Fine dining refers to formal, upscale dining. Although there is no exact definition of fine dining, fine dining restaurants are characterized by the following characteristics: First, unlike regular restaurants, it is customary to dress in a certain level of formality, avoiding overly casual attire. Add to that the limited availability of quality ingredients for good food, and you’ve got a recipe for a reservation system. Today, we’re going to look at fine dining restaurants where you can get a glimpse of the chefs’ careful food preparation.
Where are the best fine dining restaurants in Seoul?
Fine dining restaurants use fresh ingredients and chef’s techniques to create luxurious dishes! It’s said that once you taste the flavorful dishes, you’ll be so satisfied that you’ll keep coming back for more. There are many fine dining restaurants in Seoul that you can visit! Here are 20 of the best fine dining restaurants in Seoul!
1) Fine dining with season, <GRee:E>
- Address : 13, Dosan-daero 59-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 17:00 ~ 22:00
GRee:E is a French dining restaurant that presents modern and yet, classical course menu using seasonal ingredients. Due to this concept, GRee:E changes the menu every three months, which means that guests can have new experience every season they visit. This fine dining restaurant arranged all of its tables into private rooms, which makes it perfect for any special, or important occasion. If you want to really enjoy the four seasons of Korea with your dear ones privately, GRee:E will be the perfect choice.
2) Crossing the boundaries of Japanese, Italian, and French, <SIIO>
- Address : 33, Dosan-daero 54-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Sundays)
- Break time : 14:30 ~ 18:00
SIIO is a fine dining restaurant in Cheongdam that serves exquisite fusion Japanese cuisine utilizing seasonal Korean ingredients. SIIO is a Seoul fine dining restaurant created by a group of chefs who have worked at renowned Italian and French restaurants in Korea and Japan. The restaurant creatively blurs the lines between Japanese, Italian, and French cuisine. Let yourself be seduced by the colorful plates that are almost too good to eat.
3) Healthy fusion Chinese dining, <Piece>
- Address : B2F, 91 Hannam-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 17:30
Is there a healthy Chinese food? Hannam-dong Chinese fine dining restaurant Piece is a space where Chef Kim Jung-hoon has built a healthy Chinese food based on the ingredients used in Chinese food. Unlike Chinese cuisine, which uses a lot of butter and spices, the restaurant is characterized by its moderation and maximizing the flavors and characteristics of the ingredients. Combine this with European cooking methods and you have a style that is a step up from Chinese cuisine. This Seoul fine dining is recommended for those who want to try something different.
4) A single flower on a plate <L’Amant Secret>
- Address : 26F, Lescape Hotel, 67, Deunggye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Sundays)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
Located on the 26th floor of Escape Hotel, a renowned Seoul boutique hotel, L’Amant Secret is a Seoul fine dining restaurant that lives up to its name, which means “secret lover,” with an exquisite and sophisticated interior. L’Amant Secret features modern Korean-style cuisine that combines Korean ingredients with Western techniques. Don’t hesitate to visit if you’re looking for something different from Chef Jongwon Son, who came to Korea after a long career in the US.
5) Korean food restaurant behind Gyeongbokgung palace, <Restaurant Jueun>
- Address : 8F, 36 Gyeonghugung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Tue, Wed 18:00 ~ 22:00 / Thu-Sat 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed Sun, Mon)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
Behind Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of Korea’s most beautiful sights, lies Restaurant Jueun, a Korean dining experience where seasons and tradition meet. Chef Joo Eun Park and her team have created a mouthwatering Korean multi-course meal, complete with an extensive list of wines and traditional liquors to pair with it. We hope you have a wonderful day at Restaurant Jueun, a Korean food restaurant that captures all the beauty and sophistication of Korea.
6) If you’re looking for value-for-money fine dining in Seoul, <Seoul Dining>
- Address : Design House, 272 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 11:30 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Sun, Mon)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
Seoul Dining is a fine dining restaurant in Seoul where you can experience high-quality cuisine at reasonable prices. It is a single-course menu, but the composition of dishes changes from time to time depending on the season. The combination of seasonal ingredients and chef’s creativity creates witty dishes that can only be enjoyed at Seoul Dining. Experience flavorful food at Seoul Dining, where colorful ingredients and sauces are used to create dishes that capture the character of Seoul.
