Le Meridien Seoul stands out with artistic interiors, exteriors
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An aerial view of the hotel/ Courtesy of Le Meridien Seoul
By Kim Se-jeong
Artistic interiors and exteriors define Le Meridien Seoul, a life-style hotel brand under Marriott International’s chain of hotels. The hotel has promoted this central feature starting from its constructions.
Le Meridien Seoul’s 19-floor building is like a big art gallery that also provides accommodation.
From top: The hotel lobby decorated with “Bloom,” a blue paper artwork using “hanji,” Korean traditional paper; Installation art “Jip+Jeok” by Yang Min-ha outside the hotel lobby; and Buffet restaurant Chef’s Palette
Among the countless paintings decorating the hallways and walls of the hotel rooms and restaurants and sculptures at the lobby 13 contemporary works stand out.
“Bloom,” an installation by Kim Hee-kyung using “hanji,” or traditional Korean paper, greets guests, while “Moby Dick” series by Frank Stella decorates the corridor that leads to M Contemporary, an art exhibition space on the first floor of the hotel.
M Contemporary current features the works of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, a Hungarian-born architect and artist, and those of Korean artists inspired by him, and later this month, it will hold a new exhibition featuring pop artists including Andy Warhol. The art exhibition space which is open to hotel guests and the general public, aims to raise the hotel’s brand value and to entertain and inform the public.
Le Meridien Seoul opened in a renovated building that had hosted the Ritz-Carlton Seoul for decades. The building’s exteriors remain largely the same, although the sculptures and installations outside the building, including the main entrance, creates a new lasting impression to the new hotel’s guests.
Rooms
The hotel’s 336 rooms are simple and refined, with the pallet of green, blue and lavender. Each room is furnished with a bed, bath and shower, TV, business desk, drawer and safety. The suites additionally have a coffee machine and a sofa. Other room amenities include Wi-Fi, toiletries, cable channel service, laundry service and in-room dining service. Guests can use the hotel’s fitness center and indoor swimming pool. Breakfast is included in bookings. Check-in is at 3 p.m., and check-out is at noon.
Dining
Chef’s Palette is a signature buffet restaurant that serves all-day dining and breakfast for guests.
The dinner buffet features a combination of Western and Asian cuisines, and features steak, sushi, Korean cuisine, a salad bar and a dessert section. The pepper steak, which is offered for dinner, is a favorite among guests for its tender beef.
At Elements and LAB XXIV, guests can enjoy edible art developed by Edward Kwon, a star chef in Korea, who features oriental cuisine and French cuisine. LAB XXIV made its name onto the 2017 Michelin Guide Seoul earlier this year.
Other amenities
Le Meridien’s banquet halls also reflect the hotel’s artistic spirit: each of the four banquet halls are named after famous painters — Leonardo da Vinci, Paul Cezanne, Marc Chagall and Claude Monet. The banquet halls are outfitted with projectors, screens and other visual equipment. The Da Vinci Room can accommodate up to 500 guests at once.
The hotel’s fitness center and indoor swimming pool are open to all both guests and to non-guest members. The hotel’s spa services are available to both guests and non-guests at reasonable prices.
Surroundings and location
Le Meridien Seoul is located in the bustling district of southern Seoul. Bongeun Buddhist Temple, which is within walking distance, can be visited by guests who want to get a feel of a Korean Buddhist temple, while COEX Mall, which is also nearby, can be visited by guests who want to experience an upscale shopping mall and enjoy their time.
Guests can also enjoy the views of the nearby Han River and appreciate the artworks at the nearby LG Arts Center and Seoul Arts Center.
The hotel is conveniently located near public transportation, including Shinnonnyun Station on Subway Line No. 9, which is a five-minute walk away, as well as to bus stations.
Buses and shuttles can take guests from the hotel to major airports near Seoul and other major tourist attractions.
For more information and reservations, visit www.lemeridienseoul.com or call (02) 3451-8000.