Vista Walkerhill Seoul

A blue-glass tower at the foot of Mount Acha, on the Han river's edge, just far enough from central Seoul to catch the city lights spread out below. The hotel's lobby has egg-shaped chairs hanging from a high atrium ceiling, and guest rooms pair bright red with white walls and wood floors. A fish tank runs alongside the pool, visible from underwater through glass, which is exactly the kind of detail that keeps guests from leaving the property.

One honor, in evidence: