Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences

As a long-time Accor Plus Platinum member, I had high hopes for our stay at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul to celebrate our wedding anniversary — but unfortunately, it fell short in many areas. We arrived around midnight on the first night, and despite my membership status, we were told no upgrade was available unless we paid extra. We declined as it was late and just needed rest. Not long after settling in, we received a call saying we were overcharged for our 3rd and 4th nights and were asked to come back down to the front desk to cancel and reprocess the payment — a highly inconvenient situation at midnight. While they sent a small gift for our child to apologize, I ended up agreeing to pay extra to upgrade the room just to avoid moving between rooms during the stay. The next morning, we went to the Club Lounge for breakfast, which is part of Accor Platinum benefits, but were told breakfast just ended and directed to the main restaurant. We gave our room number and confirmed our membership — yet during the meal, staff approached us five times asking us to sign a bill, and later insisted we needed to pay. It was frustrating and awkward. A staff member later called to say we weren’t entitled to benefits because the first two nights were booked via an online agent. However, we paid the upgrade directly to the hotel and expected consistent recognition as loyal Accor guests. He eventually apologized and tried to make up for the earlier miscommunication — which I appreciated. Sadly, on checkout, the hotel still charged us nearly ₩200,000 for breakfast — despite the dispute and clarification. Overall, this stay was marked by confusing policies, poor internal communication, and lack of genuine care for returning Platinum members. I’ve stayed at many Sofitel and Accor properties where membership is consistently honored — this was not one of them. I hope the management takes this seriously and improves service consistency, especially for loyal guests who choose Sofitel expecting a premium experience.

Opened in September 2021, the Sofitel Ambassador Seoul is the world’s first Sofitel-branded hotel and serviced residence complex, blending French luxury with Korean culture in the vibrant Jamsil district. Spanning the 17th to 31st floors, its 403 rooms and suites showcase Parisian elegance with soft tones, floor-to-ceiling windows, and stunning views of Seokchon Lake and Seoul’s skyline. During my stay, I enjoyed the Prestige Suite with Lake View, a spacious 70-square-meter retreat featuring a separate living room, guest toilet, luxurious bedroom, marble-clad bathroom, and walk-in closet—all complemented by breathtaking lake views. As part of Accor’s STEP program, I was welcomed with an exquisite arrangement of sweet and savory delicacies, a crafted cake, artisanal chocolates, and fragrant green tea. The suite includes a cozy seating area, small dining table, flat-screen TV, minibar with Nespresso machine, and an adjoining guest toilet. The bedroom features a king-sized Sofitel MyBed and a second flat-screen TV. Complimentary Wi-Fi, fresh flowers, and twice-daily housekeeping service add to the refined atmosphere. The white marble bathroom boasts a washbasin, freestanding bathtub, rain shower, Japanese toilet, and luxurious Diptyque toiletries. Breakfast at Fait Maison, the hotel’s chic French bistro, presents an elegant buffet with fresh salads, smoked salmon, cold cuts, yogurts, cereals, Korean specialties, assorted breads, and pastries. Guests can order à la carte options such as Eggs Benedict, Baked Eggs in tomato sauce, and French omelets, though service felt reserved and lacked attentiveness, with an unexpected extra charge for mineral water. Guests in Club Millésime rooms and suites enjoy exclusive privileges, including private breakfast service, afternoon tea with French pastries, and evening cocktails with gourmet canapés. However, offerings remained unchanged throughout my stay, with limited daily hot dish selections. Jardin d’Hiver, the charming lobby café, evokes a traditional Parisian salon de thé, serving artisanal pastries, handcrafted chocolates, and gourmet coffee. The elegant L’Espace lounge offers afternoon tea, fine wines, and bespoke cocktails, while Fait Maison’s refined dining highlights authentic Parisian cuisine. For Japanese fine dining, MIO presents an elevated omakase experience, expertly blending premium Korean ingredients with Japanese culinary techniques. Kappo-style à la carte dishes, fine wines, craft beers, and sake enhance the experience, with attentive service far exceeding that of Fait Maison. Latitude 32, the rooftop bar, delivers panoramic skyline views, an exclusive selection of cocktails, wines, and premium whiskies, and a sophisticated ambiance. The Sofitel Spa by Beauté BR offers a luxurious wellness experience, combining French spa techniques with Biologique Recherche products. The 25-meter indoor pool features stunning lake and city views, while a kids' pool and outdoor whirlpool provide family-friendly relaxation. The modern fitness center offers state-of-the-art equipment and personal training services. Ideally located in Seoul’s lively Jamsil district, Sofitel Ambassador Seoul epitomizes French sophistication and Korean hospitality, offering refined accommodations, world-class dining, and exceptional amenities. While service inconsistencies at Fait Maison slightly detract from the experience, the hotel’s stylish ambiance, impeccable design, and diverse luxury offerings create a distinctive urban retreat for leisure and business travelers alike.

We had the pleasure of staying at Sofitel to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Prior to our arrival, we sent several inquiries regarding our reservation. Each was met with prompt and courteous responses, and our requests were thoughtfully taken into account. Upon arrival, despite our early check-in, "Jason Kim" kindly assisted with a seamless check-in process and provided a detailed overview of the hotel’s facilities and services. To our delight, we were generously upgraded from the Prestige Suite to the Opera Suite. The room was exceptionally spacious and elegantly designed, featuring panoramic city views, a luxurious bathroom with a separate bathtub and rainfall shower, and refined amenities that elevated our overall experience. Thanks to this thoughtful upgrade and the warm hospitality of "Jason Kim" and the Sofitel staff, our first stay at Sofitel became truly memorable. We are deeply grateful for the outstanding service, and without a doubt, Sofitel will be our top choice for future visits to Jamsil.

I booked this hotel as part of The Hotel Collection (THC) program on my AMEX Platinum benefit. I would not recommend staying here if you are planning to do the same. Unlike other hotels, I did not receive any type of American Express Welcome Letter and was surprised at checkout to learn that I was not credited for ordering room service dining as part of the Platinum THC Benefit. There was also no real room upgrade as the room they offered to change was a smaller room. This is completely different than any other experience I’ve had staying at a THC Hotel and extremely disappointing. The hotel is also catered for business customers so if that’s your use case then it might make sense. However, If you are booking through AMEX THC there are much better options and you won’t pay the overpriced fee of using the Amex Travel Portal.

Accor Service - Early Check-in (1H) - Late Check-out (3H) - Welcome Gift : Y - Upgrade : Y (Manifique > Club Luxury Lake) - Welcome Drink : Y * Check-in The doorman kindly opens the door Provides a front desk escort to the elevator for club millesime priority check-in The check-in process is fast and a welcome drink is also provided upon check-in. (It's separate from the welcome drink coupon.) * indoor Swim-pool If you have a good camera, you can get one of your best shots in your life. However, please note that the sunlight is severe. * Club Milesime Happy-Hour The Club Milesime Happy Hour, which comes with the main menu, comes with Champagne Barons de Rothschild, Brut If you serve carefully chilled champagne at the table, it has the power to make you forget your daily life whenever you drink it. the hotel also two types of expertly cast cocktails. Overall, it was new and enjoyable compared to the previous hotel experience. It seems like the happy hour food is a little poor, but there is enough drink