7) Seochon French fine dining, <Moulin>
- Address : 8, Jahamun-ro 16-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Tue, Wed)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
First opened in 2013, French fine dining restaurant Moulin is located in a quiet alley in Seochon and serves back-to-basics French cuisine. The interior of this Seoul fine dining restaurant is decorated with vintage objects that owner Chef Yoon Yerang collected in France. You’re sure to have a great time with the light, non-stimulating food that utilizes seasonal ingredients.
8) Freaking Awesome Good Pasta, <FAGP>
- Address : 136, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 11:30 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Mon, Tue)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
Don’t think of pasta as a generic dish, because that’s exactly what you’ll find at FAGP, an Italian restaurant in Seongsu-dong. At Seoul fine dining, FAGP, you’ll find unique pasta dishes created by Chef Lee Jong-hyuk, who has extensive experience at home and abroad. The restaurant catches the attention of customers with its unique dishes such as ‘Smoked Chorizo Tomato Linguine’, ‘Cream Oreguette’, and ‘Coconut Cream Spaghetti’. The restaurant is small and cozy, so reservations are a must! It’s a place where you can experience happiness with just one bite of pasta.
9) An island in the city, <Ile de Cheongdam>
- Address : 2F, 13, Dosan-daero 59-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 17:00 ~ 22:00
Ile de Cheongdam serves dishes with authentic flavors using ingredients such as salt, intestines, grains, and vegetables, all sourced directly from around the country. This is Seoul fine dining, serving Japanese and Korean omakase, where you can see the ingredients changing daily. It is a fine dining restaurant that will make you smile as it presents familiar flavors in a luxurious way with plates that are like works of art. It used to be a membership-based restaurant, but now it is a regular restaurant, but please note that it is reservation only.
10) Spanish fine dining in Seoul, <L’ESTIU>
- Address : 5, Daesagwan-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Mondays)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
Serving Spanish Mediterranean cuisine, L’ESTIU is recognized by foodies as a fine dining restaurant in Seoul. After passing through the lush garden, you’ll come across the exterior of a renovated house. As you can see from the names on the menu, such as “True Bamboo Dish”and “Iberico Rioja Night” ,all of L’ESTIU’s dishes are highly original. In addition to the open space, you can also dine in a private area, making it a great place to visit with friends and family.
11) A Journey into the Space of Primal Fire, <Vuur>
- Address : 1F, 151 Bongun-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Mon-Fri 17:00 ~ 24:00 / Sat 15:00 ~ 23:00 (Closed on Sundays)
Vuur is a contemporary Korean food restaurant that blends French and Korean cuisine based on the concept of primal fire. Founded by Chef Lee Jong-wook with active developer group Zero to Man, the space welcomes guests with a spacious interior that utilizes over 100 cacti. With a variety of dishes such as ‘French Rack Steak(Lamb rack)’, ‘Korean Beef Ragu Pasta’, ‘Eel Risotto’, and more, you’ll be craving for French Korean dining. Complementing the stunning ambiance, Vuur will take your culinary experience to the next level.
12) A feast of quality food, <SZIMPATIKUS Yongsan>
- Address : 1F, 17-3, Hangangdae-ro 52-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 11:30 ~ 23:00
- Break time 15:30 ~ 17:00
SZIMPATIKUS Yongsan is a casual fine dining restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of European food. SZIMPATIKUS Yongsan’s specialty is that all of its dishes have an Asian touch. Once you’ve had a bite of their creative dishes, such as Pollack Roe Cream Pasta with Chili Pepper Oil, Straw-Aged Duck Breast Steak, and Beef Brushed Bracken Pasta, you won’t be the envy of the world anymore.
13) A dish with a story, <SOIGNE>
- Address : Sinsa Square 2F, 652 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Mondays)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
Located in Sinsa-dong, SOIGNE is a place where you can enjoy Chef Lee Jun’s cuisine that is inspired by food from around the world with a Korean twist. Under the slogan “Contemporary Cuisine of Seoul,” the restaurant serves original dishes based on storytelling. The periodically changing menu, called “episodes,” is enough to keep guests curious. Each plate of food is a work of art, and you may find yourself marveling at each one.
14) A flavorful beef omakase,<WOOMADAM>
- Address : 2F, Dokmak-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Weekday 17:00 & 19:30 / Weekend, Holiday 15:00 & 17:00 & 19:30
WOOMADAM offers an hour and a half of deliciously grilled Korean beef omakase. When you arrive at your reserved time, you’ll be seated at a designated table, and an explanation of the cuts of meat used and the course menu will begin. WOOMADAM offers a course menu that incorporates aged Korean beef, grilling the meat at the right temperature for each table and adding delicacies such as seaweed sushi and mini burgers.
