CATCHTABLE Pick: Foodie Travel Spots in Gangnam, Seoul

Morning light spills across marble and copper while the aroma of aged Parmigiano and toasted butter hints at what’s to come. Loved by both locals and travelers, this witty Italian room riffs on 17 cheeses across silky pastas, crisp pinsa, and shareable plates that arrive neatly composed and wonderfully fragrant.

• Order this!: A cheese-forward pasta and a seasonal salad; pair with a glass of Italian white for a bright start.

Afternoon tea here feels like a pause button—fine porcelain, quiet clinks, tiers of patisserie perfumed with citrus zest and vanilla. Locals book it for romantic dates and visitors for a calm reset, with seasonal sets that balance delicate sweets and warm savories.

• Order this!: Seasonal afternoon tea; consider a private room if you’re celebrating.

A cozy, mood-lit nook where clinking glasses mingle with the soft patter of paws. A local favorite that travelers quickly adopt, it serves comforting, well-seasoned plates designed to play nicely with wine, in a space that feels like a friend’s living room.

• Order this!: A couple of hot small plates and a by-the-glass red; bring your pup for a relaxed early evening.

The counter hums softly as knives whisper through fish and steam puffs from lidded bowls—seasonality is the rhythm here. Both locals and visitors converge for pristine sashimi and refined cooked plates that change with the market, backed by the izakaya energy that made it a TV talking point.

• Order this!: A sashimi selection followed by a couple of warm kappo dishes; trust the day’s recommendations.

You smell the steak before you see it—roasty, nutty, a hint of blue-cheese depth from careful in-house dry-aging. A long-running local classic that discerning travelers seek out, it ages beef in a dedicated cellar, then cooks with measured heat so the crust snaps and the core runs ruby and juicy.

• Order this!: A dry-aged sharing cut plus classic sides; ask for their recommended doneness for the day’s age.

The sizzle is gentle and the room is calm, as servers grill aged sirloin to a glossy blush and lay out a dignified spread of Korean sides. It’s the kind of place locals bring parents or clients, yet travelers connect with instantly for its considerate pacing and polished hospitality.

• Order this!: Grilled aged sirloin with set banchan; if it’s your birthday, ask about the celebratory yukhoe and seaweed soup.

Skewers sweep through the room like a parade—picanha, sausage, garlic beef—each slice releasing a charry aroma that begs for another plate from the salad bar. It’s boisterous in the best way, a crowd-pleaser for meat-first appetites and celebratory nights.

• Order this!: Go green to red on the table chip and let the skewers keep coming; save room for the desserts you’ll swear you don’t need.

Part gallery, part roastery, part wine bar, this creative space brings together meticulous coffee people and chefs with a high-low flair. Travelers drop in for a design-forward brunch, locals linger for wine and dinner plates that feel polished without the stiffness.

• Order this!: Start with coffee and a savory plate, then slide into a glass of natural wine as the room warms up.

Part dinner, part show: Korean dishes arrive between sets of live music that pull the room together in a shared rhythm. Come for a high-energy close to the night—perfect for birthdays, reunions, and anyone who wants their kimchi jjigae with a side of applause.

• Order this!: A sharing spread of classic Korean dishes, then head to the B2 bar for a signature cocktail after the set.