The Shilla Seoul

The Shilla has been the default address for state visits and society weddings since it opened in 1979, and its setting explains much of the appeal: a hillside estate on the lower slopes of Namsan in Jangchung-dong, ringed by a traditional Korean garden and sculpture park that gives the hotel a sense of grounds rare in this vertical city. The name honours the ancient Silla kingdom, and the hotel takes its role as a keeper of Korean hospitality traditions seriously.

Inside, a comprehensive renovation some years ago swapped period heaviness for calm contemporary interiors in muted stone and timber, with rooms looking towards Namsan's ridge or the downtown towers. Service is formal and exact in the Korean manner, and the business infrastructure—meeting floors, banqueting, a connected duty-free complex—makes it a hub for the city's corporate life without overwhelming leisure guests.

The gastronomic flagship is La Yeon, the refined Korean dining room that ranks among the country's most celebrated restaurants, while the Urban Island outdoor pool deck lends an unexpected resort note in summer. Myeongdong and the old city gates are a short drive downhill. For travellers who want establishment polish with a distinctly Korean identity, The Shilla remains the benchmark.