Hotel Review: The Ambassador Seoul - A Pullman Hotel (Deluxe Room) - Good Value Luxury Hotel Near Dongdaemun
The Ambassador Seoul - A Pullman Hotel is located in Jung-gu in Seoul and it is within walking distance of popular attractions like Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun, and the N Seoul Tower just to name a few. While I do not typically consider staying at Accor properties on my trips, I chanced upon The Ambassador Seoul during an Accor sale and since I do have Accor Live Limitless (ALL) Platinum status this year, I have decided to spend a couple of nights here to switch things up a little.
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Club Ambassador Lounge
The Ambassador Seoul
Getting from Incheon Airport to The Ambassador Seoul was fairly easy - the K-limousine bus 6702 takes you to the entrance of the hotel and it costs only KRW 18,000 per person but the downside is that the entire journey takes two hours (something I did not know before boarding the bus). If you are not traveling alone, you should consider taking a taxi instead as it will likely cost you somewhere between KRW 60,000 to KRW 70,000 and that takes you roughly 60 minutes. When I arrived at The Ambassador Seoul, I was given the option to check in at the Club Ambassador Lounge as an ALL Platinum member. However, when I got to the lounge at approximately 10:20 AM, I was told that it was not in operation and it would only reopen at 11:00 AM, and I had to therefore proceed back downstairs for check-in. I informed the lounge staff that I was actually sent up by the front desk and she reluctantly proceeded to complete my check-in after a phone conversation with the front desk. As mentioned earlier, the Club Ambassador Lounge is closed from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and therefore people were vacuuming the carpets, and setting up the table while I was there. I was not offered a drink while I was there, but I did manage to eventually get my keycard - not a big deal but it was not off to a great start.
Entrance
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
As far as I know, the hotel reopened in January 2022 after an 18-month complete renovation (it first opened back in 1955!), and therefore, the rooms and common areas look pretty good. The Ambassador Seoul is also home to a one-Michelin Star restaurant, Haobin, which is a Chinese restaurant helmed by Chef Hu Deok-juk. As an ALL Platinum member, I was informed that my room was upgraded from a Superior Room to a Deluxe Room and I was also able to enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails at the Club Ambassador Lounge. Since I arrived on a weekend, I was also told that I had to book a timeslot for evening cocktails - there were three available and members could enjoy free-flowing drinks and food for 80 minutes. Since I only got breakfast as a virtue of my ALL Platinum status, I was informed that I can only enjoy it at the Club Ambassador Lounge, and not the all-day dining restaurant (the latter option requires a supplement).
Bedroom with a View
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
The Deluxe Room that I was assigned to at The Ambassador Seoul measured only 28sqm in size (a far cry from the 78 sqm suite that I stayed in at the Andaz Seoul Gangnam last year), but it was nicely renovated with plenty of modern conveniences built in for international travelers (e.g. wireless charging by the bedside, a massive 65-inch smart TV, as well as the availability of universal power outlets throughout the room). Located by the window is a cozy chaise lounge that is perfect to lie on during the day, and to enjoy the view outside.
Large 65” TV
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
All of the guest rooms here at The Ambassador Seoul come with massive TVs that are at least 65” - I am not sure whether the suites offer a larger TV but honestly, it was pretty impressive. There is also the option to stream your content to the TV wirelessly but since I was only here for a couple of nights, I did not end up using that feature. WiFi in the guest rooms and public areas work perfectly and there are no authentication requirements.
Universal Power Outlets and USB Charging Ports
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
There is no shortage of power outlets and USB charging ports in the guest rooms at The Ambassador Seoul - you will find them under the TV where the workdesk is located, as well as on both sides of the bed.
Welcome Amenity (ALL Platinum)
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
As an ALL Platinum member, my welcome amenities included half a bottle of Chilean red wine, as well as a dessert stand with some really tasty treats. I might go into this a little bit more later but the pastries at The Ambassador Seoul are seriously top-notch and amongst the best I have had in all my years of travel. Unfortunately, I did not end up finishing the bottle of wine as it was not to my liking but I definitely appreciate the gesture when a hotel goes above and beyond for their elite loyalty members.
King-size Bed
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
Some of the rooms at The Ambassador Seoul offer different bedding configuration but I opted for a King-size bed and it was really nice and plush. While the floor-to-ceiling windows do offer a great view and plenty of daylight, the blackout curtains do a great job at keeping the room conducive for rest (in the event that you want to sleep in a little bit more). The only real issue that I faced at The Ambassador Seoul was the air-conditioning in the room, as well as the property. This is probably more of a preference but firstly, I could not set the temperature below 21°C for my room. The temperature did not even go below 24°C throughout my whole stay at the hotel.
Bedside Controls
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
While most people are probably alright with this, I generally like to sleep in cold rooms so this was a major deterrence for me in getting a good night’s rest. Thankfully, I was able to crack open a small gap in the window for some fresh (and cool) air but even then, the room temperature was nowhere near as low as I wanted it to be. According to what I have read online, this air-conditioning issue is prevalent across a lot of properties in Seoul (especially in the cooler months). I also noticed that the Club Ambassador Lounge was relatively warm compared to most places I have been to, with some domestic travellers cracking open a window in the lounge for fresh air (like I did in the guest room).
View from Room
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
As mentioned earlier, I was given a one-category upgrade to a Deluxe Room which also came with a nice view of the N Seoul Tower. The Ambassador Seoul is located in a pretty interesting location that is convenient to get around if you are willing to walk. If you are planning to visit the N Seoul Tower, you can easily hop on a bus from Jangchung Culture & Sports Center (located just outside the hotel) and find yourself at the start of the walking trail in under 15 minutes.
