Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul

I stayed in residence suite and it was amazing. The decor of the hotel is luxurious. Room service was great, food is delicious. The associates who stand out side in the freezing temperatures are amazing. They are so kind and welcoming. Concierge also has the best manners and professionalism. The house keeping is excellent, always stocked up with coffee pods, tea, sugar and other amenities. Room service is excellent, food is so delicious. Now the front desk, i didn’t have a good experience upon checking in. Very minimal effort given. I understand it was late evening but i actually have to find my own way to the room. I also have to locate where the elevator was. So it was not a good impression, since the guy who checked me in just told me “go left and right for elevator.” Didn’t even bother to tell me anything else until I asked. I actually went to see the nice friendly concierge to show me where to go, and he helped me with the room heating system. This hotel charges deposit on my card, instead of just putting the card in the system. Front desk needs an improvement on communication and people skills. I can communicate pleasantly with the associates who stand outside in freezing cold, room service, house keeping, concierge than the front desk. Overall I like this hotel, because the rest of my stay was amazing.

Overall: location A+ in Gangnam, the hotel is classic, not rundown at all; rooms are clean, staff is very friendly and helpful; breakfast buffet is C- and really really needs improvement, it's completely out of date. Room: spacious room, bathroom with tub; Penhaligon amenities quite amazing (tho I wish they went for bolder options) F&B: Vertuo machine great for coffee;but I drink tea, and tea comes in cheap supermarket teabags, unacceptable flavour water; please use Newby, Kew & Leaf, or some proper brand; breakfast buffet is a big minus: pastries are all frozen really bad quality; fruits ok; live kitchens are good; you need more modern options and massively upgrade your abysmal pastries. Service: I really liked the people, friendly but unobtrusive, helped with restaurant reservations etc; but I could never figure out how to order from the lobby shop, there never was someone working then when I wanted to order a cake .. Gym: fantastic, but closes way too early at 9:30!!

arrived in Seoul two nights ago for a three-night business trip, marking my first visit to South Korea. As a frequent traveler due to work, I rarely leave reviews; however, my experience here has been exceptional. The hotel's beauty, convenience, elegant rooms, and outstanding staff have exceeded my expectations. This hotel has been the highlight of my Asian trip this year. I'd also like to commend the concierge, Rose Lee, for her exceptional service - polite, courteous, and professional. Her kindness extended to sending a video to a colleague at the Don CeSar Resort St Pete Beach, Florida, my home city. This hotel's beauty and location make it one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of visiting

I was drawn to its royal, imperial-style décor, but I wasn’t sure if a Grand Mercure property could deliver the 5-star standard and refined service like their sister brands Sofitel. To my surprise, this hotel truly exceeded my expectations. The service felt polished, the room was beautifully designed, and the thoughtful touches — the complimentary mini-bar, Nespresso machine, and the kettle — made the experience feel much more premium than I expected. Even at the bar, the details stood out: the nuts and water served alongside the red wine, the cosy ambience, and the music that brought out such a warm Christmas spirit. Overall, Grand Mercure Imperial delivered a level of comfort and quality that felt close to the Sofitel family — elegant, warm, and delightfully surprising. ✨🏨🎄

All A/C was centrally shut off without the option to turn it on!!! This was a choice by management outside the summer months!!! Apparently the hotel management feels it need to save money or it knows better than the customer what is most comfortable for him???? That left me with two options: trying to sleep in 25 degrees celcius (as per thermometer) or open the windows during nights and afternoons without a chance to sleep due to all the road noise and draft. Great food though and friendly staff. But hotel management is trying to save money so quality of this hotel will go down ower time, you feel.

I recently stayed at this hotel and had a wonderful experience from start to finish. The staff were warm, attentive, and always ready to help with a genuine smile. My room was spotless, spacious, and elegantly decorated, with a very comfortable bed that ensured restful nights. The daily housekeeping was impeccable, and small details like complimentary water and fresh toiletries made the stay even better. The breakfast buffet offered a wide variety of fresh and delicious options, catering to all tastes. I also enjoyed the hotel’s central location, which made it easy to explore nearby attractions and restaurants. The lobby and common areas were modern, stylish, and very inviting.

Old hotel with aged facilities. Water from shower did not drained properly. Wall was dirty. Lamps were crooked. General lack of attention to details for a 5 star hotel. Price is only good value if if feels you ar wheeling more than what you paid which in this case it’s not. So I’d say price was fair.Buffet was just ok. However smoked salmon felt it was dyed because was in a pool of orange liquid. Staff were responsive and friendly. Tried to address the issues so this is a good point.

Bug bites and a broken sink! I stayed at the Grand Mercure Imperial Palace in Gangnam on December 17, with very high expectations given its 5-star rating. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing. I left the hotel the following morning with multiple bite marks all over my arms, appearing in small clusters and lines. After leaving, I visited a pharmacist who told me the pattern and progression of the bites were most consistent with insect bites, including bed bugs. I’ve since learned there has been an increase in bed bug cases in Seoul since 2023, which made this even more concerning. Because I only noticed the bites as I was leaving the hotel early the next morning, I didn’t have the opportunity to inspect the room. However, based on the bite pattern and professional feedback, I am confident the bites occurred during my stay. I contacted the hotel with a detailed email outlining my concerns. While they initially apologized and said they would inspect the room and follow up, I never received any further response. The lack of follow-through was just as disappointing as the incident itself. Additionally, during my stay, the sink handle broke off simply from being turned off, requiring maintenance to come and repair it. For a hotel at this price point and rating, having basic fixtures fail so easily is unacceptable. Between the health concern, poor room maintenance, and lack of communication afterward, this stay did not come close to meeting 5-star standards. I would not stay here again and would urge future guests to be cautious.