Five-star Two MICHELIN Keys Gwanghwamun, Seoul
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
A 29-storey tower a short walk from Gyeongbokgung, with views over the palace from the rooms that face it.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- MICHELIN
- Two Keys in 2026, up from one
- Rooms
- 317, including 32 suites
- Opened
- October 2015
- Restaurant
- Yu Yuan, one MICHELIN star
The hotel
Next door to the palace.
The hotel opened on 1 October 2015 on Saemunan-ro, just off the boulevard that runs from City Hall up to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Heerim Architects designed the 29-storey tower. Inside, LTW Designworks mixed Korean motifs with modern lines and hung more than 160 works of contemporary art through the rooms and halls.
The restaurants went to two other studios: André Fu for the Chinese and Japanese rooms, AvroKO for the Italian, the buffet and the bars. Yu Yuan has held a MICHELIN star in most years since 2017, and Charles H. has appeared on the World's 50 Best Bars list. In 2026 the MICHELIN Guide raised the hotel from one Key to two.
- Yu Yuan Cantonese cooking and Peking duck under chef To Kwok Wai, in a dining room styled on 1920s Shanghai. One MICHELIN star.
- Charles H. A basement bar named after the cocktail writer Charles H. Baker, ranked No. 7 in Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2022.
- The palace on foot Gyeongbokgung, the Cheonggyecheon stream and Seoul Plaza are all within walking distance.
Rooms & suites
Ivory rooms over the old city.
285 rooms and 32 suites, in pale tones with Korean details. Some suites are named for the view of the palace.
- Rooms Premier Room About 48 square metres, with views over the city.
- Suites Palace-View Executive Suite A separate living room, facing Gyeongbokgung Palace.
- Signature suite Presidential Suite One of three larger signature suites, on the top floor of the tower.
Dining
Cantonese, Japanese, Italian and two bars.
Restaurants as listed by the hotel; the star is from the MICHELIN Guide Seoul 2026. Shown for information.
- Yu Yuan One Michelin star Cantonese Chef To Kwok Wai
- Akira Back Japanese with a Korean accent Chef Dongoh Shin
- Boccalino Italian Gambero Rosso One Fork, 2022 and 2024
- The Market Kitchen International buffet Chef Allen Go
- Charles H. Cocktail bar Asia's 50 Best Bars No. 7, 2022
- H.Bar Cocktail course Eight seats at the counter
Recognition
Awards and listings.
- Two MICHELIN Keys 2026, raised from one Key
- Yu Yuan, one MICHELIN star Seoul 2017 to 2021 and 2025 to 2026
- Charles H., Asia's 50 Best Bars No. 7, 2022
- Charles H., The World's 50 Best Bars No. 42, 2021
Good to know
Before you go.
- Arrival Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by noon.
- Children Under-18s stay free in their parents' room. The kids' club is aimed at ages three to seven, and babysitting needs a day's notice.
- Pets Pets up to 7 kg are accepted, for a charge. The concierge can arrange a sitter, as pets should not be left alone in the room.
- Wellness An indoor pool on the eighth floor, a large gym with Korean saunas and an indoor golf zone.
Getting there
Flying to Seoul.
Incheon International, about 52 kilometres west, takes the long-haul flights; allow 45 to 90 minutes by car. Private jets land at Gimpo, through its business aviation centre, about 16 kilometres away, roughly half an hour by our estimate.
- Shanghai 1 h 30
- Tokyo 1 h 55
- Hong Kong 3 h 05
- Singapore 6 h 25 long-range jet
- London 12 h 05 long-range jet
Questions
What guests ask first.
- How many MICHELIN Keys does Four Seasons Hotel Seoul have?
- Two. The MICHELIN Guide raised the hotel from one Key to two in the 2026 selection for Korea.
- Can you see Gyeongbokgung Palace from the hotel?
- Yes. The hotel overlooks the palace, and the Palace-View Executive Suites are named for that view.
- Which airport is best for a private jet to Seoul?
- Gimpo, which has a dedicated business aviation centre with its own customs and immigration. It is about half an hour from the hotel by our estimate.
- Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Seoul?
- Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Seoul, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.
Also in Seoul
Other hotels worth the trip.
- SIGNIEL Seoul High in the 101-storey Lotte World Tower, with Bicena and its star on the 81st floor.
- The Shilla Seoul On the slopes of Namsan among gardens, with La Yeon and its two stars on the 23rd floor.
- Fairmont Ambassador Seoul A marble staircase in the lobby, the Han River and The Hyundai Seoul close by.
- Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seoul Gangnam Art Deco lines south of the river, and Eatanic Garden with one star in the building.
- Park Hyatt Seoul Ten rooms to a floor across 24 storeys opposite COEX, with the lobby at the very top.
- Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul Rooms and suites on the side of Namsan, most of them with their own relaxation pool.
- Conrad Seoul Opened in 2012 inside the IFC complex, with 434 rooms and a 25-metre indoor pool.
- Grand Hyatt Seoul Below Namsan since 1978, with 615 rooms, an ice rink and JJ Mahoney's, a club since 1988.
- The Grand Lotte Seoul The former Lotte Hotel Seoul took this name in August 2026 after a refit of its main tower; Pierre Gagnaire cooks on the 35th floor of the Executive Tower.
- The Westin Josun Seoul Opened in 1914 as the Chosen Hotel on the site of the Hwangudan altar and rebuilt in 1970, it is the oldest hotel still trading in Korea.
- Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Linked to Samseong station and COEX since 1988, with its rooms refitted in 2020.
- Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences Built in 2021 by Seokchon Lake, where some rooms look across the water to the Lotte World Tower.
- JW Marriott Hotel Seoul Above the Express Bus Terminal since 2000; the sauna runs on hot spring water found during the building works.
- Andaz Seoul Gangnam Hyatt's first Andaz in Korea, 241 rooms on the site of an old KT telecom office, open since 2019.
- Grand Walkerhill Seoul A 1963 resort hotel on the eastern edge of the city, its rooms facing the Han River or Achasan.
- Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Korea's first MGallery, opened in 2022 with 196 rooms looking over the Han River to Bamseom, and an infinity pool facing the water.
- Vista Walkerhill Seoul Built in 2004 as Asia's first W hotel and renamed in 2017, it has an indoor pool above the Han River and an 800-year-old olive tree in the lobby.
- Mondrian Seoul Itaewon The Capital Hotel of 1988 became the first Mondrian in Asia in 2020; 295 rooms, and a pool and lounge on the fifth floor.
- The Westin Seoul Parnas Opened in 1999 as the InterContinental Seoul COEX and reopened under the Westin name in September 2025, with 564 rooms by Bongeunsa temple.
Staying at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul?
Book the room, then the flight.
Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Seoul, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.