Review: JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul

During my visit to Korea, I was looking for a place to redeem my Free Night Award from the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card.

Despite having multiple options in Seoul, I chose to stay at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul because of JW's renowned reputation for exceptional food and beverage offerings.

Booking (June 2022)

On the day I checked in, the Marriott Bonvoy app showed my room type at 486,178 KRW a night, taxes included. At the Bank of Canada's rate that day, that's about CA$485.

Luckily, for the date I wanted, it was only 34,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. My Free Night Award covers a night of up to 35,000 points, so I could redeem it without adding any points of my own.

That works out to about 1.4 cents per point.

Location

The hotel is in the vibrant Dongdaemun district of Seoul, right across the road from Heunginjimun, better known as Dongdaemun Gate, which was designated Korea's Treasure No. 1.

While the area itself isn't surrounded by major tourist attractions, it offers convenient access to other landmarks, shopping centres and cultural sites. That makes it suitable for all types of travellers.

To get to the hotel from the airport, you can either take a taxi (about an hour) or the airport rail to Seoul Station, then transfer to Line 4 and get off at Dongdaemun Station. From Exit 8, the hotel entrance is just a few steps away.

Lobby & Check-in

Checking in at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square was very smooth. The staff were exceptionally friendly and professional, with excellent recognition for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members.

However, despite holding Titanium Elite status and staying on a weekday, I didn't receive a room upgrade, aside from being assigned a room with a Dongdaemun view.

I must admit that I didn't make any effort at "suite-talking" to ask for an upgrade. Staying alone 🥲, I prefer to be humble and leave the larger suites for couples and families.

They were at least more than happy to extend my check-out to 4 p.m. (it's normally noon) as a Titanium Elite member.

Having seen so many hotels hesitate to honour this "guaranteed" late check-out, I often wonder about the true nature of a benefit you have to request with uncertainty.

Room (Deluxe King, Dongdaemun View)

Foyer

Upon entering room 808, a hallway leads to the bedroom, with an open-style bathroom on the left. On the wall to the right, there's a key slot that powers the room, and a switch to opt in or out of housekeeping.

I really like this switch, as it saves me from hanging the Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob. (Yes, I'm lazy)

1 / 2

Bed

The room was surprisingly spacious, especially for Seoul. Its well-balanced colour scheme matched the view of Dongdaemun through the window, creating a traditional Korean ambience.

The bed was very comfortable, with a Beautyrest mattress from Simmons, Korea's premier mattress brand. Across from it, a large TV hangs above a long, lit console that runs to the desk.

1 / 4

View

My room looked straight out at Heunginjimun, just across the road. At night, the gate and the old city wall behind it are lit up.

1 / 2

Sitting Area

Next to the bed, there's a sitting area with an elegant red armchair, a footrest and a side table. It makes for a delightful morning, letting you savour a cup of coffee while taking in the view of Dongdaemun.

Desk Area

Next to the sitting area is a large desk, making the room great for guests on business trips. It has a lamp, a leather desk pad and power outlets on the wall beside it.

A switch panel controls every light, plus the sheer curtain and the main one. The outlets take 220V plugs, and some have a USB charger beside them.

1 / 3

Minibar

On the other side of the room, there's a minibar stocked with alcohol, glassware, a kettle and a Nespresso machine. One subtle detail I noticed was the mugs with the Dongdaemun logo printed on them.

There was also a mini fridge, but it was pre-stocked with the hotel's drinks, which left little room for my own. The miniatures on the shelf were Glenmorangie, Jack Daniel's, Chivas Regal and Martell.

1 / 3

Bathroom

Moving on to the bathroom, it has a modern, contemporary design that meets the expected standards. The bathtub is always a delightful bonus.

There's a mini TV on the wall, so you can enjoy some K-drama while washing up. The toiletries are from Aromatherapy Associates, a renowned brand from the U.K.

The vanity has a lit mirror and a magnifying mirror, and the toilet and the shower each sit behind their own glass door.

1 / 4

One unexpected amenity was a hair straightener alongside the hair dryer. While I personally haven't used one, I recognize its potential value, particularly for women.

Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge is on the 10th floor, and in June 2022 it was open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. It's relatively small, but I didn't find it crowded, likely thanks to the hotel's small number of guest rooms.