Unlike the lead-in room category, Deluxe Rooms at The Ambassador Seoul have a separate bathtub that is adjacent to the shower area. I really like it when hotels have a clear wet and dry area in the bathroom as it makes it a whole lot less messy (and safe!). You will find a single sink in the bathroom but do note that there is a new law in place right now (since 29 March 2024) that prohibits hotels (with 50 or more rooms) from providing single-use personal amenities for free.
Bath Amenities
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
Even though my actual stay was a couple of days before 29 March 2024, The Ambassador Seoul already started to charge for these. Do note that bath amenities (in bulk-sized bottles) are still provided so you do not need to bring your own but if you are used to having disposable personal amenity kits (e.g. disposable toothbrush), you might need to find an alternative if you do not wish to pay a premium for them during your stay.
Single-use Amenities (for Purchase)
Deluxe Room - The Ambassador Seoul
During my stay, an amenity package (consisting of the usual toothbrushes, shavers, and cotton buds) can be purchased at KRW 25,000 each - not exactly a rip-off, but definitely an expense you can save on.
Seating Area
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
As an ALL Platinum member, access to the Club Ambassador Lounge was complimentary but I was told to make a reservation for Happy Hour for my evening session - I was offered three different timings that I could choose from:
5:00 PM to 6:20 PM
6:50 PM to 8:10 PM
8:40 PM to 10:00 PM
Evening Cocktails
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
I went with the earliest timeslot since it will then allow me to pre-drink and then head out for a proper dinner (or more drinks). While it was fairly common to see hotels enforcing time slots in the club lounge during the pandemic (due to safe-distancing and additional cleaning measures), I was surprised to see these systems in place in 2024. I later found out that these measures were put in place to manage capacity and consumption at the club lounge. Do note that you will be reminded to leave the lounge when your time is up, even if the next session is nowhere near capacity.
Evening cocktails and canapes at the Club Ambassador Lounge is actually quite pleasant but knowing that you will be chased out when the ‘timer runs out’ is a little bit of a buzzkill. Those looking for a drink will be pleased to know that there is a small selection of spirits as well as four different wines (two reds, and two whites which include a sparkling) on offer. There is also a few cocktail recipes available so hotel guests can try their hands at making a drink on their own - I personally skipped them and went straight for the sparkling moscato and white wine.
The selection of food at the Club Ambassador Lounge is quite decent and even though it did not change much during the two nights that I was there, the quality of food made up for it. As mentioned earlier, the pastries and fresh bakes at the club lounge are fantastic and I would gladly pay for them if they were sold in a bakery outside. There is also a good selection of antipasti which included things like plump scallops and salmon when I was there.
Evening Cocktails and Canapes
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
Most of the hot food remained the same on both nights but it was definitely sufficient for a light dinner if you are not really looking to head out. With that being said, there are quite a handful of restaurants located just 5-10 minutes walk away from the hotel near Dongguk University. If you are looking for alternatives, taking a 20-minute slow stroll to Dongdaemun will open up plenty of dining options.
Vietnamese Pho
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
While the time limit was a little bit annoying (especially when you know that the real reason is masked under the pretense of capacity management), I thought that the Club Ambassador Lounge was decent - particularly so if you get it by virtue of your ALL loyalty status. As far as I know, guests staying on weekdays (Sundays to Thursdays) are also required to book a timeslot for their evening cocktail session - you get 10 minutes more on a weekday as compared to a weekend:
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Gym
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
The one thing that stood out for me at The Ambassador Seoul is the massive gym which is located at B1 of the hotel. Not only was the gym well-equipped, but it also had a good variety of new equipment, free weights, and cardio machines which came as a surprise to me. When I stayed at the Andaz Seoul Gangnam last year, I was impressed by the quality of gym equipment there but this comes in a close second.
The Ambassador Seoul has two swimming pools - indoor and outdoor - as well as sauna available on property but if I am not mistaken, the outdoor swimming pool as well as the sauna are chargeable (even for in-house guests). I did not utilise these facilities during my stay but it is important to remember that a swimming cap is required in the event that you wish to do some - something that you should bring along with you if you do not want to pay a premium for it at the hotel.
Breakfast
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
Unlike most hotels in Southeast Asia, ALL Platinum members staying at The Ambassador Seoul will only enjoy complimentary continental breakfast at the lounge (instead of the full breakfast buffet experience at The Kings. Now before you jump in to criticise this, it is important to remember that this is completely in line with the terms and conditions of the program. When I stayed at the Le Méridien Seoul, Myeongdong as a Titanium Elite member, I was also told the same thing - breakfast is only free in the lounge but I could select the full buffet breakfast as my welcome amenity if I wanted to.
Breakfast
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
It is always nice to have breakfast included as part of your stay (especially when it comes “free” as part of your loyalty status benefits) - while the spread is limited and the live noodle station was still offering Vietnamese Pho in the morning (as it did the previous evening), the quality of food is good and once again, the pastries are fantastic.
Breakfast
Club Ambassador Lounge - The Ambassador Seoul
In all honesty, The Ambassador Seoul took me by surprise (in a pleasant way), and even though there were things that I did not particularly like during my short stay (e.g. the restrictive lounge hours for evening cocktails as well as the air-conditioning), there were also many things that I liked (e.g. the gym, the price, and its location). I booked this stay in November 2023 and the nightly room rate was just under KRW 250,000 which is truly a fantastic price (especially if you hold elite status in the ALL program). I would probably not stay here again in the winter or in spring (because of the air-conditioning issue), but if I were to visit Seoul again in the summer, I might consider staying at The Ambassador Seoul once again since it offers a great experience at a good price.
The Ambassador Seoul - A Pullman Hotel
287 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
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