Blending an enigmatic past with a high-tech present, Seoul is a kaleidoscope of fascinating culinary experiences. From ancient delicacies — some traced back over 2,000 years and reserved only for royal families — to avant-garde creations, including lab-grown beef rice and robot-fried Korean chicken, one always eats well here. In this mecca for coffee aficionados, bursting with over 180 Michelin hotspots, you’re spoilt for gastronomic adventures.

Photos: Korea House’s Spring Menu

Dining culture

Seoul offers a delectably illustrious food scene that draws heavily from its history of being a cynosure for spices and ingredients that were sourced from across the country. Today, it’s home to a diverse expat community, and wildly popular among international travellers — many for its luxurious beauty products and thriving K-Pop phenomenon. Needless to say, chefs here are very adaptable to different palates and spice preferences.

Numerous master chefs from Seoul such as Mingoo Kang — South Korea’s only three Michelin-starred restaurant — also returned to home soil with new, cutting-edge techniques and experiences acquired from working overseas, aiming to serve a wider, more multicultural crowd of hungry bellies.

Caffeine Fix

According to legend, King Gojong (who reigned over the Korean empire for more than 40 years) was a coffee connoisseur and began his day leisurely sipping a cup at the Pavilion inside the Deoksugung Palace. His fondness for coffee is believed to have kickstarted the caffeine craze that swept through the city in the years to come.

Today, Seoul has the most coffee shops per capita in the world, surpassing even Seattle, the birthplace of Starbucks.

Kimssibooin is a unique Korean dessert café where traditional sweets are presented on small dining tables, reminiscent of Joseon Dynasty noble dining. They offer a diverse selection of beautifully bottled beverages and rice cakes, all while preserving authentic Korean flavours in an elegant atmosphere. Beyond classic hwachae and teas crafted with regional ingredients like Geojedo yuzu and Bongdong ginger, the café also features modern creations such as pine nut latte.

The Fritz Coffee Company is a local coffeehouse brand established by five Korean café experts, including baristas and roasters, known for their exceptional Korean-inspired baked goods and coffee. With locations in Wonseo, Dohwa, Yangjae, Seongsan (Seoul), and Jeju, they also offer insights into their coffee sourcing journey, from the farm to your cup, through their ‘Green Buyer’ initiative.

Jaein is a dessert destination that offers unique and subtly flavoured creations highlighting the finest seasonal fruits. Their menu features unconventional ingredients in delights like agastache lemon tart and burdock millefeuille. To enhance the experience, they also provide a curated collection of liquors and teas designed to perfectly complement the desserts.

Gourmet Hotspots

Experience the panache of a plush Michelin-starred restaurant, while devouring robust Korean flavours in their truest forms. Harking back to the region’s culinary DNA, deeply rooted in the principles of ‘aging’ and ‘fermentation,’ 7th Door in Gangnam-gu ranks number 23 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Embracing a symphony of flavours, including sweet, salty, spicy, sour and bitter, it invites you with a sweeping, neon-lit lobby that can fit as many as six doors. The 7th door takes you to a sleek 14-seater open-counter dining area, where you can watch chefs toss whisks and knives into the air. Chef Kim Dae-chun’s culinary mastery over a lavish three-hour tasting menu that includes Korean beef tenderloin, shark’s fin spring roll, caviar donut and mung bean porridge.

A Flower Blossom on the Rice is a hidden gem in Jongno-gu (Seoul), serves wholesome meals using only organic and eco-friendly ingredients for the modern health-conscious diner. By collaborating with organic producers nationwide, it brings healthy dining to the heart of the city. The signature dish is the Bojagi Bibimbap, which is wrapped in a thin antibiotic-free egg zidane wrap. A limited seasonal vegan course is also available.

Restaurant Jueun offers a culinary journey through Korea’s four seasons, presented in meticulously crafted courses. Beyond he exquisite food by Executive Chef Park Ju-eun, who emphasises sustainable, naturally farmed ingredients for his seasonal Korean menus, the restaurant also showcases a collection of works by renowned Korean artisans like Heo Sang-wook and features captivating media art inspired by folk paintings, creating a unique cultural and dining experience.

Toast Of The Town

Bask in the glamour and pizzazz of the city's teeming nightlife. The Korean drinks menu, traditionally limited to soju and beer, has evolved into a tantalising tapestry of wine, sake, whiskey and artisanal concoctions.

Epitomising sustainability, Bar Cham in Jongno-gu is a minimum-waste lounge bar, listed among Asia’s 50 Best Bars. Linger over bespoke cocktails made with native liquors from across the country. You can’t go wrong with Jeju 2 — a succulent medley of white wine vermouth, volcanic rock tea and soju from Jeju island. Its vintage-themed interiors accentuate the overall charm.

Recommended by Time Out magazine, Get All Right Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu. is an upscale, sought-after bar with scintillating Latin performances, live gigs and throbbing hip-hop acts. Upbeat music, designer cocktails and a snazzy retro-themed vibe — it’s well worth the visit.

100 Taste of Seoul

The restaurants and cafés mentioned in ‘caffeine fix’ and ‘gourmet hotspots’, are part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s annual ‘100 Taste of Seoul’ list, a curated selection of the city’s culinary destinations in 2024, chosen by food experts.

Looking to connect with Seoul’s premium properties and luxury travel brands?

From 8-11 June 2025, luxury travel designers from USA, Canada, Europe, Middle East, Australia, India, Brazil and Mexico, are invited to join us for the fourth edition of Connections Luxury Seoul, in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Find out more and apply here.

Food for the Seoul