A-Place

Set back from the sand at Sokcho Beach, A-Place looks out toward the East Sea through a run of rooms designed around that view. The hotel sits close enough to the water that a walk to the shoreline takes minutes. Rooms are plain and functional: fridge, kettle, microwave, free Wi-Fi, and a TV with streaming access, arranged around either a bay window or a round bathtub depending on the category booked. Standard rooms come in double or triple configurations, and some on the second floor look onto a side alley rather than the sea, worth checking at booking. On the ground floor, an Italian café and pub serves coffee, wine, and simple food through the day. Above it, a rooftop terrace is open to guests and café visitors alike, with a clear line over the water. You can walk from here to Sokcho Tourism Fish Market, one of the busiest traditional markets on the east coast, or to Cheongcho Lake, where a pavilion looks over the lagoon and the coastal mountains behind it. Abai Mural Village, a small settlement built around a community of displaced fishing families, sits within reach as well, its walls painted by visiting artists. Parking is available on site. It is a compact stay, built for a short coastal break rather than a long one.