Hotel La Casa

Item: Hotel La Casa
Rating: 46
Author: Eloise Smart

Where:
Seoul, Korea
Why:Sussing Seoul for six fun days.
When:November 2013
Who:Me + my Seoul mate.

Flame trees. Take that Barnsey.

LOUNGE: Baubles just never looked so good. READING MATTER: Novella, anyone?

Dinner party, anyone?

Sweet, colourful dreams are made of these.

I wonder, can I try this at home with my Encyclopedia Britannicas?

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP: Seoul shopping is bad-ass. This is the MMMG store stocking Freitag, Lamy, You.Great. MMM MMM….

Temples of gold.

Enter at your peril.

NICE DIGS.

Gorgeous detailing not yet seen on ‘Grand Designs.’

KITTY CAT-FE.

KITTY CAT-FE : Seoul (weirdos) can pay for an outrageously priced tea in exchange for a pat of a range of (fat, ugly, smelly) cats. Probably the most uncomfortable 15 minutes of my life. And I’m a cat lover.

Up around Samcheongdong they like to paint a few walls.

Seoul Lantern Festival tells the story of their heroines, heros and villains in life-size lanterns on the river. Epic.

The Seoul Lantern Festival.

Bibimbap is the heavenly combination of rice, chicken, veggies which is hot, steaming, and perfect for wintry Seoul days.

These gentle hills turn dizzying colours in autumn. Enough to make your instagram explode.

Up in Insadong on a Saturday you can find the local uni student’s handicrafts from bags to badges.

Local schoolgirls dress up to channel their ancestors.

Seoul kids are cute.

Food at Psy’s Mom’s place, Kuai 19.

CAFFEINE ADDICTS: One of the cutest cups we had in Seoul’s many, many coffee shops.

La Casa Entrance: Casa sweet casa.

Highs & Lows

Literary surrounds – I’m a sucker for a stack of books and a ladder to reach them, so this foyer entry truly had me at hello.
Location - Seoul has ‘spots’ so to find a hotel as high-quality as this, right in the middle of the Gangnam action is a treat. Warning: do not venture out to the local convenience store in your jim jams... the blogger paps do prey in this area.
Oppa Gangnam Style - If you were Psy, you would probably need a few more Swarovksis stuck to your door handle to stay here, but as we’re not, and you’re not, this is a damn fine stamp of Seoul style in the center of where it’s at.
Bathroom goodies - when you google “what skincare do French women swear by?” this is the answer: “Caudalie.” So when you step into the shower, feel French and fabulous.
Fitness – new, clean, spacious, easy.

Room size - the Deluxe Double is the smallest room and a touch bare in its furnishings… we’d recommend the Business Double room and up. More bling.

The Barometer

Design
Website
Environmental Consciousness
Night's Sleep
Service

Amenities
Takeable Treats
Refer a Friend
Overall Value
Life Changing

Total: 46/50

Important Bits

Type
Modern, homely hotel good enough for Psy.
Vibe
Your ideal Scandinavian home. In Asia.
Location
Nestled in the top, left corner of trendy Sinsadong in Gangnam.
Rooms
61
Music
None.
Year Opened
Recent.
Designed By
Italian furniture design company Casamia, who has a dangerously good store next door.

Health & Wellness
Well equipped gym with running machines, pilates balls to fall off, and a view to the pretty park.
Restaurant
Yes.
Bar
No.
Children
A one year old was having a rager in the loft area, but in general I’d say the less low flying objects, the better.
Price
Good value for location and to feel like you’re in a cosy home, not a carbon copy hotel.