THE SHILLA Seoul

Before we came we didnt know what to expect as some reivews were pretty negative. That the Shilla had lost it touch, was no longer that good etc. This is total nonsense! Maybe bots?

Let me be very clear: the Shilla is amazing! If you plan to visit Seoul, just book because you will be very satisfied, simple as that.

I have never experienced a more friendly staff or top notch service. The rooms are equally amazing, comfy beds and everything you need. Interior of hotel is super sleek.

The hotel has a very nice bar with live jazz every night (I think) and also highend shops, swimming pool, sauna, onsen, jaccuzzi, gym etc etc.

Now let me tell you about the breakfast buffet. Its next level. From local cousine to basically everything you can think of, at the highest level of course.

Looking forward to visiting the Shilla the next time we are in Seoul!

Stayed here for a week with my husband and baby and we had the best time. We stayed in their business suite and it was a good size for all of us. The view from our room was beautiful.

Their breakfast buffet was absolutely amazing. They had a Stokke high chair readily prepared for us at every table every morning.

Their staff; front desk, valet, room service, dining, were all very accommodating.

I suggest trying their pillow menu as they offer a variety of different pillows for you to sleep with. Very nice touch.

We got a facial at their spa and it was incredible. So relaxing.

We will definitely be staying here again next time we’re in South Korea!

I have been a loyal guest at The Shilla Seoul for years, typically staying for 4 to 7 days in a Grand Corner Deluxe room. There is an undeniable charm to the hotel’s history, but that same history seems to have left a lingering, stale scent of tobacco or cigars in the rooms—a remnant of when smoking was likely permitted. Even with an air purifier provided by the front desk, the odor returns whenever I step back into the room after being away.

The views, whether of the city or Namsan, are consistently beautiful and unique. However, the service experience feels quite rigid. It often comes across as a practiced, manual-driven courtesy that lacks genuine warmth or flexibility. When a situation arises outside of their set protocols, the staff seems visibly flustered. As a frequent guest, I have found them notably unaccommodating, particularly regarding elite benefits; despite holding premium cards, I have never been granted a late check-out, with "full occupancy" cited as the reason regardless of the length of my stay.

Furthermore, the breakfast experience has become increasingly chaotic—often resembling a crowded marketplace. While a busy atmosphere is expected in a large 5-star hotel, I have noticed a disappointing decline in culinary quality over the years. This year, the food was excessively sweet. Almost every salad, including the fresh vegetables and even the tomatoes, was coated in sugary dressings or syrups, making them taste almost like dessert. For a property that stands as one of Seoul’s premier 5-star hotels, this lack of balance in the menu and the rigid approach to service are truly unfortunate.

I am so glad we stayed here. Our room was upgraded on arrival and the view of the seoul tower was beautiful. The staff accommodated our requests for early checkin and late checkout. They helped with various requests throughout our stay such as different pillows and several amenities. There was always someone on standby to help us get from one place to another. We also received an unexpected 100k won voucher for one of the fine dining restaurants which we decided to use at Ariake. The location is slightly inconvenient, but shuttle service runs from the hotel to the major destinations. Otherwise there is a shuttle bus that runs to the closest subway station until 10pm.

The one flaw of our stay was that surprisingly this was our only hotel that did not provide toothbrush or toothpaste. There is a separate 30k won charge for that which includes some lotion/shampoo/conditioner.

Overall it was a pleasant stay and set the bar high for other luxury hotels. The highlights were the attentive staff that did everything in their power to make our stay enjoyable.

Also shoutout to the amazing housekeeping staff. Each night we returned to the hotel, our belongings were arranged neatly and the hotel was in pristine condition with all the necessities restocked.

The Shilla Seoul is an exceptional hotel, possibly the best in the entire city. The rooms are a dream: very spacious, beautifully furnished, and offering stunning views. Every detail has been carefully thought through, and all amenities were of outstanding quality.
The breakfast is simply out of this world. I have travelled to many countries and stayed in excellent hotels, but none have offered a buffet selection like The Shilla. The food is a 12 out of 10.
The bar provides a wonderful atmosphere with great live music. And what truly sets this hotel apart is the service. It was absolutely first-class. For me, the very meaning of service was redefined here.
All in all, it is a fantastic hotel with an excellent location and absolutely worth recommending.

if you are used to 5 stars in Europe I wouldn’t aim for this Hotel. I’m still trying to find those five stars. The rooms are trying to be nice but they are shabby and very poorly updated. The Hotel is on a hill which means you can’t just walk out on the street, you have to take a taxi to get somewhere/anywhere definitely not coming back and definitely not recommend it.