’s current standard label.

Even without Taittinger, however, the broader conclusion remains. Lotte’s lounge experience was more complete, more luxurious and more central to the identity of the stay.

The Westin Club is a valuable benefit.

Le Salon felt like a destination within the hotel.

Club-lounge winner: Lotte Hotel Seoul, clearly.

Breakfast and Restaurants: Aria Beats La Seine

For breakfast, I preferred Aria at The Westin Josun Seoul.

I have also eaten separately at La Seine, Lotte Hotel Seoul’s main buffet restaurant. La Seine was not disappointing, and calling it inferior should not be confused with calling it bad.

Aria was simply a little better.

The buffet felt more consistent across the full meal, and the quality of individual dishes made returning for another plate feel justified rather than professionally necessary.

Breakfast buffet at Aria in The Westin Josun Seoul — Aria served my preferred breakfast of the two hotels, with a broad selection and consistently strong execution across the buffet.

The Westin also has the stronger collection of hotel restaurants for guests who want a formal meal. Its dining lineup includes several established Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Western venues.

The hotel’s restaurant strength contributes to its special-occasion appeal. A guest can have dinner, drinks and breakfast without the stay feeling entirely dependent on the executive lounge.

Lotte wins a different food category: easy access to everything else.

The connection to the department store, food hall and restaurant floors makes casual meals extremely convenient. Guests do not need to commit to an expensive hotel dinner every time they become hungry.

This is especially useful for families or longer stays. One person can want noodles, another a bakery item and another something from the food hall, without the group entering formal negotiations over a tasting menu.

Hotel dining winner: The Westin Josun. Everyday food convenience: Lotte Hotel Seoul.

Pool and Sauna: Similar Quality, Different Logistics

Both hotels have strong indoor pools, fitness facilities and saunas. Lotte currently lists its indoor swimming pool and hotel sauna among its official facilities.

I would not choose between them based solely on the physical quality of the water or changing rooms. Both are established luxury hotels with wellness facilities that feel more substantial than a decorative hotel pool designed mainly for photographs.

Crowding depended more on the date and time than on the hotel itself.

A quiet weekday session and a busy weekend can make the same pool feel like a completely different facility.

The Westin’s advantage is convenience. Its wellness facilities feel more naturally integrated into the stay.

Lotte’s facilities are also good, but the hotel loses points because of the route required to reach them, particularly from the Executive Tower. Moving between towers and facilities can make a swim feel like it has acquired an administrative preface.

Lotte does not lose because its pool is worse.

It loses because reaching it can feel like part of the exercise programme.

Wellness winner: Essentially a draw, with the Westin easier to use.

Price and Value: Marriott Status Changes the Answer

Prices fluctuate too much for any single number to remain reliable.

On recent searches, I have often seen standard rooms at The Westin Josun in roughly the KRW 400,000 to 500,000 range. Lounge-included rates for guests without status can rise toward the KRW 600,000 range.

Lotte Main Tower room-only rates can also appear around the KRW 400,000 level, while Executive Tower stays with Le Salon access may reach approximately KRW 800,000 or more.

These are observed ranges, not permanent prices. Weekends, holidays, packages and renovations can change the comparison quickly.

For me, Marriott Bonvoy status changes the calculation.

Elite lounge access—and the possibility of a suite upgrade when availability allows—can make a standard Westin booking considerably more valuable. I may gain access to facilities or room categories that a non-member would need to purchase directly.

In that situation, I would usually choose The Westin Josun at the same base price.

A traveller without Marriott status faces a different decision.

If lounge access must be paid for at both hotels, Lotte’s Executive Tower becomes more convincing. Its renovated Premier Room is larger and more contemporary, and Le Salon is a meaningfully stronger lounge.

This produces the central contradiction of the comparison:

The hotel I would personally choose is not automatically the hotel I would recommend to everyone else.

For an elite Marriott member, the Westin rewards status.

For a non-member paying directly for a complete luxury package, Lotte may give more in return.

Choose Lotte Hotel Seoul If…

Choose Lotte Hotel Seoul if the lounge is a major part of the trip.

Le Salon provides the more memorable evening experience, and the Executive Tower has the stronger modern room product.

Lotte is also the better choice for families. The underground connections, department store, food options and shopping facilities provide more ways to spend time without complicated travel.

It works particularly well during poor weather or for guests who prefer to have almost every practical need available within the complex.

Lotte is also the obvious choice when it is cheaper.

If the hotels cost the same and both bookings include lounge access, I would choose the Lotte Executive Tower.

Finally, international travellers wanting to experience one of Korea’s representative large-scale hotels may find Lotte more culturally distinctive than choosing another global chain property.

Choose The Westin Josun Seoul If…

Choose The Westin Josun if you are a Marriott Bonvoy elite member.

Status can transform the value of the stay through lounge access and potential room upgrades, though specific benefits always depend on current programme and hotel policies.

The Westin is also my preference for an anniversary or quiet special occasion. The Hwangudan setting, smaller scale, more personal service and stronger hotel restaurants create a more intimate experience.

Choose it if sleep quality matters more than having the newest room design.

The rooms may look older, but the bed is excellent and the basic experience remains comfortable.

The Westin may also feel more familiar to international travellers who prefer a recognised global luxury brand and consistent Marriott service.

It is not as convenient as Lotte.

It may, however, feel more like a hotel.

Final Verdict

Lotte Hotel Seoul and The Westin Josun Seoul represent two versions of classic Seoul luxury.

Lotte is larger, newer in its Executive Tower, easier to access and much stronger in the club-lounge category. It surrounds guests with shopping, food and facilities until leaving the complex becomes an optional administrative decision.

The Westin Josun is quieter and more atmospheric. Its rooms are older, but its beds, service, breakfast and restaurants demonstrate stronger hotel fundamentals.

For my own stays, Marriott Bonvoy status usually pushes me toward The Westin Josun Seoul.

That is not a universal verdict.

For a traveller without status who plans to pay for lounge access, Lotte Hotel Seoul—especially the Executive Tower—may provide the more impressive complete package.

If Lotte is cheaper, I would choose Lotte.

If both hotels cost the same and both include lounge access, I would choose Lotte Executive Tower.

If lounge access is irrelevant, I would compare the actual room rate and decide whether I wanted Lotte’s convenience or the Westin’s atmosphere.

The question is therefore not simply which hotel is better.

It is whether you want a hotel that gives you almost everything in one enormous complex—or one that does fewer things, in a quieter setting, with exceptionally reliable fundamentals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Lotte Hotel Seoul or The Westin Josun Seoul?

Lotte Hotel Seoul is generally better for travellers paying for a lounge-inclusive stay, especially in the Executive Tower. The Westin Josun is often the better-value choice for Marriott Bonvoy elite members and for guests prioritising service, sleep quality and hotel dining.

Which hotel has the better club lounge?

Le Salon at Lotte Hotel Seoul provided the stronger lounge experience during my stays, with more substantial food and a better alcohol selection. Taittinger was served during my earlier visits, but it is not the current standard label.

Which hotel is better for Marriott Bonvoy elite members?

The Westin Josun Seoul is usually more rewarding for eligible Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members because lounge access and the possibility of an availability-based room upgrade can significantly improve the value of a standard booking.

Which hotel is better for families?

Lotte Hotel Seoul is the easier family choice because it connects to shopping, restaurants and underground passages and provides more options without requiring additional travel.

Which hotel has the better location?

Lotte Hotel Seoul wins for subway access and practical convenience. The Westin Josun is less directly connected but offers a quieter, more secluded atmosphere beside Hwangudan.