Hotel Lobby

By Jun Ji-hye

Andaz Seoul Gangnam presents distinct experience for summer staycation

Andaz Seoul Gangnam, located near Apgujeong Station, has begun a unique collaboration with the Gana Art and Perrier to provide a distinct staycation experience this summer, as many people who are unable to travel abroad are expected to visit the hotel.

The all-day cafe lounge, A'+Z, located on the lobby floor of the hotel, has been transformed into a gallery where visitors can enjoy artworks with coffee in July.

The exhibition, presented in collaboration with Gana Art, is displaying works by three artists who express appreciation of nature in various ways, giving visitors an opportunity to relax in the city at a time when it is difficult to engage in outside activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lionel Esteve presents paintings made with natural materials. His work, “Papier de Provence,” originated from the artist's repeated drying and coloring of flowers.

Yoriko Takabatake and Park Young-nam used nature as the subject of their artworks. Takabatake actively utilized primitive elements such as water and fire, while Park completed his painting using his bare hands, rather than with a brush. The two artists embody freedom on the canvas by making the most of materials in their natural form.

Meanwhile, the indoor swimming pool at The Summer House on the second basement floor will hold a “Sparkling Summer Moment” from July 13 through the end of August, where a bar featuring French natural carbonated water brand, Perrier will be set up.

During the event, a bar by the pool will offer a complimentary sweet, cool, non-alcoholic cocktail made with the peach flavor of the French syrup, Monin, inspired by Perrier's new product this summer.

“We planned this promotion to provide unique experiences other than water play in the swimming pool, which is the most visited space for hotel guests during the peak summer season,” an Andaz Seoul Gangnam official said. “We hope you can lie down in the swimming pool cabana under the colorful lights and drink cocktails with a fragrant peach scent, take photos, play in the water and create fresh and more fun vacation memories.”

During the promotion period, Andaz Seoul Gangnam plans to hold a social media event such as a hashtag event.

Park Hyatt Seoul unveils sashimi dinner set

The Timber House, the premium music bar at Park Hyatt Seoul, is presenting its sashimi dinner set ― teishoku ― until Sept. 20.

Guests can explore the unique culinary delights of teishoku, a set meal where each immaculately prepared dish reveals a new sensory inspiration.

The highlight of the sashimi teishoku dinner is the seasonal sashimi selection, featuring fresh seasonal seafood including rockfish, conch, cuttlefish and abalone, harvested in Korean waters.

Prawns and seasonal vegetable tempura follows, revealing a combination of fresh prawns and seasonal vegetables deep-fried to crispy perfection.

Clam cold soba noodles offer subtle yet deep flavor, with buckwheat noodles served in a clear clam broth and topped with Japanese mustard greens for a note of fragrant leafiness.

The final savory course is Jeju black pork onigiri, made with Jeju black pork slow-marinated in homemade teriyaki sauce for even greater depth of flavor.

The dinner set concludes with green tea monaka.

The dinner set is priced at 100,000 won per person ($84), with a minimum order of two diners.

Guests visiting the Timber House from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays can enjoy a 50 percent saving on drinks during happy hour, a chance to accompany inspired Japanese cuisine with a carefully curated selection of beverages including creative signature cocktails mixed by master bartenders, as well as sake, beer and wine.

InterContinental launches 'Fresh Summer Afternoon Tea'

InterContinental Seoul COEX is showcasing the revitalizing “Fresh Summer Afternoon Tea” at the Lobby Lounge until Aug. 31 in collaboration with the lifestyle beauty brand, Fresh.

The Fresh Summer Afternoon Tea's food menu consists of citrus fruit including vitamin-packed oranges, lemons, grapefruit and citron, carefully selected by the hotel's chef to complement the theme of the Fresh Vitamin Nectar product line.

The afternoon tea features nine options of invigorating and sweet desserts, ranging from calamansi meringue tart, coconut citron dacquoise and grapefruit orange cheesecake verrine to lime curd cream.

There are also three types of sandwiches ― monte cristo sandwich, mushroom cheese sandwich and buffalo cheese sandwich with ink bread ― along with an assortment of tavalon teas and coffees to freely choose from.

Each customer is greeted with a Vitamin Booster drink, teeming with healthy vitamins from oranges, lemons and grapefruit blended together.

In addition, all customers are invited to try three products from the Fresh Vitamin Nectar product line, offered on the tester trays right at the comfort of the customers' own tables.

A special demo zone is installed for Fresh products at the entrance of the lobby lounge.

All the Fresh Summer Afternoon Tea customers are offered the chance to participate in a gift drawing, where six customers will receive Fresh Vitamin Nectar products.

The afternoon tea is available from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day, and costs 75,000 won for two people.

Customers can benefit from 20 percent discounts upon reservations and payments through Naver Pay during July.