Armchairs and sofas sit along the windows, which look out onto a green roof, with bookshelves on the walls.

1 / 5

All-Day Snacks

Light snacks, coffee and tea are served throughout the day. Jars of cookies and candies sit by the coffee machine, next to a fridge of soft drinks.

1 / 4

Self-Serve Bar

In June 2022, hors d'oeuvres were served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., along with a self-serve bar. There was a good variety of alcoholic drinks, and they even provided cocktail shakers so guests could craft their own cocktails.

The shelf had Jack Daniel's, Jameson, Jose Cuervo, Martini, Campari, Baileys, Kahlúa, Beefeater and Cointreau. Sparkling, white and red wine sat on ice next to it.

1 / 5

Rooftop Patio

There's also a rooftop patio off the Executive Lounge, so make sure to grab a glass of bubbly and enjoy the stunning view of Dongdaemun. A wooden deck runs along the green roof, with Heunginjimun just below.

1 / 2

Hors d'oeuvres

In terms of food, there were several hot dishes, along with some bread and desserts. While the selection was adequate, I wouldn't say it could replace a full meal.

The hot plates had spicy stir-fried chicken, bulgogi and bread pudding. Next to them were smoked salmon, cold cuts, olives and pickles, and tortilla chips with salsa.

1 / 7

For dessert, there was a Black Forest cake and an apple pie, with sourdough, fruit bread and baguette on the side.

1 / 3

Breakfast

Breakfast is served at Tavolo 24, the restaurant on the 2nd floor. I can strongly say this was the highlight of my stay.

As a Titanium Elite member, my breakfast was included. In June 2022, the in-room guide listed it at 55,000 KRW a person, from 6:30 to 10 a.m. on weekdays and until 10:30 a.m. on weekends.

The room is long and bright, with a wine wall marked "Italy + Chile" and a pizza counter at the back of the buffet.

1 / 5

The buffet showcased a blend of traditional Korean and Western dishes, with an extensive variety to choose from. I believe photos convey food better than words, so let's do a food tour with the photo slides below.

Bread and Drinks

Juices came in carafes, next to croissants, pastries, muffins, a toaster and jars of cereal. Blueberry and plain yogurt had nuts, seeds and dried berries on the side, and Staub pots held tomato soup, polenta and oatmeal.

1 / 10

Noodle Station

Rice noodles came with bok choy, bean sprouts, napa cabbage, red onion and herbs, plus chili oil and sauces on the side. Next to them sat pots of miso soup and seaweed soup.

1 / 4

Korean and Asian Dishes

Clay pots held tteokbokki (spicy rice cake), pork dumplings, takoyaki and Chinese-style stir-fried eggplant. There was also Wando abalone porridge, steamed rice and laver, with natto, edamame and other sides on ice.

At the far end, pork belly sat on a grill with lettuce for wrapping, next to bowls of chirashi sushi.

1 / 17

Western Dishes

The hot counter had Johnsonville sausages, bacon, hash browns, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms and glazed vegetables. The cold side ran from mushroom, tomato and sweet pumpkin salads to smoked salmon, ham, salami and cheese.

Pickles and compotes came last: cornichons, cocktail onions, plum compote and fig confit.

1 / 19

My Plates

My first plate had chirashi sushi, noodle soup, a dumpling, takoyaki, sausages and roasted pumpkin. The second went for smoked salmon, salad and the dried tofu salad.

1 / 2

Amenities

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square has both a gym and an indoor pool, but I didn't have time to visit either.

According to the in-room guide, the pool on the 8th floor was open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in June 2022, for one 90-minute session per night. The gym and sauna were closed at the time for COVID prevention.

Provence Spa by L'Occitane is on the same floor.

Final Thoughts

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square certainly lived up to my expectations. The rooms were elegant, the lounge was satisfactory, and the breakfast was amazing.

However, apart from the view of Dongdaemun, there isn't much to do in the neighbourhood. Unless you enjoy bargaining at the flea markets and shops of the Dongdaemun district, I'm not entirely sure I can frankly recommend this hotel to tourists.

Nonetheless, if you're a local, a long-term guest or a staycation enthusiast, I highly encourage you to give this 5-star hotel a try. You won't regret it 😌