South Korea's capital thrives on contrast, blending a colorful 2,000-year-old history with cutting-edge gastronomy, beauty, and style. Since the sprawling metropolis can be overwhelming to navigate for first-time visitors, journalist Katie Chang curates the city's essential experiences in this Seoul destination guide.
Where To Stay
A Better Place Sindang A masterclass in quiet, human-centered design, A Better Place Sindang offers a dreamy perch in one of Seoul's most beguiling neighborhoods through three residential-style lofts. Founder Sukjin Moon, who also owns the design studio A Useful Workshop, outfitted the concrete, low-slung building—from its rooftop and accommodations to its street-level lounge—with muted tones, soft lighting, and original furnishings, including A Useful Workshop's own Edgeform Lounge, a sculptural aluminum chair.
RYSE, Autograph Collection Set in Seoul's Hongdae neighborhood, RYSE, Autograph Collection reflects the area's youthful, creative energy through contemporary art, bold interiors, and a lively social atmosphere. Its 272 guest rooms and suites—categorized as Creator, Editor, and Director—are spacious and stylish, especially by Seoul standards, and come with thoughtful extras like sheet masks and snacks. While Hongdae is packed with shopping, the hotel's Worksout outpost is a great place to start.
Where To Eat
Guided by the philosophy that food can be both healing and delicious, Mukjung, by Korean-American chef Austin Kang, approaches fermentation and traditional Korean cuisine with quiet confidence. The minimalist dining room, finished in reclaimed wood and neutral tones, lets Kang's cooking—including his flourless, shrimp-stuffed shiitake pancakes—take center stage.
Visiting one of Seoul’s many traditional markets provides an unfiltered glimpse into everyday life in the city. Located in a quiet, mostly residential neighborhood, Mangwon Market is a less crowded alternative to Gwangjang Market and Myeongdong Market. Bring cash and an appetite so you can sample a variety of street foods, from savory gochu twigim (fried stuffed peppers) to sweet, fluffy bungeoppang (fish-shaped buns filled with red bean paste).
While beef dominates Korean barbecue restaurants in the United States, pork is the star in South Korea. For some of the best quality and widest variety, Seoulites flock to Geumdwaeji Sikdang in Sindang. Here, the staff expertly grill premium cuts of YBD pork—a Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Duroc hybrid—for unbeatable texture, aroma, and flavor.
Where To Drink
A glamorous hideaway behind an unmarked door at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul's Charles H., H. Bar takes its cues from some of Seoul's most celebrated fine-dining restaurants. Its creative cocktail tasting menu combines modern kitchen techniques, such as centrifugation, with prized Korean ingredients like Chodang corn, along with a selection of small bites.
Run by musician, furniture designer, and mixologist Chris Jang, Gu remains something of an insider's secret. The clean-lined furnishings, crafted by Jang from reclaimed wood in his second-floor studio and showroom, Redition, create a warm, understated setting. The cocktail menu draws inspiration from nearby Sindang Market, incorporating Korean specialties such as hotteok, the crispy-chewy pancake filled with sweet syrup.
Finding this subterranean speakeasy in Apgujeong-dong, hidden in plain sight, is part of the experience. Once you've settled into the dimly lit space—styled like your coolest friend's apartment, complete with books, leather banquette seating, and high-end kitchen gadgets—and perused the playful drink menu, you'll know you're in for a memorable night. Get the party started by ordering the Omija, a spirited large-format punch featuring Korea's namesake "five-flavor" berry.
Where To Shop
At their ceramic studio in Gyeonggi-do, husband-and-wife team Hyung Jun Kim and Seo Seok Man host classes where you'll paint a white porcelain vase with cobalt blue pigments and nature-inspired motifs, just as artists did during the Joseon Dynasty. The studio handles all three firings, so you'll return home with a one-of-a-kind souvenir. While you're there, browse the couple's highly collectible—and irresistibly charming—Dogabi and Naldak pieces, perfect if you're looking for another distinctive keepsake.
Based in Seoul and presented during Paris Fashion Week, Kimhēkim by Kiminte Kim is a contemporary fashion brand that has earned a global following. Its flagship boutique in Seoul's upscale Cheongdam neighborhood is a crisp, gallery-like space where you can shop the label's exquisitely crafted clothing and accessories, distinguished by playful, unexpected details such as its viral "Pearl Tear" sunglasses.
Inside this towering, austere 14-story concrete structure in Seongsu is one of Seoul's most innovative shopping experiences. The space is as much an interactive art installation as it is a retail destination, showcasing IICombined's trailblazing brands, including Gentle Monster (eyewear), Nudake (tea), and Tamburins (fragrance).
Seoul, South Korea
