Seoul, the capital city of South Korea is situated in the north west corner of the country, 25 miles away from the North Korean border. Seoul won a City of Design accolade in July 2010 and, as such, the city has seen a resurgence in design focused buildings, including the 'Floating Island', three artificial islets sitting on the Han River, which are used for entertainment and cultural events.
The island is part of a new surge of architectural projects that are transforming the city, including works by Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid and Daniel Libeskind. Seoul’s new cool restaurants and hotels continue this contemporary theme in both design and cuisine. Here’s a guide to Seoul’s hot spots.
Hotels
At the foot of Mount Namsan, Banyan Tree Hotel Club & Spa Seoul, which opened in June 2010, is Banyan Tree’s first combination hotel and members’ club. The rooms are luxurious and spacious and each one has its own relaxation pool. The outdoor pool is the largest in Seoul with a lovely terrace area.
Overlooking the Han River, W Seoul is only 15 minutes from the bustling Gangnam financial district, but feels a world away. The lobby is the place to be seen with a 60-foot-long bar, egg-shaped chairs, and a DJ spinning from inside a spaceship-shaped booth.
Situated in the shopping and entertainment district of Itaewon, the IP Boutique Hotel has 135 modern and stylish rooms, cool, contemporary restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool.
Restaurants
Tadak +82 2 333 6564
A stylish but low-key Korean BBQ restaurant from a former editor of Vogue Korea. The restaurant opened in 2010 near the Hongdae student nightlife district and is welcomingly relaxed and unpretentious.
Clock 16
A trendy restaurant on the 16th floor of the Sheraton Walkerhill with great views of Mount Achassan and the Han River. Chef Justin Toth serves classic French fare in modern surroundings.
Located near Mount Namsan, the restaurant offers delicate cuisine using the freshest ingredients in a sleek and elegant room. The menu is based on seasonal ingredients with a home-made style and the owners are planning to open branches in L.A., Paris, Tokyo and Beijing.
Further Information
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