9 Brick Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
9 Brick is the small boutique with the best design on our Hongdae list — full private rooms, scoring 8.8.
9 Brick is the small boutique with the best design on our Hongdae list — full private rooms, scoring 8.8.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
On a Hongdae list that's mostly hostels and guesthouses, 9 Brick Hotel stands out by being something different — a boutique hotel that gives you a full private room. It's a small, design-minded place, and the rooms are done in a clean, modern style that looks better than other stays around the same price. Design and cleanliness both scored 9.0, the two highest marks in its breakdown, so if you care about walking back into a room that actually feels nice to be in, this delivers.
Food and amenities
This is a compact boutique, so the draw is the room itself rather than big shared facilities. You get free Wi-Fi, 24-hour service, luggage storage, and non-smoking rooms, with a convenience store about 90m away — barely a minute's walk — for late-night snacks and water. There's no restaurant on site, but that's no real loss in Hongdae, where cafes and food sit a short walk away in every direction. The trade-off for that boutique scale is space: rooms are comfortable, but on the compact side.
Location and getting there
The hotel sits on the Hapjeong Station side of Hongdae, an easy walk to the shopping street and the area's cafes. Hapjeong Station is about 450m away (6 minutes on foot) and connects metro lines 2 and 6, so getting around Seoul is straightforward. The Hongdae shopping street is roughly 550m (7 minutes) and Hongik University about 650m (9 minutes), putting the nightlife and the student-area buzz within an easy stroll. This side is also close to the Sangsu area, which has quieter cafes worth a sit, and it's not far from the Han River park, about 1.2km (15 minutes) away.
Things to know before booking
It's the splurge of this list — noticeably more expensive than the hostels and guesthouses here, with rooms starting around $43 a night and topping out near $80. Rooms are compact city-boutique size, so light packers will be happiest. Value still scored a solid 8.7, so you're paying more but not overpaying. And because it's a small property with limited rooms, book ahead, especially on busy weekends. Room types vary in size, so ask which one you're getting before you commit.
Our take
9 Brick suits couples and travelers who love the Hongdae buzz but want a well-designed private room rather than a dorm bed. With service scoring 8.9 on top of those 9.0 marks, it feels looked-after for its size. We recommend it with confidence — it's a clear step up from the hostels, at a price that still makes sense.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A boutique hotel that actually cares about design, with a stylish, modern fit-out that looks better than other stays at a similar price.
- Every room is a full private room, so you get the privacy a hostel can't offer — no sharing bathrooms or common space with strangers.
- Real-guest scores are high at 8.8, and cleanliness is a standout, scoring 9.0 in that category.
- Hongdae location on the Hapjeong side, an easy walk to the shopping street and the area's cafes.
- A genuinely good fit for couples and anyone who wants their own room rather than a dorm bed.
- More expensive than the hostels and guesthouses elsewhere on this list, so it's the splurge of the bunch.
- Rooms are compact city-boutique size — comfortable and well-designed, but not roomy.
- It's a small property with limited rooms, so book ahead, especially on busy weekends.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Hapjeong Station is right here — it connects metro lines 2 and 6, so you can reach most of Seoul without a transfer.
- Walk over to the nearby Sangsu area for quieter cafes that are nice to sit in.
- Ask to see the room type before booking — each one is a slightly different size.