HOTEL THE MAY Jongno

HOTEL THE MAY Jongno Overview

Look, I’ll be honest with you – HOTEL THE MAY Jongno isn’t going to blow you away with luxury, but there’s something refreshingly straightforward about this place that I actually appreciated. It’s one of those 3-star spots where you know exactly what you’re getting, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need when you’re exploring Seoul.

The location is really what makes this hotel work. You’re right in the thick of Jongno, which means you can literally walk to most of the historical sites without dealing with the subway crush during rush hour. I mean, Gyeongbokgung Palace is practically around the corner, and you know how those morning crowds can get. The neighborhood has this nice mix of traditional tea houses and modern cafes – I spent way too much time at this little place down the street that served the best hotteok I’ve had outside of Myeongdong. The rooms are clean and functional, though honestly, the walls are a bit thin so you might hear your neighbors if they’re night owls. The staff tries hard with English, and there’s always someone at the front desk who can help you figure out subway directions or restaurant recommendations.

What I really liked was how the hotel sits in this pocket of Seoul that feels authentically local without being touristy. You’ll see actual residents doing their grocery shopping, kids walking to school, that sort of everyday Seoul life that you miss when you’re staying in the flashier districts. The 6.6 rating might seem middling, but I think that’s more about expectations than actual problems – if you’re looking for a spa and rooftop bar, this isn’t your spot. But if you want a clean bed, decent WiFi, and a location that puts you within walking distance of both Insadong’s art galleries and Cheonggyecheon stream, then it’s actually pretty solid. The breakfast is basic (think toast and coffee, not a spread), but there are so many great breakfast spots in the area that I’d skip the hotel meal anyway. Pro tip: there’s a 24-hour convenience store literally next door, which saved me multiple times when I needed snacks or forgot to pack something essential.

HOTEL THE MAY Jongno Accommodations

Reviews of HOTEL THE MAY Jongno

• Antonios from United Kingdom (7/10)

  Everything excellent
  Free upgrade to suites

• Odabas from Turkey (7/10)

  Location
  English speaking abilities

• Siriwipa from Thailand (6/10)

  the location of the hotel, near city and all sightseeing places.
  there are many restaurants near the hotel, walking distance from hotel to the main city in Seoul.
  time saver for short visit.

• Breanna from Australia (6/10)

  Liked how close it was to the subway station

• Cynthia from France (8/10)

  The May Hotel is a boutique hotel located in the historical district of Jongno. It’s only a few steps away from the hanbok village of Ikseondong, filled with many delicious restaurants and coffees, as well as diverse shops. The area is safe and extremely well connected with subway lines 1, 3 and 5 available right up the street. Lines 2 and 4 aren’t too far either. The famous Gwangjang food market within walking distance too. During the day the neighborhood is frequented by the elderly, but gets very lively at night (on the weekends it gets loud) with street food, tent bars and pochas. There are a few tourists (most coming back from or going to Ikseondong or Chandeokgung palace), but not as much as in other tourist-y areas like Myeongdong. You’ll be immersed in Korean culture. For breakfast I went to a small shop frequented by local grandpas (before the Twosome Place) that makes delicious lattes and milk teas. My room was clean, spacious and nicely decorated. They won’t enter your room for cleaning unless you ask at the desk, which I appreciated. Personnel was always pleasant, polite and as helpful as they could (special thanks to Mr Kim!), even if they don’t speak much English. You get free coffee, water, Netflix and fast wifi in every room. Bed is just right, not too soft or hard. There was both a shower and a bathtub. Water pressure was very good, although water could take some time to get hot. The toilet has a heating seat which was nice touch, but be careful of putting too much paper in it.

• Masataka from United States (7/10)

  Location, cleanliness, room configuration, friendly staff, all great 👍

• Janez from Slovenia (9/10)

  The location of hotel next to Jong-Gag metro and between Insadong and Ikseondong Hanok Village is great. Lots of caffe and small shops in the neighborhood and local night life – it is a must do experience.
  
  Reading old rewievs I was a bit sceptical about the stay and my expectation ware low. Well my stay was GREAT! The owner adresed and resolved all the major guests minuses. Reception staf speaks english and explain hotel cleaning policy and invites you to free brekfast in the morning. Cleaning is done only at guest request. Rooms are big for Seoul and clean. Bed is realy confortable and you get remotcontroler for everything, even flushing a toilet.
  
  "Small" breakfast is experience on itst own. In the basement is a retro room with bigscreen TV playnig korean news and a "grendpa" serving you insant noodles, toast, boiled eggs, … A brekfast as you would receive at you Korean grandparents house.

• Selvi from South Korea (5/10)

  Cleanness

• Anton from Russia (3/10)

  Bed and bath were good. Receptionists allowed me to leave my luggage there. Location is good.

• Nguyen from Vietnam (9/10)

  Good location and interior

Surroundings

Facilities