Daegu Seomun Hanok Guesthouse

For the price, the room felt far too small and poor. The bedding wasn't clean, and the space was so cramped that even two people lying down barely fit. Water drained badly from the bathroom floor, and sounds from the next room and outside came through clearly. In the afternoon after checking in, I couldn't reach the owner, so when supplies ran out I couldn't ask for more. This felt like a 23,000-won motel.

I was happy to find a good place in Daegu after giving up on a hanok stay in Seoul because it was pricey and hard to book. Seomun Market is only a short walk away, and I went there for kimbap early in the morning before checking out. Breakfast is included at the cafe from 8:30, though I couldn't stay for it. The building feels new and is very clean, and the linens were clean too. My double room was small, about 4.5 tatami mats, with one large futon for two. It had air conditioning, a fridge, mineral water, a hair dryer, TV, Wi-Fi, towels and shampoo, but no toothbrushes. I stayed on a weekday when there were no other guests, so it was quiet and had a nice atmosphere. Check-in and payment are handled at the cafe downstairs, when the manager is there. It closes at 7 PM, so for a later arrival they leave the key out and you can pay the next morning. Cash and Japanese cards are accepted. Staff don't speak Japanese, but I managed with a phone app. I also got an email a few days before confirming my check-in time. You can find the place on hotel booking sites, but for some reason they don't take reservations through their own website. The website does support Japanese and lets you check availability. It says advance payment by bank transfer or credit card is required, with Japanese cards excluded, but I was able to pay on the day.

The hanok setting is a real plus, and Seomun Market is close by. Breakfast is bread and cereal. The bathroom is cramped, which made showering a little awkward. Parking fits about two cars, but the alley is narrow, and sound carries somewhat. It wasn't a major problem for me.

The owner was really helpful, and we communicated through Papago. Check-in and check-out both happen at the cafe, apparently with the same owner. They can hold your bags, but return before 5:30 to collect them. We had a great time wandering around Seomun Market, which is just a few minutes from Seomun Market Station. There's a clothing mall inside that reminded me a lot of our Yiguang, and the food was delicious. I'd come back to Daegu. Our room was effectively ours for two days, with no other guests, and there was enough space, though getting luggage around was a hassle. I'd suggest booking a larger room. There were no bath towels, only hand towels, and one bottle of mineral water was supplied each day. For hot water, ask the cafe staff to bring some. An extra blanket costs more. The bathroom was cold and showering was a bit difficult, so we switched on the floor heating at night. Don't have people shower one after another or you may run out of hot water. Foreign guests can pay cash. There's no USB adapter, so bring an adapter.