[Coffee Klatch] Take a sip of Turkish coffee in Seoul

For those of you who are tired of Americanos and sweetened lattes, Turkish coffee might just be what you needed. If you’re a coffee purist, why not try Turkish coffee, known as one of the strongest coffee with high level of caffeine? Turkey, a country with over 1,000 years of coffee history, makes coffee in the most traditional way. Also known as sand coffee here, you need sand that’s heated in a pan over a stove before preparing to make a coffee. Finely ground coffee and water are b

Oct. 14, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

L'Escape Hotel presents ‘Bittersweet Night’ L’Escape Hotel has launched the “Bittersweet Night” package to celebrate the fall season. The package offers one night’s stay along with a set of petit-fours and two glasses of whiskey at the hotel’s rooftop bar Marque d'Amour. The French confectioneries come in various flavors, including fig, cinnamon and pecan. The package is available through Nov. 30 with prices starting at 230,000 won. Le Meridi

Oct. 13, 2023

Tapas bar explores modern interpretations of kimchi

Kimchi, a traditional Korean dish consisting of fermented vegetables, often cabbage and radish, is ubiquitous in Korean cuisine. This timeless Korean staple is reinterpreted at On 6.5, a contemporary kimchi tapas bar that is making waves in Seoul's dining scene. Kimchi, traditionally thought of as a side dish, takes center stage at On 6.5, which has redefined the way we eat kimchi with their creative dishes. Located in the Anguk-dong neighborhood, the year-old bar exudes modern ambiance ble

Oct. 7, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Enjoy regional cuisines at Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel The Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel is offering Korean regional cuisines at the hotel's buffet restaurant, Feast, through Nov. 24. Some of the dishes on offer include Daegu-style spicy braised short ribs, soy sauce marinated abalone from Jeju Island and Gangwon Province's potato dough soup. Prices are 85,000 won for a weekday lunch, 105,000 won for a weekday dinner and 135,000 won for lunch and dinner on the weekend. For reservations

Oct. 6, 2023

The many regional flavors of songpyeon, a Korean holiday dessert

Chuseok is a time for enjoying many different traditional foods in Korea. Among them, one of the must-have sweet treats is songpyeon. Songpyeon is a Korean traditional rice cake, or tteok, with filling that varies from region to region. Vibrant five-colored songpyeon of Seoul Seoul-style songpyeon are colorful and small, while most of the images of songpyeon that people know well are osaek songpyeon. Osaek, or five-colored, songpyeon is traditionally dyed with natural colorants including omija,

Sept. 29, 2023

From traditional to trendy, three of Seoul's top yukhoe spots

Eating raw meat may not be for everyone, and even for Koreans, it is a love-it-or-hate-it experience. But for those who love it, or who have a more adventurous palate, yukhoe, a Korean dish similar to beef tartare, is not to be missed. Yukhoe, literally "raw beef" in Korean, consists of thin slivers of high quality beef, typically lean rump, in a nutty, umami-packed marinade. It is usually served with a raw egg yolk and julienned Korean pear, while the marinade ingredients tend to va

Sept. 23, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Hyatt Seoul presents special dining experiences Grand Hyatt Seoul is offering special dining experiences for the autumn season. The hotel’s Japanese restaurant presents dobin mushi, a traditional Japanese broth served in a tea pot with various ingredients and matsutake mushrooms. Tenkai, another Japanese restaurant at the hotel, offers lobster salad, unadon and meat and vegetable skewers, to be paired with craft beer and sake. The hotel’s Steak House offers premium beef steaks

Sept. 22, 2023

Mayfield Hotel Seoul teams up with Philip Colbert for wine fair

Mayfield Hotel Seoul, near Gimpo International Airport, has invited British artist Philip Colbert as a special guest to take part in live drawing performances at this year's Dionysus wine fair on Saturday and Sunday. The 18th edition of the fair coincides with the hotel's 20th-anniversary celebration. The event takes place at the hotel's Bell Tower Garden from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., showcasing a wide range of wines, from light and everyday varietals to cult and natural wines. Expert g

Sept. 20, 2023

Star chefs collaborate for 'Taste of Seoul 2023'

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is hosting “Taste of Seoul 2023,” a weeklong event that runs through Friday, featuring a variety of culinary events and programs. As part of its efforts to promote Seoul's dining scene, the city government published “100 Taste of Seoul 2023," a guidebook in Korean and English in early September. The book lists 100 distinctive restaurants and bars in Seoul alone. It also introduces an additional 50 vegan-friendly dining locations. The

Sept. 18, 2023

[Coffee Klatch] Time travel to 1920s cafe scene at Coffee Hanyakbang

There are many places in Seoul where history stays alive. With a focus on retaining the original structure and exterior, the former gas stations, public baths or shuttered banks and schools grab attention for their unique mood and satisfy a thirst for new temporal and spatial experiences. Walk down an old narrow alley between the skyscrapers of Euljiro in central Seoul and one may encounter a hospital from the Joseon era, known as Hyeminseo. Heo Jun, a Korean physician who was also the chief phy

