Word of mouth
Coffee pit stop LOCOLAB 51 Yulgok-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu +82 2 3210 3258
Seoul’s coffee culture tends to start late but Locolab is up and running at 8.30am during the week and 11am on weekends. This industrial-chic café makes all its beverage ingredients from scratch, from jammy fruit mixes to hot chocolate bases. Take a cold brew to the rooftop terrace and listen to the bells from nearby Jogyesa Temple.
Breakfast meeting BILLS GWANGHWAMUN 4F D-Tower, 17 Jong-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu billskorea.com
This Sydney institution is part of the cascading terrace of restaurants in D-Tower, with an Art Deco-inspired layout amplifying light and space. Breakfast is 9am to 11am but brunch classics such as Bill’s scrambled eggs and avocado on toast are available all day.
Dining alone SAJIK-DONG JUBAN 12 Sajik-ro 9ga-gil, Jongno-gu juban.modoo.at
The Sajik corner of Jongno is crowded with bistros but Sajik-dong Juban stands out for its bold spices and specialty alcohol. The fusion menu pairs international flavours with less Breakfast spot Bills Gwanghwamun (top); a private dining space at Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul restaurant (above) well-known Korean rice wines and liquors. Enjoy five-spiced pork ribs at a low courtyard table or take a seat at the bar for an expert tour of the local liquor sampler.
Business dining PIERRE GAGNAIRE À SÉOUL
Level 35, Hotel Lotte, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu pierregagnaire.com
A decade after its masterful debut, Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul reopened in 2018 following extensive renovations. The renowned chef continues his legacy of blending fine French dining with high-end Korean ingredients like hanwoo beef and abalone. This harmony
is echoed in the décor – the Versailles garden-inspired designs of Olivier Gagnère overlook a sharp skyline and the spire of Namsan Tower. A new lunch menu has business diners in mind, unspooling from the starter to petits fours within an hour. Allow up to two hours for menus with additional courses. The restaurant shares the view from the 35th floor of Lotte Hotel’s Executive Tower with companion establishment Pierre’s Bar.
Drinks with clients
COBBLER
16 Sajik-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu +82 2 733 6421
This sophisticated cocktail and whiskey bar is hidden away among the alleyways and traditional houses opposite Gyeongbokgung Palace. True to its name, complimentary berry cobbler is served to all customers upon arrival. There’s no menu so rely on founder and cocktail craftsman Robin Yoo to concoct the perfect drop.