Lonely Planet Review

On a quaint lane at the foot of Yongdusan Park, the Pusan Hotel is designed for flush entrepreneurs whose priorities are a downtown location close to international trade companies, raw fish restaurants and expensive evening diversions. This place is about business and entertainment, not room quality.

Step inside the lobby and you might be excused for thinking you've stumbled into a boutique hotel. The sparkling floor, polished front desk and mildly extravagant chandelier all exude boutique charm. Sadly, dreams of downtown urban panache are squashed like a bug on the car windshield with dull rooms that border on ugly. Imagination and budget evidently were in short supply two years ago when the hotel underwent some sort of remodelling if the selection of bed coverings and carpets are any indication. Hotels that cater to Korean and Japanese entrepreneurs - like this one - often gain notoriety for the quality of neighbourhood amenities rather than room quality. And so it goes with the Pusan Hotel, surrounded by sushi restaurants, singing rooms and exclusive bars where businessmen come to get their ego stroked.