Sept. 16, 2023

Nibble on royal sweet treats at Gyeongbokgung

Savor delicacies enjoyed by Korean kings and queens at Gyeongbokgung in central Seoul. Organized by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the "Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang" program brings to life palace desserts and tea as documented in the "Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty" from the Joseon era (1392-1910). "Saenggwabang," located in the royal kitchen known as "sojubang," was a dedicated space for making desserts and snacks for royals. Stepping ins

Sept. 15, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel offers gift packages for Chuseok Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel has prepared gift packages for the Korean Thanksgiving holiday known as Chuseok. The premium set consists of six apple mangos, a melon and a bunch of shine muscat for 280,000 won. The hotel’s premium wine selections are also available at prices starting from 70,000 won. The “special hamper” includes international ingredients and snacks for 230,000 won. For more information, call (032) 8

Sept. 15, 2023

Experience Swedish fine dining inside a Korean hanok

Nestled among the narrow streets of Seoul's traditional Samcheong-dong neighborhood, amidst the royal palace and galleries, a hidden culinary gem awaits in the setting of a Korean hanok. Mangata, a relatively recent addition to Seoul's dining scene, seamlessly blends Swedish fine dining with the rustic charm of traditional Korean architecture. The word "Mangata" itself has a poetic meaning in Swedish, signifying the road-like reflection cast by the moon on water. Since its

Sept. 9, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

L'Escape Hotel launches ‘Fall in Alberta, Canada: Tasteful Journey’ L’Escape Hotel offers the “Fall in Alberta, Canada: Tasteful Journey” package through Oct. 9. The package includes one-night's stay with dinner for two at the hotel’s restaurant, Palais de Chine. The menu at Palais de Chine consists of barbecue beef ribs, beef dim sum and cucumber salad with garlic sauce, using ingredients from western Canada province Alberta. The package prices st

Sept. 8, 2023

[Coffee Klatch] Indulge in buttery croissants and decadent coffees at Teddy Beurre House

Yongridangil is a trendy street near Yongsan Station that is well-known among food lovers for its abundance of exotic eateries and atmospheric cafes. Tucked away in a corner of Yongridangil are two stores run by chef Kim Hoon -- Sam Sam Sam, an American homestyle eatery, and Teddy Beurre House, a European-style bakery -- both of which have quickly made a name for themselves in Seoul's food scene. Chef Kim chose a teddy bear and a croissant as the main concept of Teddy Beurre House to appe

Sept. 2, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul to present Thai culinary experience Four Seasons Hotel Seoul’s restaurant, The Market Kitchen, is to host a culinary event in celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Thailand. Thailand’s perennial favorites -- som tam (green papaya salad), tod mun goong (deep-fried shrimp) and tom yum goong (spicy and sour soup) -- will be served from Sept. 8 to 17. Complementing the dining experience, a variety of Thai beverages includi

Sept. 1, 2023

Embark on stylish vegan culinary journey

In the heart of Korea's culinary landscape, a gradual but steady transformation is taking place—one that extends beyond the palates of the vegan community. The Korean vegan dining scene, once confined to niche corners, is blossoming into a culinary culture. What was once seen as a mere substitute has now evolved into an exciting tasting journey that beckons not only vegans but food enthusiasts from all walks of life. Standing at the vanguard of this paradigm shift is "Jumjumjumju

Aug. 26, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Westin Josun Seoul showcases ‘Local Delights’ Westin Josun Seoul showcases its "Local Delights" package for the autumn season. The package offers one night's stay along with handmade traditional desserts. The Autumn Road Book, a guidebook that introduces sightseeing attractions in Seoul, will also be provided. The promotion runs through Nov. 30, with prices starting from 340,000 won. For enquiries, call (02) 317-0404. Grand Josun Jeju offers ‘Autumn Voyage&rsq

Aug. 25, 2023

Traditional liquors win hearts of millennials, Gen Z

South Koreans are known for their unmatched love for alcohol, whether soju, beer, or both at the same time. But among younger drinkers, a different type of liquor is trending -- traditional Korean liquor. "Makgeolli (unfiltered rice wine) and other traditional liquor used to have an outdated image," said Park Ja-hye, a 31-year-old office worker in Seoul. "But now those liquors are sold in cans and bottles with modern and beautiful labels. They are now a popular gift," she add

Aug. 21, 2023

[Coffee Klatch] Ongozisin offers blended tea, coffee and dessert experience in Korean way

“Ongojishin,” a Korean idiom meaning “learn from the old to know the new,” also applies to the burgeoning coffee scene here. The cafe trend here was once dominated by sleek, trendy cafes that offered a decent cup of joe, something that’s not too watery or not too burnt. Now more cafes are creating their own, unique tastes and offering a whole new cafe experience by incorporating with Korea’s traditional taste and culture. Ongozisin is one example, offering ble

Aug. 19, 2023