Looking for the best restaurants in Seoul? You’ve come to the right place! From trendy brunch spots and Instagrammable cafés to authentic Korean restaurants, cosy lunch spots and romantic rooftop bars with stunning city views, Seoul has something for every food lover. In this guide, I’m sharing my favourite restaurants and food spots in Seoul, from breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful restaurant for a special date, a great place to try Korean food, or an Instagrammable hotspot that looks as good as the food tastes, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this Seoul restaurant guide.
Thanks, Oat
Thanks, Oat is the best restaurant in Seoul for breakfast or brunch before exploring Bukchon Hanok Village or Gyeongbokgung Palace (two of the top sights of Seoul). They open at 8am so get there for the perfect start of your day in Seoul. On the menu are bowls with Greek yogurt and different kinds of topings like banana and cacao nibs or cherries and berries. They also have good coffee and lemonades.
Rain Report
Rain Report is a cafe with three locations in Seoul. In the first, flagship location it rains every 15 minutes. We went to the Rain Report rainbow in the Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, where it rains continuously. Besides the aesthetic patio where the rain falls in a beautiful puddle with moss covered rocks, the cakes are also a feast for the eyes. They sell several different cakes, that are all very pretty. You can pick yours out at the counter before you take a seat.
Eggdrop
The best place in Seoul for Korean Toast is Eggdrop, if you ask me. They have multiple locations all over Seoul and serve a few different kinds of Korean Toast. Korean Toast is a buttery brioche toast with scrambled egg filling. My favorite is the Avo Holic with fresh avocado.
5TO7
The best fluffy Japanese pancakes in Seoul can be found at 5TO7, close to beautiful park Seoul Forest. These fluffy, wobbly pancakes are served with several kind of toppings, like strawberry and cream as you can see pictured above. They also have homemade lemonades.
Pain Perdu 팽페르뒤
Pain Perdu, French for French Toast, is a lovely little cafe serving the best French Toast in Seoul. They’re mostly known for their Creme Anglaise French Toast, but the one with Chocolate sauce and banana is also a real winner! Orde it with a scoop of ice cream for the perfect brunch dish in Seoul. You can find Pain Perdu in the hip Hongdae neighborhood, a little West of the city center.
Tip: if you leave a Google review, you’ll get a free scoop of their divine chocolate mousse.
123 Lounge, Lotte World Tower
The restaurant with the best view in Seoul is without a doubt 123 Lounge in the Lotte World Tower. This restaurant, at the Seoul Sky observatory, is located on the 123rd floor. If you have a table by the window, you’ve got beautiful views over Seoul. You can see the theme park Lotte World, the dozens of skyscrapers and the traffic from the city from above. On the menu are delicious pastas that are not even as expensive as you might aspect at this top-notch location.
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Garden Terrace
The Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul has multiple restaurants, but my favorite is their Garden Terrace. In summer their rooftop restaurant is open for their seasonal concept: Bubbles and Buns. Enjoy premium champagne and gourmet burgers with a beautiful view over the city.
DAIVELER
At DAIVELER you feel like you’re having lunch on the train. They’ve got special seats with ‘windows’ where you see beautiful nature passing by. You’ll feel like you’re on a train in Switzerland while you enjoy your toast with coffee. They’ve got open toast and stuffed croissants and several coffee and tea variaties.
Churro 101
Churros lovers should visit Churro 101 with several locations in Seoul, including in in Hongdae where I took this picture. Their tagline is ‘better than a boyfriend’ and that’s almost true. The churros are made fresh on the spot after ordering, so they taste so much better than the frozen ones you’ll find at tourist traps. Order it with ice cream and /or chocolate sauce for a great treat.
Korean Fried Chicken
Even tough I’m a vegetarian, I couldn’t leave Seoul without trying Korean Fried Chicken. You won’t have to look long for a restaurant serving them and they come in more variaties than you can imagine. I’d recommend that you order one portion and a side dish to share with two people as the portions are very generous. The Korean Fried Chicken is often served with French Fries.
