Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — The journey to the very best restaurant in South Korea begins with a whale show.
The ethereal 123F Lounge sits on the highest ground of the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, 555 meters (about 1,820 toes) above floor. The tower is the tallest constructing within the nation — and the fifth tallest constructing on the planet, in line with its official web site.
But it surely seems, attending to the restaurant is not as simple as hopping on and off an elevator; it is a complete expertise that may simply take as much as an hour.
After shopping for an entry ticket — 27,000 Korean received (roughly $20) for adults, and 24,000 received ($18) for youngsters — guests enter a ready corridor, awash in blue gentle as whales swim throughout an enormous display screen on the ceiling.
A number of completely different rooms observe — some with alternatives for skilled pictures, others displaying the constructing supplies that make up the tower — earlier than a puzzling sequence of whale-themed areas.
A short lived exhibit showcasing whale-themed multimedia shows within the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea.
Jessie Yeung/CNN
There are two lengthy hallways — one illuminated darkish blue as whales swim beside you on wall-length screens, the opposite with LED ceiling panels rotating by way of colourful mosaic patterns, in sharp distinction with black-and-white whale pictures on the wall. Vaguely whale-sounding calls add to the underwater ambiance. One other room has pretend clouds suspended midair and whales painted on the wall, showing mid-flight.
(I later study that is all a part of a brief exhibition celebrating the work of whale photographer Jang Nam-won.)
Sundown from the Sky Seoul observatory, positioned within the Lotte World Tower.
Jessie Yeung/CNN
Stepping out, guests are guided to take a seat in a darkish room as a video, apparently an inventive rendering of the historical past of Seoul and the Lotte World Tower, performs — earlier than the display screen splits into two large panels, slowly lifting like a curtain to disclose the breathtaking view of Seoul by way of floor-to-ceiling home windows.
The observatory spans a number of flooring, with large home windows that enable a sweeping 360-degree view of the metropolis. One can spot the enduring N Seoul Tower perched on Namsan mountain, bridges stretching throughout the river, parks and sports activities stadiums and even the rides on the close by Lotte World theme park.
Every ground affords completely different sights, resembling small cafes on the 119th and 122th flooring. There’s the Sky Deck on the 118th ground, with a glass ground that permits you to see all 478 meters (1,568 toes) between your footwear and the road far beneath. There’s the Sky Terrace on the one hundred and twentieth ground, an outside balcony with an ideal view of the winding Han River.
The Sky Deck on the 118th ground of Seoul Sky, with a glass ground.
Jessie Yeung/CNN
After the suitable quantity of ooh-ing and aah-ing, you lastly attain the lounge on the 123rd ground.
The restaurant is each spacious and comfortable, with soft chairs and lamps on every desk. Home windows make up a whole wall, stretching as much as the excessive ceiling to flood the house with heat gentle throughout sundown. A free viewfinder lets you zoom in on the panorama.
The menu is on the expensive aspect by Korean requirements — $28 for a beef stew, $19 for tomato spaghetti and $18 for a Caesar salad — however we took our time, watching the solar dip beneath the horizon, briefly turning the sky fiery orange.
The restaurant additionally affords pizza, sandwiches, steak and appetizers together with a cheese choice.
Window seats on the 123F Lounge boast sweeping views of the Han River in Seoul.
Gawon Bae/CNN
The view was simply as beautiful in the dead of night, the town a grid of sunshine unfold out earlier than us.
Although the 123F Lounge is an ideal spot for a romantic dinner or particular date, there have been additionally households with youngsters and younger grownup buddy teams after we visited. The lounge may also be rented for particular occasions resembling wedding ceremony receptions and product launches.
The Lotte World Tower is positioned within the Jamsil neighborhood of Seoul’s southeastern Songpa-gu district. It is open all week, although hours rely on the day, and is accessible by subway, bus or personal car.