The Best Places in 광희동 & around

A Forbes Five Star hotel tucked against Namsan Mountain, with Seoul's medieval city walls on one side and a city of ten million on the other. The Shilla has been around forever, but Samsung's ownership keeps it feeling sharp rather than musty, and the scale of the place, a massive property in the middle of it all, makes the mountain backdrop feel like a genuine surprise rather than a postcard prop.

1. Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Five Star
2. Michelin Guide 1 Key

Floor-to-ceiling windows on the 23rd floor of the Shilla Hotel frame a sweep of Seoul skyline, though the contemporary Korean tasting menu tends to pull focus back to the table fairly quickly. The kitchen works with the classics rather than against them, keeping flavors clean and recognizable while quietly updating the techniques behind them. Two Michelin stars. Service is formal without being stiff, which at this altitude is harder than it looks.

1. Michelin Guide 2 Stars
2. The 50 The 50 Discovery

Perched on the slopes of Namsan Park, this 110-room luxury hotel sits high enough above Seoul that the mountain air makes the city feel like someone else's problem. Rooms lean into neutral tones and plush furnishings, and the contemporary design throws in just enough Korean detail to keep things grounded. The pool draws a summer scene, the spa pulls the city's well-heeled, and the whole property carries the composed confidence the Banyan Tree name travels on.

1. Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Recommended
2. Michelin Guide Selected Hotels

A gold-on-white-tile sign and a queue that stretches well past peak hours mark this Sindang-dong barbecue spot. Cast-iron grills over coal briquettes keep the heat steady while premium pork cuts render down into something firm, fatty, and deeply juicy. It's the kind of Korean barbecue restaurant that earns a Michelin Bib Gourmand by doing one thing with total commitment, and the line outside is the only argument anyone needs to make.

1. Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
2. Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Seoul, South Korea
3. The 50 The 50 Discovery

1. Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand

Floor-to-ceiling windows on the 23rd floor give the dining room a view over Seoul that does a lot of the heavy lifting before the food arrives. Continental is the Shilla Hotel's long-running French fine dining restaurant, an old-school institution that has threaded seasonal Korean ingredients through classic French technique for longer than most of its guests can remember. The staff are the kind who refold your napkin when you stand up.

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant