JW Marriott Dongdaemun Seoul Review 2026: Rooms, Lounge & Pool

I've often visited the JW Marriott in Banpo, but this was my first time at the Dongdaemun location.

I'd been curious to check it out, and a close friend treated me to the stay, so I finally got to experience it!

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Typically, the price ranges around ~$345.

It's usually about ~$69 to ~$138 more affordable than the JW Marriott Banpo,

and the breakfast here was significantly better!

I'll dive into the breakfast details in the next part,

but for this one, we'll focus on the rooms and amenities.

1. JW Dongdaemun Location & Rooms

The JW Dongdaemun is conveniently located near Exits 8 and 9 of Dongdaemun Station.

While there is a direct subway connection,

Line 4 can be a bit awkward.

Line 2 offers better accessibility, and if you're traveling with luggage,

coming out of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Line 2), Exit 14,

and walking from there is also a great option.

Rooms with a Dongdaemun view are truly spectacular!

You can also enjoy the stunning Dongdaemun view from the lounge.

The building's design beautifully harmonizes with the historic Dongdaemun Gate, making it truly magnificent.

I love that it doesn't look out of place even from a distance.

Behind the hotel, you'll find the serene Cheonggyecheon Stream.

With Dongdaemun Hyundai Outlet and DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) also close by,

there are plenty of incredible places to explore and sights to behold!

Since my close friend (who has Gold status) booked the room for me,

it wasn't a Dongdaemun view room, but the room itself was still quite lovely!

Given that JW is a top-tier brand, the rooms were, of course, excellent, and...

You'll also find a separate bathtub and shower, which is a lovely touch.

Being a room with lounge access,

it featured a separate sofa bed and desk, which made it feel wonderfully spacious.

2. Pool & Fitness Center

The pool at JW Marriott Dongdaemun (often called 'Dongriotte') is renowned for its sparkling beauty!

It was a truly beautiful pool with a sophisticated atmosphere.

Swimming caps are mandatory, by the way!

Honestly, even though it can be a minor inconvenience, I actually prefer pools that require swimming caps – it generally means better hygiene!

And there's a jacuzzi tucked away in one corner of the pool area.

The toddler pool was located separately, in a different spot.

If you head past the decorative display behind the main pool, you'll find the toddler pool. It felt much safer since it's completely separate from the adult area.

While the water temperature wasn't cold, a thermal protective swimsuit was still better for the kids.

The fitness center was also quite luxurious and impressive!

They even have great screen golf facilities, so it might be a good idea to bring your own equipment if you're a fan!

The fitness spa & relaxation area truly impressed me. While the fitness center at Banpo Marriott (which has everything from basketball courts to handball and squash!) is in a league of its own, this Dongdaemun Marriott's might feel a bit modest by comparison... but I still absolutely loved its sophisticated and luxurious ambiance!

3. The Lounge

06:00~23:30 / Breakfast 06:00~10:00

Happy Hour 17:00~19:00 (Ages 19 and over)

When you first step into the lounge, it might seem a bit small at first glance! But many lounges often feel like remodeled old guest rooms, and this one has several private 'room-like' spaces, so it didn't feel cramped at all.

The view from the lounge was quite spectacular, overlooking everything from Dongdaemun to Cheonggyecheon Stream, so it certainly wasn't a small space after all!

Both the lounge menu and the plating were fantastic~ Even though it might appear a bit compact, having separate sections for alcoholic beverages and food meant it never felt like anything was lacking!

And here's the alcoholic beverages & drinks corner!

There was a wide variety, including champagne, wine, and spirits.

The setup and presentation definitely had that perfect hotel feel~

There are also many main dishes that could definitely be a meal,

so I think it would be great for dinner too.

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Since the breakfast here is truly outstanding,

if you're debating between lounge access or breakfast inclusion,

I'd definitely lean towards breakfast!

My dear friend

had booked a room that included both lounge access and breakfast,

so I popped into the lounge for a quick look around, then

decided to go with breakfast.

Breakfast at TAVOLO24

will be in the next post!