Seoul: 5 Places to Stay

The hippest hotel in town (as all W's aim to be) occupies an angular, 14-story glass building overlooking the Han River, 30 minutes east of downtown Seoul. The 252 guest rooms are categorized with hypey, not-very-useful names (Wow, Wonderful, Fabulous, and Cool are a few of the designations) — each with individual features like molded, egg-shaped chairs, round platform beds, freestanding cylindrical tubs, and walk-in glass showers with rainforest showerheads and heated towel racks. The minimalist-chic WooBar, where mixologists sling creative cocktails till dawn, is one of the city's premier hot spots; those who've overindulged can head straight to the Away Spa for an herbal detox wrap or a yin-yang balancing facial.

Insider Tip: Bring Fido. The W is one of the only hotels in Korea where pets are welcome (rather than on the menu).

Room to Book: The Mega Suite, stylish enough for a fashion photo shoot and with expansive river views, is relatively affordable at $350 per night.

• 1. W Seoul, Walkerhill
  21 Gwangjang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea 143-708; 82-(0)2-465-2222 More Info