Pet-friendly dining set to expand as regulations ease from March

Starting in March, diners in South Korea will be able to visit restaurants and cafes with their pets without concern, as revised regulations will formally allow companion animals in food service establishments under specific conditions. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety amended enforcement rules under the Food Sanitation Act, which will take effect on March 1. Under the changes, general restaurants, cafes and bakeries may admit customers with pets if they meet newly established hygiene and sa

Jan. 4, 2026

Tea, horses and a moment to pause: Weekend ideas to start new year

As the new year settles in, the weekend offers a chance to slow down and look inward — whether by lingering over hand-brewed tea in a quiet corner near Mangwon Market or by wandering through an exhibition at the National Folk Museum that reflects on humanity’s enduring bond with the horse, a symbol of guidance, belief and resolve. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city and nearby Mangwon Market sits T.Nomad, a quiet, traditional tea house serving hand-brewed teas in handmade pottery cups, a

Jan. 2, 2026

Packages and promotions

Grand Hyatt Seoul introduces winter tasting course at Teppan Grand Hyatt Seoul has introduced a winter tasting course at its teppanyaki restaurant, Teppan, built around seasonal ingredients and restrained cooking techniques. Titled “Evolution,” the course emphasizes texture, warmth and balance rather than visual complexity. The menu opens with a Pyongyang-style cold noodles, followed by seasonal sea bream, blue lobster with seaweed sauce, and hairtail cooked teppan-style with gochujang. The main

Jan. 2, 2026

From screen to table: ‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’ inspires royal tasting menu in Seoul

At 1955 Groceria inside The Ambassador Seoul, a dinner course unfolds that is as much about narrative as it is about flavor. Priced at 155,000 won per person and running through Jan. 31, the Daeryeong Suksu Course is a special, drama-inspired tasting menu created by Shin Jong-cheol, executive chef of The Ambassador Seoul and culinary advisor to tvN’s drama “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.” Chef Shin not only supervised the drama’s food styling but also made a cameo appearance. More significantly, 195

Dec. 27, 2025

All Koreans want for Christmas is a better cake

Koreans often mark special occasions with cake, and Christmas is no exception. This year, however, heavily promoted limited-edition seasonal cakes from major bakery chains have left many customers disappointed. Complaints began circulating across online communities and YouTube channels on Wednesday, focusing on Christmas cakes sold by Twosome Place and Paris Baguette. Twosome Place’s Hennessy V.S.O.P Cake, created in collaboration with the global cognac brand Hennessy, initially drew attention f

Dec. 25, 2025

Two masters defining tradition and precision on 'Culinary Class Wars' Season 2

The release of Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars" Season 2 on Tuesday has once again set Korea’s dining scene abuzz. Among the new lineup, two names stand out for entirely different reasons: Hu Deok-juk, a towering figure in Korean Chinese cuisine whose very presence has sparked debate over who could possibly judge him, and Sam Kim, a television-familiar Italian chef whose quietly disciplined kitchen tells a story that goes far beyond his warm on-screen persona. Hu, appearing as a “White Spoon” con

Dec. 20, 2025

Packages and promotions

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul curates festive experiences Four Seasons Hotel Seoul brings a range of festive offerings this Christmas season, including family-focused accommodation packages, takeaway dining and signature holiday cakes. The "Kids For All Seasons" package for families with children includes an overnight stay, hotel credit, children’s classes and access to a kids-only lounge. The package is available from 1.08 million won per night for a Premier King Room with stays valid through June 3

Dec. 19, 2025

Packages and promotions

Grand Hyatt Seoul unveils coffee-themed "Wonder Atelier" pop-up Grand Hyatt Seoul’s lounge, JJ Mahoney’s, has launched “Wonder Atelier,” a winter pop-up created in collaboration with Nespresso. JJ Mahoney’s introduces a coffee-driven twist to its nightlife scene with a complimentary espresso-shot entrance, a rotating Nespresso capsule Ferris wheel installation and limited-edition coffee cocktails. The highlight is “Nespresso Wonder Night” on Saturday, featuring specialty drinks, DJ performances

Dec. 12, 2025

In South Korea, Dubai chocolate becomes its own dessert category

In a trend cycle where tastes shift as fast as an algorithm refreshes, it has become rare for any single dessert to dominate for long. The quick rise and fall of tanghulu, or candied fruit — once everywhere, now nearly gone — is a textbook example. So when “Dubai chocolate” first hit Korean social media feeds in December 2023, many expected it to flare up and disappear just as quickly. Instead, it has become a full-fledged dessert category. A year after sweeping the domestic market, Dubai chocol

Dec. 6, 2025

Packages and promotions

Contemporary holiday setting at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Four Seasons Hotel Seoul has turned its lobby into a contemporary winter scene for the holiday season, using sculptural trees and warm red, gold, and green tones that echo the property’s modern design. Alongside the decor, the hotel is offering its annual Confections by Four Seasons program, available through Jan. 5. The menu includes take-home roasts such as rib-eye and porchetta, priced from 450,000 to 550,000 won, and cakes. Options inc

Dec. 5, 2025

Louis Vuitton opens six-story Seoul venue blending retail, culture and dining

Louis Vuitton opened a new multipurpose space in Seoul on Saturday, bringing retail, cultural programming and dining under one roof. The project, titled “Louis Vuitton Visionary Journeys Seoul," occupies six floors inside "LV The Place Seoul, Shinsegae The Reserve" located at the Shinsegae Department Store in Jung-gu, and reflects the house’s ongoing effort to expand beyond traditional luxury retail. Visitors entering the building find interiors marked by reinterpretations of "saekdong," the tra

Nov. 30, 2025

Packages and promotions

Lotte Hotel Seoul brings back annual winter strawberry event Lotte Hotel Seoul's annual winter strawberry event is back, offering a dessert buffet and afternoon tea set through April 30. The Peninsula Lounge & Bar presents more than 30 strawberry-based sweets, such as cakes and chocolate fondue, alongside 10 hot dishes, including lamb chops and carved beef. The special December buffet is 150,000 won per person, with seatings on Thursday and Friday evenings and three sessions on weekends and holi

Nov. 28, 2025

Singapore, a culinary melting pot

SINGAPORE — Few places in the world wear their multiculturalism as visibly — and as deliciously — as Singapore. The city-state, home to 4.2 million residents as of June, has long been described as a tapestry of cultures, stitched together by its predominant Chinese community (3.11 million), alongside Malays (570,000), Indians (380,000) and Others (150,000). But beyond census tables and demographic categories, nowhere is this diversity more intensely felt than at the dining table. From hawker cen

Nov. 22, 2025

Packages and promotions

Park Hyatt Seoul launches year-end stay packages Park Hyatt Seoul is ushering in the holiday season with a year-end offer, the “Festive Stay Moment” room package. Starting at 750,000 won a night, the package includes a bottle of Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial End of Year Limited Edition with a gift box, a 300,000 won dining credit usable across hotel restaurants, late check out at 1 p.m., complimentary parking and valet service, and the hotel’s 20th-anniversary “Parker” toy. Guests booking a suite

Nov. 21, 2025

Singapore’s cocktail vanguard: Jigger & Pony, Nutmeg & Clove

SINGAPORE — Singapore today stands as one of the world’s most influential cocktail capitals. The 2025 edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars list cements what industry insiders have long known: The Lion City is home to some of the most innovative bartenders and boundary-pushing bar concepts anywhere. This year, two institutions — Jigger & Pony and Nutmeg & Clove — show why Singapore remains a global leader in craft cocktail culture. Jigger & Pony (No. 9) First opened in 2012 on Amoy Street, Jigger

Nov. 20, 2025