Mizo Guesthouse

This hotel is basic but meets all the requirements for a base whilst you go and explore Seoul. The hotel is located on the 7th and 8th floor of a high rise building right in the heart of Myeongdong with the night market right on your doorstep so in terms of location, you don't get any better than this. Staff were lively and helpful, room was very small but again as a base it is ideal and doesn't leave you wanting more. The rooftop self service bar is a treat and overlooks the food market so a great place to spend an hour.

We booked this location on our second trip to Seoul, knowing exactly where the hotel is situated and wanting to be in the heart of Myeong-Dong. This is pretty much what you're getting for the price, the location. As far as the accommodations, expect to feel like you're camping. We knew the floor sleeping would be part of the deal, and we also knew there is no separate shower since this is a traditional Korean room, but there were still some surprises that were not very pleasant. The bathrooms smells terrible and during our stay the hotel had plumbing issues, leaving us without water to shower two nights in a row (we were out all day so the daytime shortage didn't affect us). No discount/reparations for the inconvenience. Instead, after much deliberation the front desk had the plumber come into our room and turn on the water for an hour so we could shower on the second night. Additionally, the breakfast should not even be advertised, as it is an absolute joke. The coffee machine doesn't work and you're only able to use it for an hour a day in the AM, and the other "breakfast" items are literally just packs of jam and some white bread. None of this is replenished, so if you don't beat the other guests to it first, there will be nothing available for you to eat or drink. Luckily, there are several coffee shops around the corner that open at 8 AM so we were able to grab coffee there and buy a delicious egg sandwich from a food truck that parks nearby as well. In summary, I think the price is great and the location can't be beat, especially if you want to stay in the Myeong-Dong or Insadong areas. The room was clean enough and I don't mind sleeping on the floor, but overall I felt like we received very little for our money. Perhaps if there had been no plumbing issues or smells, I would be more likely to return.