Rakkojae Hanok in Seoul
Located near Bukchon Hanok Village, Rakkojae is a secluded space that exudes a sense of calm and peace. When we walked past the front gates, we were treated to a beautiful space filled with sounds of nature, bamboo, and pine trees.
We felt like we were transported back to a period of time when K-pop didn’t exist, thanks to elements like chopped firewood, rubber shoes (also known as gomushin) on each terrace stone, and traditional Korean games in the yard. Is this what being a nobleman felt like back in the old days?
It was an interesting feeling as we just made our way from a street filled with popular cafes such as Cafe Low Roof, Osulloc & more, less than 100m away. Yet, time stood still at Rakkojae, and we could suddenly appreciate the wind brushing against the pine trees. A slow moment, and oh-so-healing.
Rakkojae Seoul Hanok Stay Review
We opted for the Patio room, and before we were shown to our room, the manager gave us a small tour around the space. One of the facilities he highlighted was a yellow-mud sauna heated with firewood, something like a Jjimjilbang.
We were treated to a welcome tea session, which took place in the comfort of the patio. The simple act of sitting down and sipping tea is enough to quiet the soul and allow one to forget about the troubles of life.
A true hanok stay experience isn’t complete without sleeping on ondol floors. For the patio room, the mattresses are laid out on a natural jade ondol floor, which kept us warm even during a winter night. If you’re visiting during summer, no worries as the rooms are equipped with an air-conditioner.
Much like any other hotel, there were also basic amenities like an electric kettle, cups, and bottled water. There was also a Nespresso coffee machine with coffee pods, tea bags, and even Shin Ramyeon cup noodles! Inside the mini-fridge, we also found mugwort sheet masks, perfect for a relaxing night.
The bathroom was probably the most modern aspect of Rakkojae, equipped with a bidet, sink, and showerhead. Bathroom amenities were from Aromatherapy Associates.
Boksoondoga Makgeolli Spa Experience
When making your reservations online for Rakkojae, they offer a couple of additional experiences which you can opt for. This includes experiences like a Gayageum Performance and Kimchi Making Experience.
We opted for the Boksoondoga Makgeolli Spa Experience (복순도가 손막걸리 스킨케어 목욕 체험) which costed an additional 75,000won. In contrast to the bathroom located within our room, the space for the Makgeolli Spa Experience was equipped with Aesop amenities and bathrobes.
It also came with a bottle of Boksoondoga Makgeolli which you can sip while you soak, together with a plate of snacks. Best part? There was a Bluetooth speaker that you can connect to play out your favourite tracks while you soak in a pool of Makgeolli.
Dinner at Rakkojae Hanok Seoul
We opted to have our dinner at the hanok after the experience since we wanted to make the most out of our time at Rakkojae. The dinner menu included items like Beef Galbi BBQ, Bori Gulbi, Vegetarian Bibimbap & Samgyetang (which we decided on).
Do note that if you decide to have dinner at Rakkojae, you will need to inform them at least 3 days prior to your arrival or place an order for it when making your reservation.
While we merely expected a bowl of Ginseng Chicken, it came with sides like japchae, grilled zucchini, and seaweed. There was even a frozen persimmon for dessert!
After dinner, we were treated to a different view of Rakkojae Hanok, with the lighting highlighting the details of the architecture. Nearby, you can explore places like Gonggan, a bar with Korean-inspired cocktails, or head over to the Hanok-inspired Baskin Robbins outlet.
Breakfast at Rakkojae Hanok Seoul
The stay at Rakkojae Bukchon also came with a complimentary breakfast. You can either opt for a Western-style breakfast or a Korean-styled one. Since we were in a hanok setting, the Korean breakfast option appealed more to us.
There was seaweed soup, rice, grilled fish, egg, yogurt with fruits, and several side dishes. A hearty start to the day!
Hanok Stay Experience in Korea
If you’ve been to Korea a couple of times and have yet to experience what it’s like to stay in a Hanok, Rakkojae makes a great spot to do so. Coupled with their hospitality and ambience, you’ll be able to get a good rest before heading back.
For reservations, you can visit this website.
Rakkojae Seoul (락고재)
218 Gahoe-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울 종로구 가회동 218
Nearest Subway: Anguk Station (Line 3), Exit 2
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*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg, and we had our stay in Nov 2021.
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