Hotel Gracery Seoul

Great location, nice rooms and polite staff, but some of the rules are really strange. You can't have your coffee in the lobby outside the restaurant, yet they don't offer coffee in the lobby either, so you have to go out, buy it, and come back. Our friends asked for a doctor, but the hotel wouldn't let one visit them there, so they had to go to the hospital.

The service and comfort at Gracery made my first visit to Seoul a really happy one. I’d definitely stay here again and recommend it.

There are plenty of shops, places to eat, and street vendors around, with Namdeumun and Myeongdong close by. Seoul Station is nearby too, which is hard to beat. This is part of the Japanese Gracery chain, and as a three-star hotel it’s a decent place to stay. Service is limited, though, and extras seem to come with a charge. I asked for another bath towel and was told I’d have to pay for it. I skipped the breakfast buffet because of the price and the many better options nearby.

The room and location were great, but breakfast was a frustrating experience. When we arrived at 9:45 a.m. on 8/12, I asked if my husband and son could eat before I registered, since the restaurant closed at 10. The receptionist didn’t seem willing to listen. My hungry husband insisted, and the restaurant staff initially wouldn’t let him in, though they finally agreed after we explained the situation a few times. Another day, I asked whether a dish contained beef. The staff member said she didn’t know and told me to try it. I explained that we don’t eat beef, which was why I was asking. I also wish there had been more Asian food at breakfast. When I asked for a fresh omelette, the chef said they couldn’t make a new one, though another hotel would do so on request. Booking: 7/12 to 13/12. Stayed: 8/12 to 12/12.