I stayed at seven hotels in and around Myeongdong to find out which ones work best for first-time visitors, families, luxury stays, Marriott Bonvoy members and travellers watching their budget.
I stayed at Lotte Hotel Seoul three times: once in the classic Main Tower and twice in the renovated Executive Tower. The Main Tower was already a satisfying five-star stay, but the larger rooms, polished bathrooms and exceptional Le Salon happy hour—including Taittinger Champagne—raised the Executive Tower experience to another level.
I stayed at Aloft Seoul Myeongdong three times between October 2020 and February 2022. That sentence may suggest a deep affection for the Aloft brand. It would be more accurate to say that the hotel was inexpensive, centrally located and willing to feed me breakfast. My first stay cost a little over KRW 100,000. The…
I stayed here in October 2020, when it was still Courtyard Seoul Namdaemun and one of central Seoul’s best-value Marriott staycation hotels. The Executive Lounge, two-person breakfast and Seoul Tower view made my KRW 160,000–180,000 stay an easy 8.5/10. In 2026, the hotel has a new name, a new owner, no Executive Lounge and much higher rates, which changes the value equation considerably.
Le Méridien Seoul Myeongdong combines a central location with modern 34-square-metre rooms, a strong Club Lounge and a small indoor pool. My October 2023 Platinum stay cost 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and remains a 9.0/10 experience, although today’s higher rates make the value less straightforward.
AC Hotel Seoul Gangnam had been familiar to me before I ever stayed there. I had visited AC Kitchen several times for breakfast and already considered it one of the better hotel buffets in Seoul. What I had not experienced was the property as an overnight guest, or how much Marriott Bonvoy Titanium status would…
After several stays, mostly for Marriott mattress runs, I found Fairfield by Marriott Seoul convenient for Yeongdeungpo Station but limited by noise, basic rooms and increasingly weaker value at higher rates.
After 16 nights, I found The Link Seoul to be one of the strongest-value four-star Marriott hotels I have stayed at in Seoul. Its excellent breakfast, comfortable rooms and free laundry outweigh a location that is less convenient for conventional sightseeing.
After two stays, I found The Westin Seoul Parnas to be one of Seoul’s most well-rounded Marriott hotels, with strong food, comfortable rooms, and outstanding pool and fitness facilities. It falls just short of perfection because its popular club lounge can become uncomfortably crowded.
After stays in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2026, I still see Moxy Seoul Insadong as one of Seoul’s most practical Marriott options at the right price. The rooms are compact and weekend noise is real, but the location, breakfast, and public facilities make it a strong base for exploring central Seoul.