The Shilla Seoul

“Great Hotel”

Very satisfied with my stay. I was very impressed with the hospitality of all the staff. Staff in all facilities were always smiling and smart. The cleanliness was excellent and pleasant. I would also like to especially thank the concierge, Ms. Michelle Kim, for her help on this trip. I will defini… more

Very satisfied with my stay. I was very impressed with the hospitality of all the staff. Staff in all facilities were always smiling and smart. The cleanliness was excellent and pleasant. I would also like to especially thank the concierge, Ms. Michelle Kim, for her help on this trip. I will definitely choose the Shilla Hotel again on my next trip to Seoul.

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“Great Service”

One of the most excellent hotels in Korea. This is my third stay since 2024. Always perfect. Restaurants have lovely meal menus. Thank you all. I could be relaxed after a long-haul flight from the Indian Ocean. I would be back next stop soon. See you soon.

“Luxurious but overpriced and missing some basics.”

This is an excellent hotel. However, the price of things is higher than what the experience delivers. I stayed for 3 nights on a business trip. The room, a double deluxe, was large and comfortable. The bed was great, bathroom excellent. However, there were a few issues I experienced. Firstly, the … more

This is an excellent hotel. However, the price of things is higher than what the experience delivers. I stayed for 3 nights on a business trip. The room, a double deluxe, was large and comfortable. The bed was great, bathroom excellent. However, there were a few issues I experienced. Firstly, the hotel could not provide me with an iron. On the first night I rang and requested an iron but was told that they were all being used. This was extremely surprising. This is a hotel that is $700+ per night and they do not have an iron in every room. They have a TV that probably costs around $2000 and electronic scales in every room but not a $50 iron? At around 6pm, the staff told me that I was on the top of the waitlist for an iron when it was returned. However, when I left the hotel the next morning, at 8am, the iron still had not been delivered. It was there when I returned to my room that evening, 24 hours after I requested it. That's not good enough. In most countries, every room has an iron. Next I had some issues with the food. Firstly, the buffet is outstanding. However, it is way over the top. The breakfast buffet is KRW90,000. There is so much choice but I would argue too much. There is no way anyone can eat enough food at breakfast to justify KRW90,000. The dinner buffet, which I did not try, is KRW190,000. Again, I don't think it can possibly be worth that much. I know that the Shilla positions their buffet as a premium experience but I think this is too extravagant. I did eat a la carte in the Parkview restaurant and was very disappointed. The Japanese chicken curry (KRW40,000) was very average. It only had tiny strands of shredded chicken in it and the bulk of the curry was mushrooms. This is supposed to be Korea's finest hotel but I think they should spend some money on some of the basics instead of offering extravagance.

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“Disappointing stay - Fine if you’re just visiting restaurants”

I have not posted on Tripadvisor for a long time because most of my hotel stays over the years have met or exceeded my expectations. However, I felt disappointed with my recent stay at The Shilla Seoul, especially given that the hotel is so highly regarded by locals. At check-in, I inquired about … more

I have not posted on Tripadvisor for a long time because most of my hotel stays over the years have met or exceeded my expectations. However, I felt disappointed with my recent stay at The Shilla Seoul, especially given that the hotel is so highly regarded by locals. At check-in, I inquired about late check-out possibilities and was told that anything after 12:00 (hotel’s check-out time is 11:00) will be chargeable per “corporate policy,” with no room for discussion. Now, I know early check-in and late check-out are not guaranteed by any means, are at the hotel’s discretion, depend on availability, etc. However, most five-star hotels will be more flexible and will only start charging for late check-out extending into late afternoon. It just didn’t feel like a luxury hotel to have such a policy. Similarly, breakfast service finished at 10:00, and I felt 10:00 finish was quite early for a large luxury city hotel, especially as staff actually started rushing customers out at 10:00 on the dot. It created a big contrast to a relaxed breakfast experience I had at five-star hotels in New York and Tokyo in the past month. To top it all off, on my first night, I found blood stains on the duvet of my room (photo attached). This kind of cleanliness issue really shouldn’t happen, in particular at a five-star hotel. To be fair, when I called to inform the hotel, a staff member came to change the bedding right away despite the late hour. He was very apologetic and offered me late check-out. If anything, the prompt and courteous service by staff was the only positive that stood out, in addition to good hotel restaurants. The Shilla has a great reputation among locals in Korea, but I feel like it is largely driven by their restaurants and gym/spa, and the hotel caters more to local restaurant goers, gym members, and staycationers who come to use the outdoor pool. As for me, it would not be my top choice in Seoul.

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