Mangrove Dongdaemun - Hostel

I spent 6 nights in a single room at Mangrove Dongdaemun and wouldn’t return or recommend it, especially in warm weather if you expect basic comfort. The hotel controls the AC in your private room. It shuts off automatically at 9am every morning, which staff confirmed in our chat. I sleep in during the day, so waking in a hot, stuffy room with no air circulation was unbearable. By the 5th night, the AC was also switching off every 20-60 minutes overnight. I contacted staff through their chat since there’s no in-room phone, and found the replies dismissive and sometimes rude. One message used “NOT” in capital letters to correct me, which felt condescending and irritating when I was already tired and uncomfortable. They said the shutoff was part of their “sustainability policy,” but basic comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed without offering another solution. The bathroom added to the trouble: the shower curtain is so short that the whole toilet floor gets wet each time, which is inconvenient and unsafe. Staff can only be reached through web chat, so urgent help isn’t quick. Unless you can handle sleeping in a stuffy room or are traveling in winter, I strongly suggest staying elsewhere. The price should come with better comfort.

The roof terrace has amazing views, and I also enjoyed the coffee and jam cones at the cafe downstairs. The staff were nice. It’s a safe area, with the subway a 2-minute walk away and convenience stores a couple of blocks off. My room was clean, a good size for a short stay, and had plenty of room for my things.

Getting to most attractions was easy, and I loved the location. The rooms are spotless, with beds and pillows that are ridiculously comfortable. They’ve thought through the layout and guest space, and there are laundry baskets in the room. You can exchange towels every day if you like. It may not be the kind of hostel for mingling, but it’s an extremely comfortable stay. Easily one of the best hostels I’ve used. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I asked for a full refund 5 days before arriving and didn’t get one, even though I’d paid extra for a “full refund policy.” Apparently free cancellation only applies in cases of death, natural disasters, or pandemics. That feels like false advertising.