Vivir Stay Hongdae

Vivir Stay Hongdae Overview

You know what caught me off guard about Vivir Stay Hongdae? It’s actually tucked away from the main chaos of the nightlife district, which – trust me – is exactly what you want after spending a night bar-hopping in one of Seoul‘s wildest neighborhoods. I mean, Hongdae is incredible for its energy and all those tiny clubs packed with university students, but you don’t necessarily want to be sleeping right above a karaoke bar that’s belting out ballads until 4 AM.

The place has this sort of boutique hostel vibe going on, though it’s technically a hotel – kind of sits in that sweet spot between backpacker accommodation and proper business hotel. The rooms are compact (well, it’s Seoul, so that’s pretty standard), but they’ve actually thought about the layout. There’s enough space to open your suitcase without having to climb over it to get to the bathroom, which honestly is more than I can say for some places I’ve stayed in Seoul. The staff speaks decent English too, which helps when you’re trying to figure out the best way to get to Myeongdong or asking about late-night food delivery options – because let’s face it, after a few soju cocktails, you’re going to want some Korean fried chicken delivered to your room.

What I really appreciated was how they seem to get their clientele. They know most people staying here are either young travelers wanting to experience Seoul’s nightlife or folks who want to be close to Hongik University’s artsy scene without paying Gangnam prices. The common areas don’t try too hard to be Instagram-perfect, but they’re comfortable enough that you might actually hang out there during the day. Plus, being near the subway station means you can easily escape to quieter parts of the city when you need a break from all the street food vendors and buskers (though honestly, the Korean corn dogs around there are addictive). The neighborhood gets pretty lively on weekends – you’ll hear people chatting and laughing as they walk by, but it’s not disruptively loud inside. It’s that perfect level of urban energy where you feel connected to the city’s pulse without wanting to stuff earplugs in at midnight. For a 3-star spot with decent ratings, it delivers on being a solid base camp for exploring one of Seoul’s most vibrant districts.

Many travelers prefer to book apartments in Seoul through trusted local agencies that provide insider knowledge about the best districts for experiencing the city’s blend of tradition and innovation.

Vivir Stay Hongdae Accommodations

Reviews of Vivir Stay Hongdae

• Jooyeon from South Korea (8/10)

  clean and cozy. perfect location

• Kim from Sweden (7/10)

  Central, very close to several subway stations, and the walking shopping streets. Floor heating was nice, but wearing sandals all the time is a must. Laundry machine was fairly easy to use and fast!, though it only had instruments in Korean. Google Translate to the rescue!
  
  Smart-TV, internet, fridge and freezer all worked well. We only used the microwave twice (ate out the other days of the week), and never the stove, but it seemed to have all the necessary equipment.
  
  We were able to use the smaller room as luggage storage (lots of hanging space, but no closets), and my son could sit there with his computer without disturbing anyone.
  
  Kitchen table fitted four people, so we could both eat and play games there. Many power outlets to charge a family's devices.
  
  Waste was easy to sort and put out on the street on pickup days.
  
  Easy to use smart lock on the door (pin code).
  
  Apartment owner was easy to communicate with over the Booking app, and visited to fix some of the cold draught during the week.

• Sofia from South Korea (8/10)

  It was good for 4 people. Clean and comfortable. The host is very nice

• Pareria from Hungary (3/10)

  Location is great, TV.

• Jodie from United Kingdom (3/10)

  The location is top, just a short walk to Hongdae, but that's about the only positive thing.

• Su from Switzerland (4/10)

  L'emplacement

• Eliza from Spain (8/10)

• Hannah from Thailand (9/10)

• Oleg from Finland (8/10)

• Ташбулатов (8/10)

Surroundings

Facilities