Cost:

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Dollar-sign ratings indicate about how much you'll pay for a double room for the night.

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Up to $200

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$200-$300

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$300-$400

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$400-$500

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$600 or more

This sleek, newish, 24-story glass tower, set south of the Han River near the COEX convention and shopping center, caters to Seoul’s nouveaux riches and visiting business travelers. The sleek, minimalist interiors—in both the common areas and the185 rooms—are airy and punctuated by Korean antiques. The guest rooms, with their floor-to-ceiling windows, polished wood floors and headboards, and baths and shower stalls made from rough-cut granite, have a sort of Frank Lloyd Wright–meets–Zen master aesthetic; all have luxurious extras like Bang & Olufsen stereos, Aesop toiletries, and Egyptian cotton linens. The hotel’s fitness center is one of the best in the city, with an indoor pool and treadmills overlooking the city skyline; the spa has plunge pools, steam rooms, and iron-handed masseuses. There are three on-site lounges; our pick is the Timber House, decorated like a traditional Korean hanok (house); stop in for sake and soju cocktails, fresh sashimi, and (on many nights) live jazz performers.

Tip: If you don’t have much time for sightseeing, consider taking advantage of the hotel’s “Culture at the Park” package; it provides a guided whirlwind tour of Seoul’s palaces, markets, and art district.

Room to Book: The Diplomatic Suite. Why? The gas fireplace adds a flickery-flame ambience the others rooms don’t have. The Presidential Suite has one also, but its size may be overkill for most travelers.