Four Seasons Hotel Seoul: A luxury stay with a secret bar, high tea and gold chocolate

Blending old-world Korean charm with cosmopolitan polish, this five-star hotel is more than a place to rest your head – it’s a destination in its own right, with sultry cocktails, palace views, a Korean sauna and Michelin-starred cuisine all under one roof.

There’s a certain kind of traveller who likes to drop their bags, then drop into a deep bathtub overlooking the city skyline before even thinking about unpacking. At Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, you get the sense that’s exactly who they’re catering for, whether you’re travelling for business, leisure or simply to indulge in Seoul’s more refined pleasures. It’s polished but never stuffy, steeped in traditional Korean style but fully modern in comfort and execution.

Location

Four Seasons garden terrace — Cultural enthusiasts will enjoy the hotel’s proximity to the city’s stylish spots.

Tucked into a prime corner of Jongno-gu, the cultural heart of central Seoul, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul puts you just a few strides from Gyeongbokgung Palace and a short walk from the boutiques and galleries of Insa-dong. The subway is practically on your doorstep, meaning the entire city is in easy reach, but you may find you hardly leave the immediate neighbourhood, especially with some of Seoul’s best restaurants and bars within arm’s reach inside the hotel itself.

Style and character

Four Seasons hotel lobby — The interior of the hotel strikes a harmonious balance between modern and traditional elements. (Image: Emily Murphy)

The look is quietly luxurious, with natural materials, warm lighting and an abundance of space. Instead of cold minimalism or over-the-top glitz, the interiors reflect a deliberate fusion of old and new. Think traditional lattice motifs reimagined in glass and steel, ceramics displayed like sculpture, and curved timber lines inspired by Korean hanoks juxtaposed against contemporary art. You feel like you’re somewhere distinctly Korean, but distinctly Four Seasons too – which is to say, sophisticated, soothing and beautifully designed.

Facilities

Four Seasons gym — There’s a 24-hour gym for guests who can’t skip workout days during vacation.

The standout facility? A full Korean sauna (jjimjilbang) – open only to hotel guests – complete with hot and cold plunge pools, steam and dry saunas and dedicated relaxation areas. There’s also a 24-hour gym, a heated indoor pool, personal training and fitness classes, a golf simulator and one of the best spas in Seoul for both Eastern and Western-style treatments.

Rooms

Four Seasons premiere room interior — The floor-to-ceiling windows create a sense of grandeur and enhance the overall mood of the space.

Rooms are generous, refined and functional, offering floor-to-ceiling views over the city or towards Gyeongbokgung Palace. My premier room featured two plush double beds, a marble bathroom with a rainfall shower and soaking tub, and soft lighting that could be controlled from the bedside tablet. Little details – like Diptyque toiletries, blackout blinds and a whisper-quiet aircon – make all the difference. It’s the kind of room you genuinely look forward to returning to after a long day exploring the city.

Food and drink

Maru afternoon tea — Linger over delicate and pastel-coloured pastries at Maru. (Image: Emily Murphy)

Dining is where Four Seasons Hotel Seoul truly excels. After checking in, I made my way to Maru, which translates to “living room" in Korean, for the hotel’s 101 Days of Summer afternoon tea. True to its name, it felt like stepping into a fairytale: a whimsical curation of pastel-hued sweets, savouries and Korean teas presented with theatrical flair and seasonal finesse. From banana Sansho pepper mousse with passion fruit confit to pink lollipop-shaped Peking duck rillettes, every detail was deliberate and delightful – like a grown-up wonderland in the heart of the city.

By evening, the mood shifted completely. Charles H. – the hotel’s hidden, speakeasy-style cocktail bar – ranks among the best in the world for good reason: it was #42 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2021 and climbed to #7 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2022. But the true star is bartender James Lee, affectionately dubbed “Professor James" for his depth of knowledge and philosophical approach to mixology.

Charles H. Four Seasons — This speakeasy bar is hailed as one of the finest in Asia.

Watching him behind the bar was mesmerising. With each pour, swirl and flame, he crafted cocktails with the precision of a scientist and the flair of a storyteller.

Perched at our outpost at the bar, my friend and I sipped our way through the signature menu – from the Spilled Milk (sesame-infused rice milk and gin) and the Vixen Fix (French Burgundy and red berries) to the playful Birthday Boy (a twist on the classic Hanky Panky). Paired with the bar’s cult-favourite Korean fried chicken and buttery lobster rolls, it was an unforgettable sensory experience.

kimchi buffet section at Four Seasons — The kimchi in the buffet section is so noteworthy. (Image: Emily Murphy)

The following morning, The Market Kitchen delivered what can only be described as the biggest breakfast buffet I’ve ever seen. There was a full Western hot breakfast station, a live egg station with poached eggs and truffle hollandaise ready to go (plus a chef cooking eggs to order), a Korean section with pork and kimchi, a dumpling and noodle bar, a seafood spread, a 24K gold chocolate fountain, a patisserie-grade pastry section, freshly squeezed juices, a salad bar, fruit display and barista-made coffee. The sheer scale was impressive – but it was the quality and care that elevated it far beyond the average hotel buffet.

Elsewhere in the hotel, you’ll find a Michelin-starred Cantonese fine-dining (Yu Yuan), modern Italian at Boccalino, and contemporary Japanese with flair at Akira Back. Every venue has its own mood and menu, but the same unwavering attention to quality runs through them all.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Access for guests with disabilities?

The hotel has clearly prioritised accessibility, with spacious lifts, wide corridors and several rooms specifically designed for guests with disabilities. Bathrooms are thoughtfully configured and public areas like restaurants and the spa are easily navigable. Staff are well-trained and attentive to individual needs without fuss.

Family-friendly?

Maru, Four Seasons — You can certainly bring your kids along while staying here.

Despite its grown-up atmosphere, the Four Seasons is very family-friendly. There’s a dedicated kids’ plunge pool, family connecting rooms, babysitting on request and a ‘Kids For All Seasons’ lounge that runs creative and cultural activities to keep little ones entertained while parents unwind. It’s stylish without being exclusive, making it a great fit for well-travelled families.

Details

Charles H. cocktail — Charles H. has a stellar approach to cocktail mixing.

Best for: Luxury seekers, culture lovers, couples, and families with taste.

Address: 97 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Cost: From approx. A$690 per night, depending on the season and room type.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

A luxury Seoul stay with a secret bar, high tea and gold chocolate