KOZAYO Hongdae Hostel

The staff were lovely and spoke English fluently, which made everything easy. When I arrived, one of them offered to carry my luggage up to reception, and helped again when I checked out. The elevator only goes to the third floor where the rooms are, while reception is on the second, so you have to take your bags up one flight. My roommates were considerate, and the hostel stayed peaceful. Towels are free, but smaller than I expected, so I’d bring my own. I was impressed by how quiet it was inside, even though the hostel sits in a lively area that’s active around the clock. Hongdae shopping district is a two-minute walk away, and Hongik University Station is about eight minutes on foot. There’s direct subway access from there to Incheon Airport, which made getting there easy. KOZAYO Hostel is a great option for solo travelers. I’d stay again if I get the chance to return to Seoul. I’d give it a solid 9/10. A deposit of 100,000 KRW is required at check-in.

I checked in on my birthday and casually asked where to find a good slice of cake. A staff member offered me one, and although I turned it down at first, he later surprised me with cake and a drink. Such a thoughtful gesture. I really appreciate how warm and welcoming the team is. Thank you!

There are no lockers, which is a pretty big oversight. I left my laptop with the front desk, and they do have good access control and lots of cctvs. You can hear a low rumble from the clubs nearby at night, but I still slept easily, and they provide earplugs. The beds are super comfortable, better than hotels I paid three times as much for elsewhere in the country. The location puts you right in the middle of everything, and customer service is really good. Hyunwoo was especially helpful and friendly. They’ll do your laundry for 10,000 won, which is different from other hostels or coin laundries. This is a GREAT Hongdae hostel or pod hotel choice. It’s more pod hotel style than a social or party hostel, so keep that in mind. It’s likely to be booked on weekends, so book in advance.

A modern hostel with capsule-style separate rooms. The interiors were comfortable and clean, and the staff were really friendly and helpful. I wish their booking sites had more photos and details, but I guess I was lucky to find this gem.