Hotels in Seoul throw year-end parties
Grand Hyatt Seoul
By Kim Se-jeong
If you have no plans for New Year’s Eve, Seoul’s luxury hotels are throwing countdown parties for your pleasure.
Grand Hyatt Seoul
The Grand Hyatt Seoul’s annual countdown party takes place on the hotel’s ice rink, Dec. 31.
The event will start at 10:30 p.m. with a skating performance by a local junior skating team and free skating time. At 11:50 p.m., the ice rink will turn into a countdown arena with all participants counting down the final 10 seconds to 2018 with fireworks. Entry to the countdown party costs 85,000 won per person, including tax. For information and reservations, call (02) 799-8520.
Conrad Seoul
The Conrad Seoul’s countdown party will take place at the 37 Executive Lounge on the hotel’s top floor. The lounge has a great view of the Han River.
A bottle of champagne, a platter of canapes and desserts will be served to each table, along with music by DJ Allzwell. This year’s party is special in that party guests can make their own 2018 resolution cards with special calligraphy printed on them. The party will begin at 10 p.m. Dec. 31 through 1 a.m. Jan. 1 2018. A ticket to the venue costs 240,000 won per table and tax is included. For reservations and inquiries, call (02) 6137-7110.
Park Hyatt Seoul
The Park Hyatt Seoul’s year-end party takes place at Timber House which will be filled with old movie soundtracks on vinyl records with unique analogue sound.
Guests will receive the Timber House’s premium beverage _ sparkling wine and champagne _ and a box of high-quality cuisine. At the end of the meal, each guest will receive 10 Cuban mini cigars. The full course meal costs 250,000 won per person. If you want to replace wine and champagne with gin and vodka, the course will cost 500,000 won.
The Timber House opens at 7:30 p.m. for year-end party guests. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2016-1291 or 1234.
InterContinental Seoul COEX
Countdown party guests at the Sky Lounge at the InterContinental Seoul COEX will be able to watch the New Year bell-tolling ceremony and fireworks which take place at Bongeun Buddhist temple nearby.
The Sky Lounge on the hotel’s 30th floor will offer a special liquor set in a private setting. Guests can also enjoy a snack buffet where they can enjoy various desserts and wines from 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31 till Jan. 1, 2018. The snack bar will also offer Tteokguk, rice cake soup, for the New Year. For more information and reservations, call the Sky Lounge at (02) 2320-8630.
The Westin Chosun Seoul
The Westin Chosun Seoul will broadcast the New Year’s concert by the Vienna Philiharmonic Orchestra, Jan. 1, 2018. An exclusive concert and dinner event will begin at 5 p.m. with a multicourse meal accompanied by wine and sake.
The concert will be broadcast in the Grand Ballroom from 6:45 p.m. for 150 minutes. The music critic’s interpretation of each piece and composers will be provided during the concert. The dinner price starts from 250,000 won. The broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’ concert has become the Westin Chosun’s tradition since 2014.
The year 2018 marks the 77th anniversary of the philharmonic’s New Year concert. The annual concert is broadcast internationally in more than 90 countries. For more information and reservations, call (02) 317-0220/0227.
Sheraton Seoul D Cube City
The Sheraton Seoul D Cube City’s Lobby Lounge Bar will offer live crossover music and performances by bands throughout the night, Dec. 31. Included in the ticket is a glass of Moet & Chandon champagne, a special snack platter consisting of sashimi and seafood, jamon melon, Wagyu Beef Wellington, Christmas dessert and more. The guests will also receive a teddy bear as a New Year gift.
The hotel’s buffet restaurant Feast also offers an all-you-can-eat snack buffet with unlimited draft beer and wine and steamed seafood, lamb chops, spicy noodles, assorted sushi and sashimi as well as strawberry desserts and more, Dec. 31. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2211-1740.
JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul
The JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul’s rooftop bar, the Griffin, presents a luxury countdown party featuring a performance by social entertainer Jeremy Park, The Griffin’s bartenders and chefs will serve a special menu of diverse cocktails, wine and cuisine.
Tickets cost 50,000 won per person, including tax and service charge. Admission will be free for Griffin members. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2276-3344.
Vista Walkerhill Seoul
The Vista Walkerhill Seoul premium social lounge Re:BAR’s countdown party starts at 8 p.m., featuring performances by musicians Truedy, Microdot, MADK, Deletis and Sayah and Chic Angels, and DJs Lee Jae-won from H.O.T. and model Kim Ki-bum.
The tickets will costs 30,000 won per person for online advance reservations and 40,000 won at the door. Tax and service charges are included. A welcome drink will be provided. For more information, call (02) 2022-0333.