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A Better Place Seoul came into my radar, courtesy of TikTok. If there’s one thing you need to know about me, I love using that app to find unique, one-of-a-kind hotels, cafes, stores, etc. Naturally, I was keen to experience ABP Seoul, when I searched for places to stay, during my three-week long trip to the Seoul.
ABP Seoul is located in the Sindang area of Seoul. If you came by train, like I did, with my carry-on luggage, you would have come out of the station and walked adjacent to Sindang market, also known as Seoul Central Market. It has some charming old-school restaurants, industrial spaces converted into cool bars and bakeries, and of course, a geometric looking building called ABP – A Better Place Seoul. This was where I would be staying for the night.
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This is Room 201 that I stayed in. Walking into this space, I was greeted with a beautiful layout and tons of space. It almost felt like walking into my own studio apartment, rather than a hotel. The kitchen, on the right, faces a lovely dining table, which doubles as a spot to work on my laptop. Just before that, you have a reading nook, with a variety of books and an iPad to play music throughout the room. The main star of the show if the bed, of course, as comfortable to sleep in as it looks. What is a nice design element are the pleated walls that have hidden compartments for storage. This helps keep the room looking minimal, by having books, cutlery, etc stored inside the walls.
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One thing that I wish they would change is the closet space. I’m used to open-concept wardrobes but this one felt a bit too minimal. For someone wanting to stay longer than a night or two, or for a couple, there needs to be a better space for hanging or folding one’s clothing. Who knows, if this is something ABP will consider, in the future ?
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If I had more time, and friend or two to host, I would have loved to make use of the kitchen and dining area. I’m not one to do heavy cooking but this would be perfect for a night of eating in, perhaps ordering something online and watching a movie or two with guests.
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The bathroom comes with a shower and separate tub, the latter of which I made use of. They stock Aesop products, along with a Dyson hair dryer, plus the usual hotel amenities.
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The ABP Lounge downstairs is a cafe that is open to the public. A lot of young people gather to work in groups or individually. In the evening, it’s a beautiful low-lit space, perfect to have a drink or two in.
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After checking out, I spent some time on the rooftop of ABP. Accessible only to guests, this place offered a quiet oasis from downstairs. Not that the lounge downstairs is noisy, by any means, just that sometimes it’s nice to have an entire space to yourself. Free beverages are on offer, inside a mini fridge, and there is sound system linked to an iPad, where you can select a soundtrack to listen to, while you work. Private events are also hosted on the rooftop, mostly dinners or something food-related, from what I’ve seen on their Instagram page. I, too, would love to host something in this space, in the near future. Then, afterwards, I would take everyone to explore a cool cocktail bar, nestled somewhere inside Sindang Market.
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If you would like to book a stay with A Better Place, Seoul, you can choose from their two locations: the Sindang branch ( stay in Room 201 like I did) or the Jongno branch, which only has one room, so it feels more like a private home stay than a hotel.
