Last week I stayed at the Andaz Gangnam hotel in Seoul. This was part of a 3 week trip through South Korea. I’ll also post reviews of the Grand Hyatt Incheon, Grand Hyatt Seoul, Park Hyatt Busan, and Grand Hyatt Jeju. And I’ll also post 2 videos on my Youtube channel reviewing the High Speed train from Seoul to Busan in first class as well as the new A321 from Korea Air in Business Class from Jeju to Seoul. Links are below. But as stated, in this review I’ll focus on the Andaz Gangnam hotel in Seoul.
Location
The name of the hotel already reveals the area of Seoul where the Andaz hotel is located; Gangnam. The street where the Andaz hotel is located is filled with Plastic Surgeries. Literally one after the other. So don’t be surprised to see some plastic surgery clientele walking the streets with their heads covered in bandages. Even though I did spot someone like that on the street, it’s more likely they are transported in their luxury Mercedes Maybach or G-wagon cars. All this and more, you can comfortably observe from the Andaz Hotel!
If you want to escape the plastic surgery area, then you don’t need to go far; the subway station (Apgujeong) is a few steps away from the hotel; very convenient!
If there is one negative, it’s the fact that the Airport Limousine Bus (from/to Incheon) isn’t stopping directly in front of the hotel. It’s a 5-to-10-minute walk from/to a bus stop. That doesn’t seem much, but in the warm, humid Seoul summer months, you rather prevent that kind of journey with suitcases. Of course, the airport could also be reached by subway or taxi.
The Hotel
Dutch designer Piet Boon was responsible for the interior design of the Andaz Gangnam. The style fuses ‘traditional local culture and modern living’. There is a lot of artwork, and I especially like the restaurant area on the 2nd floor next to the wide staircase. They even made something special of the hallway leading to the hotel rooms.
Seems Dutch designers are in demand with the Andaz brand, given that the Andaz Amsterdam was also designed by a Dutch designer (Marcel Wanders).
For this stay I used a suite upgrade voucher, and it got even better when I got upgraded to the Andaz Large Suite upon check-in. The largest suite of the Andaz Gangnam Hotel.
The Room
The Andaz Large Suite for sure is a very nice room; a big separate living room – with of course a huge Samsung flat screen TV – and a comfortable bedroom with king bed. There is one separate powder room and a big bathroom which also has a toilet. The huge balcony is very tempting but for security reasons, you cannot access the balcony. Views aren’t that special; just the busy street filled with the plastic surgeries and non-distinct buildings.
Andaz is always standing out with regards to the free room amenities; the fridge is filled with drinks (orange juice, coke, sprite, and beer) and all drinks are free except for the alcoholic drinks. There are also some snacks available and on top of that, I’m also getting some fruit, and a bottle of red wine delivered as a Globalist welcome gift. All in all, I’m impressed by all the free amenities and the generous upgrade.
Breakfast & Restaurants
The 2nd floor of the hotels hosts 3 different dining zones. Jogakbo Kitchen serves modern Korean food, and Meat & Co is an American-style Steakhouse. We frequently visited Bites & Wine which is in the central area of the 2nd floor. I loved their Steak Sandwich!
Breakfast is also served on the 2nd floor and spreads out over all the 3 dining zones. The buffet is extensive. I believe it’s one of the best breakfast buffets of all the Hyatt hotels we visited in South Korea. Note that as a globalist, you will only get a free breakfast for maximum 2 adults and one child.
Near the reception on the ground floor, there is also a cool area to have a coffee and some pastries. I think the Andaz did an excellent job with the layout providing all these different areas to eat and drink.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed my stay at the Andaz Gangnam, and I didn’t even visit the Spa and Pool area. I really should have visited the Swimming Pool though. The Swimming Pool also features a seven-meter LED Screen with scenes from Seoul. Not an everyday feature!
Thanks to the great design, layout and friendly service, the Andaz Gangnam is a really nice place to hang out. It’s centrally located next to a subway station, and rooms are very comfortable. Especially if you are lucky enough to get upgraded to the large suite!
I paid for my room using points and cash, which in this case was a very good deal. If you want to know whether it’s worth it paying for points for your room, check out my blog on this topic.
Also review my video of the High-Speed Train from Seoul to Busan; an excellent way of traveling! And don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you like the contents!
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