Hongdae

RYSE, Autograph Collection

★★★★★

RYSE is the hotel that best captures the creative energy of Hongdae, and it is the most stylish base in western Seoul. Opened in 2018 as part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, a group of independent-minded hotels, it stands on Yanghwa-ro at the edge of the Hongik University district, and its design draws directly on the neighborhood's art-school and indie-music culture. The lobby and public spaces double as gallery and hangout, with rotating art and installations, a concrete-and-timber palette, playful details and a soundtrack to match, and the hotel works with local artists and creatives on exhibitions and events. Rooms are contemporary and comfortable rather than vast, with good beds, large windows, thoughtful lighting and a laid-back, residential feel; higher categories add space and better views over the low-rise streets. Dining and drinking are a big part of the appeal. CHARR, the main restaurant, centers on Korean contemporary cooking with open-fire grilled dishes, and its buffet and steakhouse offerings draw locals as well as guests. Side Note Club, the rooftop cocktail bar on the fifteenth floor, is one of the best places for a drink in Hongdae, looking out across the neighborhood's lights. A pop-up of a well-known specialty coffee brand has operated in the building, and the gym, RYSE Fitness, is complimentary for guests. Step outside and you are immediately in the streets of buskers, vintage shops, photo booths, karaoke rooms, live-music clubs and cheap eats that make Hongdae Seoul's youth capital, while the Gyeongui Line Forest Park leads into the cafes of Yeonnam-dong.

Location is a major practical advantage. Hongik University Station, a short walk away, is served by subway Line 2, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and the AREX airport railroad, so you can travel to and from Incheon International Airport without changing trains, and Line 2 loops on to City Hall, Euljiro, Dongdaemun, Gangnam and Jamsil. The palaces and old city are a twenty- to thirty-minute ride, and taxis are inexpensive.

Who is it for? Couples, design lovers, creatives and younger travelers who want a lively neighborhood and a hotel with personality will love RYSE. It is pet-friendly, with a pet package available, and parking with valet is on site. The minimum check-in age is nineteen. Light sleepers should ask for a higher floor away from the street on weekends, since Hongdae is busy late into the night. Families with small children may prefer a quieter downtown base.

If you are weighing Hongdae options, RYSE is the boutique, upscale choice; L7 Hongdae offers a rooftop pool beside the station, and the Holiday Inn Express nearby is the budget pick with free breakfast. All three put you in the same lively streets.