Andaz Seoul Gangnam Opens in Apgujeong

Hyatt Hotels Corporation brought its Andaz brand to South Korea on 9 September 2019 with the opening of Andaz Seoul Gangnam. The hotel sits in Apgujeong, the Gangnam neighbourhood known for high-end retail and K-pop studios, with direct access to Apgujeong metro station.

It is Hyatt’s first collaboration with KT Estate in the country and the fifth Hyatt-branded hotel in South Korea. “We are honored to bring the distinctive Andaz brand to South Korea in our first collaboration with KT Estate,” said David Udell, Group President, Asia Pacific, Hyatt.

Dutch firm Studio Piet Boon designed the interiors around bojagi, the traditional Korean wrapping cloth, translating it into unconventional corners, angled architecture, muted shades and contemporary patterns. All artwork comes from artists based in or connected to Seoul, including an eight-foot bronze by Choi Jong-tae, an oil painting by Oh Su-fan and a hyper-realistic depiction of calligraphy by Lee Jung-woong.

The hotel has 241 guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, plus two rooftop hospitality suites on the 17th floor facing the Han River. The Gangnam Penthouse Suite covers 1,755 square feet, with an entertaining terrace, a bar, a dining area for 20, a TV den and a bathroom with a circular tub.

Food and drink are split across two levels. A’+Z on the ground floor works as an all-day bar for coffee, pastries and evening drinks. Upstairs, Jogakbo, named after traditional patchwork, groups three spaces: Long House for champagne, wine and cocktails, Middle House for pan-Asian cooking with sustainable seafood and charcoal-grilled meats, and South House with a charcoal oven and two private dining rooms. Executive chef Hamish Neale leads the kitchens.

Wellness is gathered in The Summer House, which includes a 52-foot pool with whirlpool, cold and warm baths, an infrared sauna, marble saunas and ice fountains. Treatments use AmorePacific and Ling New York products, and a 24-hour fitness centre and juice bar complete the floor.