8AM : Breakfast like you’ve always dreamed at the hedonistic, luxuriant buffet of Constans, the restaurant up on the 24th floor of the Josun Palace, whether for a business meeting or simply for your own pleasure. Enjoy the finest, rarest ingredients as you gaze out over Gangnam.
10AM : Discover, wide-eyed, the latest exhibitions of the iconic Kukje Gallery whose three buildings (K1, K2 and K3) physically adjoin each other but are distinct: K2 is a windowless concrete bunker enmeshed in a metal web – designed by the New York architecture firm So-Il – and an aesthetic provocation which says everything about the gallery’s dedication to modernity.
11AM : Stimulate your senses at the breathtaking Korean concept store Ader Error in Gangnam, a spectacular fashion, lifestyle and culture store among the most electrifying in Seoul. On every floor, thrill at the extravagance of the bold edit of pieces for the home.
1PM : Sample the modern, high-end Korean cuisine of Anthony Yoon, the inspired chef of the renowned Gangnam restaurant L’Impression. Rare, natural flavours and finely nuanced aromas are underscored by the offerings of sommelier Yanis Feral, within a sleek decor.
3PM: Contemplate traditional art and current exhibitions at the striking Leeum Samsung Museum of Art. Owned by the Leeum Samsung conglomerate, the buildings were designed by architects Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas.
4PM : Order a fine traditional tea from Joo Eun-jae, proprietor of WH Tea, which excels in the ceremonial preparation of teas, be they green, white, black or pu’er, and also delivers classes in tasting and aroma appreciation, with a graceful smile.
5PM: Give your brain cells a boost at the new yet already famous Hyundai Card Design Library, affiliated with the business giant Hyundai Card and housed in a magnificent Bauhaus-inspired structure in the heart of Bukchon. This booklovers’ Eldorado specializes in publications focusing on design and the visual arts, the latest craze in “New Seoul.”
6PM: Sip a French vintage wine, a Poupille 2010 or a Faugères 2011, or if you’re a hipster, one of the signature cocktails – Spritz Milan or Turin Turismo – while sitting in the midst of gifted minds in the stylish Boccalino Wine Bar at the Four Seasons. This elegant bar transforms dusk into prime time.
7PM : Embark on an unparalleled gastronomic journey at Jungsik, one of the most popular high-end restaurants in Seoul, led by the super creative chef Yim Jung-sik, pioneer of a playful new molecular Korean cuisine – comprising fermented concoctions, airy mousses and spherical wonders – and master in the art of distilling mysteries within mysteries.
11PM : Choose your brandy or house cocktail and relax in the softly lit surroundings of the elegant Privilege bar at the Mondrian Seoul, as electro-pop tunes from the DJ set waft over the rooftop terrace. There are tasty snacks too if you’re feeling peckish.