The Hotel On my recent trip to Seoul last month, I stayed at Voco Seoul Myeongdong which is located right on the edge of Myeongdong near Namdaemun, Seoul Station, and a stone’s throw from Hoehyeon subway station. Formerly the Tmark Grand Hotel, the building has been refreshed and rebranded into IHG’s voco lifestyle stable in recent years. 

The Room Room design is basic, and the entry level room is quite small. Some rooms offer Namsan / Seoul Tower views, and my King Bed Deluxe Room (23–24 sqm) happens to come with the view. 

Power points are well placed (both by the bed and desk), and there is a decent work desk. Complimentary bottled water is also available which is always appreciated. 

The bathroom space is quite tight, and it comes with an old-school bathtub. No double vanity sinks unfortunately. 

The Facilities Located on level three, the gym is open 24 hours, and it is not massive. The range of equipment is very basic with dumbbells weight of 14kg being the heaviest, and it could definitely do with one more bench as there is only one. 

There is also a small indoor pool located in the same floor as the gym which is a welcome bonus for a city hotel in this segment. 

For guests who has Club Lounge access, the Club Lounge is located on the upper floors and honestly quite a quiet retreat from the bustle outside.

You can get all-day coffee and tea with light snacks. At 5pm, there is evening drinks and small bites during happy hour. It isn’t a spread that replaces dinner, but very decent.

Grab the window seats for a view of Namsan Tower. 

The Restaurants The hotel’s main dining option is 52 Market Place, the spacious all-day dining restaurant on the second floor. 

The concept is inspired by nearby Namdaemun Market, blending international dishes with Korean influences — though expectations should be calibrated. This is hotel dining done competently rather than boldly. 

Breakfast served here is decent rather than spectacular. You get a mix of Western staples (eggs, pastries, cereals), Korean items like soups and local side dishes and fruits and coffee that does the job. 

Rants The gym is way too basic for any proper workout. The entry level room is also very small.

Overall Experience If you are looking for a no nonsense, well-priced, modern hotel in central Seoul with easy transport links, comfortable rooms, voco Seoul Myeongdong delivers quietly. Basic and not luxurious if that is what you are looking for in Seoul. 

Voco Seoul Myeongdong 
52 Toegye-ro, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea 

For more information, check out Voco Seoul Myeongdong Website.

Ranted by The Ranter