Located in the heart of the Dongdaemun shopping district is JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, not to be confused with JW Marriott Seoul, a hotel in the Gangnam district.
The 5-star hotel has 170 rooms, from deluxe rooms, executive sky view rooms, executive suites to presidential suites with views of Dongdaemun and the Heunginjimun gate. It is also conveniently located right beside Exit 8 & 9 of Dongdaemun Station and the Cheonggyecheon stream.
Check-In Process
The area right outside the hotel was quieter than usual, with no doorman present. Once you pass by the doors, you’ll be greeted by their lobby. We made our reservation via the Marriott Bonvoy app and were notified that our room was ready even before check-in time.
Thankfully, the check-in area was empty, and checking in was a breeze. We were given a room on the 8th floor, just one floor below the Sky View Rooms.
JW Marriott Dongdaemun Deluxe Room
The Deluxe Room with 2 Double Beds was of an acceptable size, with full ceiling to floor windows that had a view of Dongdaemun. From certain angles, we could even view the Heunginjimun gate.
There was a work desk area with power points conveniently located right beside the table. We didn’t even need to take out our adapters as they could fit 3 pin plugs. On the table was a set of hand sanitizers and masks for our use, which was very thoughtful considering the Covid-19 situation.
The roller chair wasn’t the most comfortable but sufficed for quick work on the laptop. Most of the time we were lying in bed or sitting on the more comfortable chair by the window.
Near the entrance of the room was a closet filled with bathrobes, ironing board, and iron which would be useful for those who need to attend business meetings etc. Plenty of hangers for those who have a lot of clothes.
Bathroom
The amenities were from Aromatherapy Associates, and had everything we needed, from dental kits to shavers and shampoo/body wash. However, we noticed the website mentioned that the in-room amenities would be from L’occitane, so what happened here…?
The marble-lined shower area and bathtub are separate, which is a common arrangement in hotels. We especially loved the shower area that came with a small ledge that lets you sit down and enjoy a long shower (or even a steam). Rain shower head was available as well.
Since it was still early, we decided to take a look at some of the facilities in the hotel.
Indoor Swimming Pool
The swimming pool at JW Marriott is located indoors, sporting a luxurious image with chandeliers and an opulent interior design. The main pool is relatively long, which can be used to do laps. There’s also a jacuzzi area for those who prefer a more relaxing time.
Apart from the pool, there is also a gym and spa at JW Marriott Dongdaemun.
Executive Lounge
Our room came with executive lounge access on the 10th floor, which meant free drinks and small snacks in the afternoon. Usually, people come here around dinner time for hors d’oeuvres and alcohol – which we did as well.
In the afternoon, you have access to canned drinks, small snacks like cookies, cream puffs, and eclairs. There’s also a coffee machine which we skipped since our next itinerary was a cafe nearby.
There’s also a terrace with a seating area that would be perfect in autumn. However, if you’re visiting during winter, the terrace makes a nice photo spot with a backdrop of Changsin-dong on one end and the Heungjinmun gate on the other end.
From 5 to 7pm, you can find a wider range of bites, such as salad, pasta, fried rice, and wings. The selection might even act as dinner for some. During this period, you can even make your own cocktails, sip on some champagne or wine.
Breakfast
While breakfast is available at the executive lounge, we decided to head to Tavolo 24 instead. Located on the 2nd floor of the hotel, the breakfast buffet runs from 6.30am to 10.30am.
Choose from Asian and Western options, with classics like an egg station, muffins, and pastries to Asian options like porridge, and even Korean BBQ! We spotted Samgyeopsal and rice available in the morning right beside the rice noodles station.
Best part? You get to dine with a view of the Heunginjimun gate.
Hotel in Dongdaemun
If you’re looking for a hotel stay near Dongdaemun, JW Marriott Dongdaemun offers a relaxing stay with great amenities and service. While the location might not be as convenient as Myeongdong, it was still easy to get to places with the subway station right in front of the hotel.
JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul
279 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Dongdaemun Station, Line 1
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg.
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