15) Yongsan Station Woodfire Dining, <DANSE>
- Address : 23-5, Hangangdae-ro 7-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : 11:30 ~ 22:00
- Break time : 14:30 ~ 17:00
DANSE is a wood-fire dining restaurant located in Sinyongsan that serves flavorful dishes using wood fire. Experience Seoul’s fine dining with a menu that includes Salmon steak, grilled shrimp and crustacean ragu pasta, pork neck steak, and more! Enjoy delicious food and a unique atmosphere at DANSE, which transforms into a brunch restaurant during the day and a wine bar in the evening.
16) Gateway to Gustatory Heaven, <7th Door>
- Address : 4F, 41, Hakdong-ro 97-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Sun, Mon)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
7th Door is a Korean contemporary restaurant that utilizes fermented foods and seasonal ingredients. As you follow the journey to taste heaven, you’ll taste Chef Kim Dae-chun’s in-depth cuisine that focuses on fermentation and aging methods in Korean food culture. You can watch the chefs carefully preparing the dishes in the open kitchen, so you won’t be bored while waiting. As you savor the course menu dishes one by one, you will gradually approach the seventh door to gastronomic heaven.
17) Gucci restaurant lands in Seoul, <GUCCI OSTERIA>
- Address : 6F, 223 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : 12:00 – 22:00 (Refer to the restaurant details for closing schedule)
- Break time : 16:00 – 18:00
After Florence, LA, and Tokyo, Seoul is Gucci’s fourth city! GUCCI OSTERIA is a Seoul fine dining collaboration between Italian chef Massimo Bottura and Gucci. The colorful interior is reminiscent of Gucci, and the collectible tableware is the first thing that catches your eye. The Seoul Garden Salad, inspired by the four seasons of Korea, and the Emilia Burger, served in a tiny pink box, are signature dishes that can only be found at GUCCI OSTERIA, so don’t miss them when you visit.
18) Somewhere between a restaurant and a gallery, <OPNNG>
- Address : B1F, Monopole, 22, Dosan-daero 34-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Mon-Wed & Sat 18:00 ~ 23:00 / Thu, Fri 18:00 ~ 02:00 (Closed on Sundays)
Seoul fine dining, OPNNG, reminds us that a restaurant is not just a place to eat food. Living up to its name of ‘opening new tastes through the experience of food and wine’, the restaurant mesmerizes its guests by displaying works by famous artists throughout the restaurant. With dishes such as Raw Noodle Pasta made from scratch, Beef Tacos, Grilled Hanchi with Ink Sauce, and Iberico Pluma Steak available a la carte rather than in courses, you can customize your meal to your liking.
19) Fusion Korean cuisine as a course! <jumjumjumjumjumjum>
- Address : 1F, 36, Seongam-ro 15-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 21:00 (Closed on Mondays)
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 17:00
If you’re looking for fine dining in Seoul where vegetarians can dine with confidence, we recommend jumjumjumjumjumjumjum in Sangam-dong. This Korean restaurant offers a healthy vegan menu with environment and vegetarianism as keywords, and it also collaborates with Zero Waste on exhibitions. It is also a place where many non-vegetarians visit, as the course menu consists of dishes that combine East and West, such as ‘cold sea pasta’ and ‘shiitake gondre rice’.
20) First in Korea! Immersive fine dining with media art, <KANI LAB>
- Address : B1F, 220 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Mon-Fri 18:30 ~ 22:00 / Sat, Sum 18:00 ~ 22:00
How does seafood taste amidst the vast media art? KANI LAB is the first fine dining restaurant in Korea where you can enjoy a course menu set against a backdrop of media art. If you’re first impressed by the stunning light and color of the panoramic views surrounding the restaurant, you’ll be secondly impressed by the premium seafood dishes, mainly king crab. After a two-and-a-half hour media art experience, you may not be able to look anywhere else.
What did you think of our list of 20 fine dining restaurants? It’s better to enjoy your food where it tastes good and where you feel like you’re being treated. Most fine dining restaurants offer a course menu, so reservations are a must, so if you have a favorite, make sure to book it through CatchTable and enjoy your visit!