Romantic staycations

With its no-nonsense, minimal décor, GLAD Hotel is a business hotel, but upon opening it was appointed a member of the Design Hotels, the first to do so in Korea. The second hotel to be designed by JOH Agency after Nest Hotel, GLAD is famous for its careful architecture and design. From outside, the hotel looks as if somebody poked holes into it with its unique look that uses red bricks to create a dotted pattern. This pattern can also be seen from inside the rooms where at night the light that seeps in gives the room a whole different feeling. GLAD Hotel is equipped with all the necessities to spend the night through which you can feel the considerate service of the hotel. For instance, the bed’s mattress and linen are made of the best material and you can choose from six different types of pillows. GLAD will be appreciated by couples who like modern and minimalistic styles. For couples, we recommend the corner Deluxe Room that has a great view. In addition, the Mark T bar located on the 1st floor has a romantic atmosphere that can strengthen your love.

Entering the Hotel 28 Myeongdong, you won’t see a lobby. Instead, the concierge will kindly let you know that you need to take the elevator to the 6th floor (guest rooms are on the 4th and 5th floors). The guest rooms are quite large, especially for a hotel that is located in Myeongdong. The Deluxe King rooms are equipped with bathtubs and have beautiful marble floors. However, the very best room that you should experience here is the Director’s Suite, in which every piece of furniture, fabric and tableware are made by Hermès. The restaurant, Three Birds Trattoria, which is located on the 6th floor and is co-owned by the hotel management and YG Entertainment, offers casual Italian dishes. Every guest staying at the hotel receives a 10% discount at all the stores in the building, including K-Pub and Boons Apothecary.

Stepping into the lobby of the hotel, you’re greeted by a muted black and white pattern that dots its way up to the high ceiling. The only sign of extravagance are the few plants that color the place with bursts of green. Designed by Kim Ji-eun and Jo Yu-yeon and opened this past August, the aesthetic is minimal with an ambiance that is both simple and natural. There are four types of rooms: Boree Terrace Room, Boree Suite Room, Boree Room and the Deluxe Room. Each of the 46 rooms has a Simmons bed, Ligne Roset furniture and is impeccably clean. For couples wanting to splurge, the 890-square-foot Terrace Room offers large windows and a glass door that leads to an open-air garden as well as double sinks in the bathroom, a luxurious bathtub and a separate toilet. (The freestanding oval bathtub is a particularly beloved item.) For those on a tighter budget, the Deluxe Room with its warm colors and cozy interior is probably one of the best rooms for the price. All guests can enjoy the b’Side Bistro and Bar located downstairs behind the lobby and facing the Boree Garden in addition to a gym and the basement library. Boree’s director Hong Ji-yun explains: “There’s a quiet, unexpected beauty to Boree (meaning barley in Korean) and we try to maintain the hotel as if it were a field of barley.”