ARI House - Hostel

The room and washroom are tiny, and the bedding and shower facilities were just okay. Still, the location is excellent for tourists, very central, and the uphill walk is manageable. It takes less than five minutes to reach the subway. The house manager is probably why this place gets such high reviews. She’s cheerful and incredibly kind, and makes you feel at home as soon as you arrive. Truly a lovely host.

We stayed for two nights in Jun 2025, drawn by the strong reviews and excellent location. The 12-storey Daiso in Myeongdong was literally steps away, and we shopped there every day. The host was friendly, and our request to have the two rooms side by side was taken into account, which was a plus. The rooms and bathrooms were small but clean and functional, and it was good value for money. Still, we probably wouldn’t stay again. There was no chair in the room, and after a long day walking, my legs cramped and my back ached as I sat on the floor all evening. The small area for food and drinks also had very few chairs. The climb up three levels of very narrow stairs with two large and one medium suitcase was tough. The host carried one for us, but my husband struggled with the other two, and we saw other visitors having trouble as well.

The owner was so friendly and kind, and we had a wonderful stay. It was clean and felt safe, with a quiet room that was small but comfortable enough for sleeping. The food and snacks were all free, which was really good for guests. It’s close to Meongdong street and the station. A very nice place to stay.

We booked after seeing the high Agoda reviews and weren’t disappointed. The owner was friendly and took time to share local recommendations. Airport drop-off can also be arranged on request. It’s very convenient for exploring Myeongdong on foot, and the hotel is near Myeongdong station. There’s a small uphill walk of about two minutes to get there. Dongdaemun is one station away to the right, and Namdaemun is one station away to the left. The room was small but enough for two. It had a futon, so we slept on the floor, and the attached bathroom was clean with basic amenities. In the shared kitchen, coffee, tea, snacks, and noodles were available from 8-12 noon. I’d definitely stay here again if I’m in Seoul.