While Singapore has the luxury of having two world-class integrated resorts found kilometres apart from one another, and while Macau is already littered with them and counting, the same can’t be said further afield in Northeast Asia, until now.
South Korea’s Paradise City, a massive 330,000 square meter complex located near Seoul’s gateway Incheon International Airport on Yeongjongdo Island, is now open, and chances are it won’t take on the seedy, raucous vibe often found at Macau’s integrated resorts, thanks to its more upmarket positioning.
Paradise City’s 711 rooms are modern, clean and well-equipped, and come in a myriad of categories ranging from basic deluxe rooms that are spacious by Singapore standards, to larger scenic suite rooms and an exclusive pool villa that feels more like a resort home. Another hotel, a luxury boutique one accessible from the first floor, is in the works as well and is slated to open sometime this year.
As expected, there are a plethora of facilities found within the complex. This includes an indoor and outdoor pool, boutique shops, bowling alley, PlayStation gaming zone, fitness area, spa, sauna and at least eight F&B options including live music lounge Rubik, premium buffet restaurant On The Plate, and Singapore’s very own Imperial Treasure, which was awarded two Michelin Stars at the inaugural Michelin Guide Shanghai 2017.
The 24/7 Korean-style casino (only foreigners are allowed in) is also a major draw, if you’ve got cash to burn or just want to check out what’s it like, since entry is free anyway (unlike at our two integrated resorts). But if you’ve got time on hand, Seoul has so much to offer, like their newly opened Seoullo 7017 skywalk that was built as part of plans to revitalize the city.
Yayoi Kusama fans can spend time trying to spot her artworks dotted (pun intended) around Paradise City, as well as many other creations (over 2,700 of them) by famed artists such as Alessandro Mendini, Damien Hirst, Lee Kangso and Oh Soo-hwan.
