Destination: Art

Gather + Build by Yang Min Ha

For the art-lover, Le Méridien Seoul is a must-stay. For one, there are 13 key pieces by South Korean and international artists scattered throughout the hotel for discovery, including the lobby’s Bloom paper sculpture by Kim Hee Kyung, and the Maple Garden’s ultra-modern Gather + Build LED installation. And that’s not all, the M Contemporary Art Center of Modern Art – that exhibits fine art, new media, and various elements of architecture, science and humanistic technology – is also located on the premises on the first floor.

Celebrity Chef

You don’t have to travel far to meet famed South Korean chef Edward Kwon, who has made a name for himself after various stints in Seoul, China and Dubai, as well as hosting his own television show. Kwon has two restaurants, Elements and Lab XXIV, nestled in the hotel. The former serves Korean, Japanese and Southeast Asian dishes – there’s even a sushi counter and a Korean BBQ selection. The latter, on the other hand, is featured in Michelin Guide Seoul 2017 for its contemporary French menu and fine wines.

Mid-Century meets Modern Design

All of the hotel’s interiors tap on Korean design elements of symmetry and asymmetry. There are also woven metal details inspired by an ancient technique of weaving and knotting thread (known as maedeup), handhammered metal door handles, and intricately patterned fabrics used for windows. East-meets-West is a clear theme too: the architecture here is based on a reimagined colonnade, and the recurring geometric grid pattern brings to mind the iconic Le Bon Marché of Paris.

Room Service

There are 336 rooms and suites – all with views of the Gangnam area, and decorated in soothing shades of pale blue, lavender and green. Equally impressive: The ten different room types (of which seven are in the suites category). Le Meridien’s first hotel in South Korea is also the only one in Seoul to boast rooms with balconies.

Extra Touches

French band Nouvelle Vague

No detail is too small here, and you’re bound to find something you weren’t looking for. There’s a 24-hour hotel soundtrack playing that was done in collaboration with French bossa nova band Nouvelle Vague. Bath amenities are by hip American brand Malin+Goetz, which uses only natural ingredients. Finally, you can enjoy the hotel’s signature sweets, as well as sparkling cocktails and mocktails, which are thoughtfully made with local ingredients. The Injeolmi Éclair uses traditional Korean tteok (rice cake), while the Black Sesame Éclair was designed as its star ingredient is commonly featured in Korean cuisine.

Le Méridien Seoul, 120 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06124, South Korea.

This article was originally written by Ian Lee of L’Officiel Singapore.