HOTELS

Aloft Seoul Gangnam

Colour, a touch of humour and modernity: as you walk through the doors of the Aloft hotel, you immediately recognise the signature of this brand, which appeared in Seoul at the end of 2014. You're quickly in the mood, you get caught up - you even surprise yourself - in playing curling on the touch table set up in the lobby. Regressive, but recreational... The 188 rooms, ranging from 23 to 46 m², guarantee optimum comfort, in addition to free WiFi access. Connected to the Whats App, travellers can order room service using emojis, the little pictures that can be added to text messages. Gadgety, but effective. The hotel's other strong points are its location and the cosy Nook restaurant, which comes alive in the evenings by attracting local bands for a musical dinner.
736, Yeongdong-daero - Tel.: +82 2 510 9700 Internet: www.aloftseoulgangnam.com

JW Marriott Seoul

Head west to one of the main business addresses in the business district. Adjacent to the bus station and ideally served by public transport, the JW Marriott is also connected to a vast upmarket shopping centre. Most of the 497 rooms are used by business travellers, who can easily take a short trip to the neighbouring French Quarter, Seore Village, or relax in the cosy Executive Lounge.
176, Sinbanpo-ro - Tel: +82 2 6282 6262 Internet: www.marriott.com

Lotte Hotel World

Between two meetings, it is not unusual for a business traveller to come across the Korean version of Peter Pan or an Alice in the Land of the Morning Calm. The hotel owes this surreal atmosphere to the amusement park adjacent to it, which is also managed by Lotte, a heavyweight in the local economy. Accustomed to hosting major events, the hotel is of course equipped with extra-large MICE facilities. Opposite this 482-room address, Lotte is thinking big by building the country's tallest tower, which will soon house a hotel. Six stars this time.
240, Olympic-ro - Tel: +82 2 419 7000 Internet : www.lottehotel.com

The Designers

Alongside the big international names, Seoul's hotel scene is gradually opening up to new trendy addresses like The Designers. As its name suggests, the emphasis here is on style and creativity. Each of the 19 floors has been designed by a different - always Korean - designer, some with a minimalist decor, others with warmer tones. So it's hard to pin a label on this patchwork of good taste. And so much the better.
113, Bongeunsa-ro - Tel: +82 2 567 4000 Internet: hotelthedesigners.com

Cappuccino

The latest addition to the local hotel scene, the Hotel Cappuccino breathes a refreshing breath of modernity. From the skilfully staged post-industrial lobby to the rooftop terrace offering a breathtaking view of Seoul, the 18 floors combine a sense of detail and hospitality. Both modern and cosy, the Cappuccino plays on variations in atmosphere: futuristic minimalism in the Precycle Room, vintage wood panelling in the Upcycle Room and even a dog bed in the country's first dog-friendly room. There's a Gangnam style for everyone...
155, Bongeunsa-ro - Tel: +82 2 2038 9500 - Email : hello@hotelcappuccino.co.kr - Internet : hotelcappuccino.co.kr

And also...

Novotel Seoul Ambassador Gangnam, 130, Bongeunsa-ro - Tel +82 2 567 1101 - Email : novotel.gangnam@ambatel.com - Internet : www.accorhotels.com InterContinental Grand Seoul Parnas, 521, Teheran-Ro - Tel: +82 2 555 5656 - Internet: www.ihg.com/intercontinental Park Hyatt, 606, Teheran-ro - Tel: +82 2 2016 1234 - Email : seoul.park@hyatt.com - Internet: seoul.park.hyatt.com Ritz
Carlton, 120, Bongeunsa-ro - Tel: +82 2 3451 8000 - Internet : www.ritzcarlton.com Shilla Stay Yeoksam, 517, Eonju-ro - Tel: +82 2 2054 9000 - Internet : m.shillastay.com

RESTAURANTS

The Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo

The amazing thing about Italian cuisine is that it can be adapted to any latitude. At Kitchen, one of chef Salvatore Cuomo's restaurants, the imposing pizza oven has a superb Korean design, and here too, it works. The open kitchen is constantly on show. Each order, sent to the teams in a mechanical but cheerful tone, takes on the air of a joyful refrain that gives rhythm to the dinner. Less sensitive than the DMZ, the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea, this is where another border, this one completely permeable, passes between Korea and Italy...
646-2, Sinsa-dong - Tel: +82 2 3447 0071 Internet: www.kitchensalvatore.kr

Sonamuyaa

A quick glance as you enter this small restaurant on the east side of Gangnam is enough to reassure the traveller: yes, those steel pipes snaking over each table confirm that you can enjoy a Korean barbecue here. Spicy soups, kimchi and bibimbap are also on the menu at this address, which offers a little respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. All the while listening to Billie Holiday. And that's not spoiling anything...
19, Yeongdong-daero 138-gil - Tel.: +82 2 541 1004 Internet: www.sonamuyaa.com

Saemaeul Sikdang

In the heart of the trendy Garosu Gil district, this authentic restaurant is well known to the local clientele and is a popular lunch spot. Business travellers lunch here on the run - five minutes is often enough to swallow their bowl - before returning to the office. Aprons hang on the wall for the less daring to avoid an unwelcome kimchi stain before a decisive meeting. But it's better to take the time to enjoy a Korean barbecue, with the sound of scissors metronomically cutting up the meat in front of the customer, as is customary in Korea.
164-12, Nonhyeon-dong

Hot Eatsue

From the top of its 17th floor, the Hot EatSue restaurant, and even its waiters, are just like the Cappuccino hotel it overlooks: trendy and quirky, without being pretentious. The menu could be called "world cuisine", although the Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese influences are the most pronounced. Customers enjoy a breathtaking view of the business district in a post-industrial setting that combines design and humour, like the telephone from another century displaying the Skype logo.
17F 155, Bongeunsa-Ro - Tel: +82 2 2038 9617 Internet : hotelcappuccino.co.kr

And also...

Melting Shop, 55, Apgujeong-ro 46-gil - Tel.: +82-2-544-4256 JW's Grill, 176, Sinbanpo-ro - Tel: +82 2 62826759 Jung Sik Dang, 11, Seolleung-ro 158-gil - Tel: +82-2-517-4654 Zen Hideaway, 645-18, Sinsa-Dong - Tel: +82-2-541-1461