Street Food

The streets of Jongno-gu overflow with food vendors selling snacks like hotteok, hot pancakes filled with red-bean paste. Our favourite is the famous king’s dessert 꿀타래 (kkul ta rae) which is made out of strands of honey and often filled with nuts. All desserts are made to order, with workers explaining how they are made and the history of the dishes in various languages.

47th Tea House

Tucked away down a small alley, this traditional Korean teahouse is built in the style of a wooden hanok and has a delicious menu of teas and desserts. If you’re looking to depart from your usual earl grey, try the Omija brew, which has five different flavours in one cup and supposedly tastes different to every person that tries it.

• 47-9 Insadong-gil
  Jongno-gu
  

Tteokbokki Street

Korea’s national dish, topokki, was originally served at the royal court but now is an inexpensive street-food made from soft rice cakes, fish cakes and red-chilli sauce. There is a whole road dedicated to this sweet and spicy dish, where you can choose whether to cook your own or order something pre-made.

• Dasan-ro
  Jung-gu
  

Villa de Spicy

At Villa de Spicy you can select your own ingredients to order custom fusion-style topokki – rice cakes stewed in a sweet and spicy sauce. The fashion illustrations, which are displayed on the walls complement the restaurant’s modern interior. This is one of the only gluten-free restaurants in the city, and is a popular choice with in-the-know Seoulites.

• +82 2 518 1913
• Go to Website

• 541-10 Sinsa-dong
  Gangnam-gu
  

Tasting Room

The brainchild of an architect and a lighting designer, Tasting Room serves hearty Italian dishes in a stylish interior. We recommend the garlic and baby octopus pasta and the “green monster” flatbread.

• Go to Website

• 117-12 Cheongdam-dong
  Gangnam-gu
  

DADAM

DADAM offers traditional, seasonal Korean food in a contemporary setting. It has private rooms to suit both work functions or family dos and the menu comes in English on an iPad – a bonus you will come to appreciate after spending a few days in Seoul. We recommend the beef tartare.

• +82 02 518 6161
• Go to Website

• 97-1 Cheongdam-dong
  Gangnam-gu
  

Café Dior by Pierre Hermé

This pretty patisserie situated under the roof of Dior’s flagship.  Modern and luxurious interiors offering a tempting poof and elegant space to relax after shopping. With a seasonal menu, creations of Pierre Hermé Paris include macarons, chocolates, cakes, ice creams and pastries, along with a selection of drinks.

• + 82 2513 03 90
• Go to Website

• House of Dior - 5th Floor
  464 Apgujeong-ro
  Cheongdam-dong
  Gangnam-gu
  135517

Mingles

Chef Kang Min-goo’s seasonal tasting menus mingle western and Korean flavours. Try the scallop carpaccio with a sweet gazpacho for top level eats.

• Go to Website

• 94-9 Nonhyeon-dong
  Gangnam-gu

Mr Holmes Bakehouse

Located along the trendy backstreets of Garosugil is San Franciscan expat Mr Holmes Bakehouse. Interiors mix pink neon signs, black and cream leather seats and gold accented marble tables. The food is equally good; choose from brioche doughnuts and hot chocolate cruffins.

• Apgujeong-ro 10-gil
  Gangnam-gu
  34

Ilhochic

With a menu of Korean and Japanese fusion home-style cooking, this inexpensive restaurant serves its well-presented food on wooden trays.

• +82 2 794 2648
• Go to Website

• 68-4 Hannam-dong
  Yongsan-gu
  

Café AA - AA Museum

Owned by expert vintage furniture collector Myung-Hwan Kim, this museum-cum-showroom features and sells an eclectic mix of Bauhaus and Scandinavian designs. Kick back with a coffee in the café – which is reminiscent of the Ace Hotel in New York – before heading out to explore the museum.

• +82 2 3143 7311
• Go to Website

• 408-11 Seogyo-dong
  Hongdae, Mapo-gu