Location

Situated adjacent to the Sindorim subway station, the Sheraton Seoul D Cube City is the only five-star hotel in the southwest district of South Korea’s capital city. It’s also the only hotel that’s in a mixed use building, occupying the 27th to 41st floors of D Cube City, a complex which is also home to a department store, arts centre and a park. 

The view from the sky lobby is breathtaking – a gorgeous panoramic view of Seoul and, if you look closely enough, North Korea is just about visible in the distance. We recommend dropping by during sunset to take in the romantic view.

Word to the wise: there are two Sheratons in Seoul so make sure that you tell the cab driver it’s the one by the Sindorim station. The hotel has only been open for only a year and some cab drivers might still not know where D Cube City is. The taxi ride from Incheon Airport costs around KRW70,000 ($480) but if that’s a little steep, just hop on the subway for a cheaper and potentially faster option if you happen to land during rush hour traffic.

The décor is business chic with a mixture of lacquered walls and marble floors. There is a modern yet simplistic motif that very much fits the slick, professional vibe. The hotel is just a few miles from Seoul’s financial centre, making it a natural choice for the business-focused clientele. However, we’re also told that plenty of couples looking for a weekend getaway away from home also love to check in.

Once you enter the lobby, there’s eager and helpful staff waiting, full of smiles and perfectly bilingual (English, that is). The concierge is a wealth of knowledge and is quite candid about recommendations on how you should be spending your time. The restaurants we wanted to hit up were not recommended at all. In fact, they were warned against due to quality. Lesson here: trust your concierge. 

We’re provided with the honeymoon suite, which is accommodating and, for want of a better word, efficient – but not particularly romantic in any way. There’s a spacious living room which leads to a bedroom with a king-sized bed and a red velvet day bed. The bedroom then leads into a rather sexy marbled floor bathroom that allows you to display your nudity to the world with its wall-to-ceiling window. It’s a liberating experience, if you’re into that (the concierge would probably recommend against it).

The room is perfect for a dirty weekend but we wouldn’t say it’s particularly suitable for a newly-wedded couple, where comfort and romance are paramount. But if it isn’t your honeymoon, the 269 rooms and suites will more than accommodate. They’re luxurious and would serve weekenders well.

Virtual simulated golf with sand terrain – need we say more? An easily accessible golf course away from the beating sun seems like a dream. But if it’s not – it’s here and well worth checking out. And the fitness facility, which includes a traditional Korean bathhouse-style changing room with saunas, indoor pool and a pristine gym, is also a massive plus point. Everything looks rather untouched. That or it’s all just been maintained really well.

If you need a good rubdown, Aequalis Spa provides a range of massages as well as different places to fit your treatment. Go in for a shower bed scrubdown – it’s a Korean favourite. 

On the culinary side of things, head over to Feast which offers all day dining, a Sunday brunch buffet and a beautiful view of the city. For more dining selections, go right down the D Cube City mall and take a gander at their eating options.

The Sheraton adds plenty of innovation to Seoul’s future hotel industry. The fact it’s in a multi-use complex could spark the Seoul hotel of the future. Sitting right on top of a shopping mall, residences and businesses, the Sheraton is a combination of convenience, luxury and utility. Efficiency seems to be the theme at this hotel. Ask and you shall receive… Arthur Tam