The Grand Hyatt

The Grand Hyatt Seoul is a hot spot for foreign travelers to Korea. Built in 1978 and fully renovated since then, the hotel is at the foot of Mt. Namsan and overlooks the Hahn River. It is in Seoul’s famed Itaewon shopping district where custom-tailored clothing can be made in as little as a day and good food can be had at many international restaurants.

A problem with the Hyatt, though, is that once you arrive you don’t want to leave. You can fill your weekend at the hotel’s bars, restaurants, gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and sauna, and by checking out the live entertainment. The Grand Hyatt Seoul has had a host of famous visitors from Queen Elizabeth to the Prince and Princess of Wales, George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton.

The hotel has 601 rooms and suites. All rooms have either mountain or river views, plus high-speed Internet access. Guests can access the business center, hotel shops, a barbershop and a beauty salon. For the fitness-minded, there’s the Club Olympus Fitness Centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an ice rink and squash courts. For corporate events and weddings, there is a ballroom that can be divided into three meeting rooms, seven meetings rooms, 10 boardrooms and a pre-function and social function space.

Since 1988, the Hyatt has housed J.J. Mahoney’s, arguably the hippest nightclub in Seoul that plays a wide range of music. The club is made up of two bars. There is a dance club for young people playing the latest music, and a stage for live bands doing everything from the classic tunes of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s to today’s Top 40. As it is such a classy location, J.J. Mahoney’s is a coveted place for bands to play. Entertainment is on seven nights a week. There’s also a poolside terrace and garden with capacity for over 100 people.

Dining and Entertainment

In addition to the Hyatt Grand Club lounge, there are 12 restaurants: Chinese, contemporary continental, sushi and tepanyaki, Japanese grill, buffet, summertime barbecue, European dining, and a European-style delicatessen. Bars include J.J. Mahoney’s (live bands and discotheque), Helicon (karaoke), and The Paris Bar, which provides a view of the city.

Local Attractions

Visitors will find the Namsan Park and walking trails near the hotel as well as the Gyeongbok Palace, Biwon Secret Garden and Duksu Palace.

Location

Located on 18 acres of waterfalls and landscaped gardens at the foot of Mt. Namsan, the Grand Hyatt Seoul is 60 minutes from Incheon International Airport, 35 minutes from Gimpo Domestic Airport, 20 minutes from the Samsung-dong business hub and 10 minutes from downtown and the Itaewon shopping district. Most of the city’s key districts are close to the hotel.

http://seoul.grand.hyatt.com