Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun, Seoul

TRIED AND TESTED HOTEL

- Hannah Brandler

BACKGROUND Shilla Stay is an upscale business hotel brand from The Shilla Hotels & Resorts, a Korean group (named after the ancient Shilla Dynasty) which is a subsidiary of Samsung and member of Leading Hotels of the World.

The Shilla Hotels & Resorts operates two premium hotels in Seoul and Jeju under The Shilla brand, while its Shilla Stay brand launched in 2013 to attract business guests. There are now 12 properties under the brand, with the Gwanghwamun outpost (named after the nearby gate of the Gyeongbokgung Palace) open since 2015.

WHERE IS IT? In Seoul's downtown Jongno-gu district, surrounded by historic attractions such as the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the South Korean president's former residence, and Buddhist temple Jogyesa. It is also close to financial, media and government buildings, and under ten minutes' walk from subway stations Jonggak (Line 1) and Gwanghwamun (Line 5).

WHAT'S IT LIKE? The unassuming 19-floor building fits into the high-rise surroundings. A sleek and darkly decorated hallway leads to a bank of lifts for the eighth-floor lobby - floors 2-7 are reserved for offices.