The JW Marriott Jeju Resort is one in every of South Korea’s best hotels for food

Although Seoul’s luxury hotels are filled with tempting restaurants, most depend on a Western-style approach within the name of familiarity and convenience. Room service club sandwiches, French bistros and patisseries aren’t a foul thing, but what if you happen to need a luxury hotel that focuses exclusively on Korean gastronomy? (I’m guessing you didn’t fly around the globe to be treated to food you already know.)

That’s where Jeju is available in. Just a brief one-hour flight from Seoul, this enchanting subtropical island of twisting volcanic rock, black sand beaches and jade-colored waters has long been a haven for Koreans and lies on the world’s busiest flight route. As of last 12 months, it is also home to one in every of South Korea’s best restaurants. JW Marriott Jeju Resorta tranquil cliff-top oasis imagined by Bill Bensley – the creative force behind other legendary destinations in Asia, including the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand.

From the moment you might be greeted with tea and Jeju mandarin candy within the elegant Hanok-inspired lobby, it is evident that JW Marriott Jeju Resort honors Korean culture from check-in to check-out. The culinary journey results in 197 spacious guest rooms and suitess—which features thoughtful Korean accents reminiscent of Bojagi print partitions and the daring use of yellow, a Countryman (traditional Korean color) represents prosperity – here you can be pampered with sweet and savory morsels artfully arranged on trays. But beware: All of those delicacies can be found before your first meal on the property.

With 4 different gastronomy conceptsJW Marriott Jeju Resort makes it easy to enjoy a delicious vacation without ever leaving. As the property’s signature restaurant, Island Kitchen presents one in every of Asia’s most sumptuous breakfast and brunch buffets. Offered each day, Jeju Brunch Royale begins with copious amounts of Moët & Chandon champagne, French caviar, and a choice of freshly baked breads reminiscent of eye-catching, pretty croissants harking back to Jeju’s layered rocky coastline. Afterward, feast on a flawless choice of sashimi, Korean seafood specialties reminiscent of cramps (marinated raw crab) and other hot dishes.

If you are craving something sweet, book a day tea within the lounge. A unusual twist on the standard English afternoon tea, the JW Marriott Jeju Resort’s version puts local ingredients front and center, from the favored Udo Peanut Cream Latte to the irresistible Jeju Lemon Yuzu Caraibe sweet, against a backdrop of sweeping sea views. Between hikes on the famous Olle Trail and laps within the outdoor pool, which is surrounded by original pieces including a colourful stone commission by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, cool off with a pint of local beer at The Shade House.

Black pork is one in every of Jeju’s most famous delicacies, and at The Flying Hog, the resort’s executive chef Joon Ko puts a contemporary twist on the coveted meat that is normally simply grilled. Instead, Ko uses sophisticated techniques like curing and wet aging before ending it in a blazing hot wood-fired oven. It’s just one in every of seven tantalizing courses from The Flying Hog’s special tasting menu, which also features other Korean specialties like Hanwoo beef and Jeju duck.

If you are a seafood connoisseur, you should dine at Yeoumul. This quiet and hidden spot is accessible by reservation only, and here Chef Jin Lee – who honed his skills in Michelin-starred restaurants in Toronto – presents an exquisite kaiseki-style menu that focuses on Jeju’s incredibly diverse and current natural bounty. While the chef’s creations often change with the seasons – my meal, for instance, consisted of tea rice with freshly shaved dried tuna, flawless nigiri and flash-fried blind (Aralia elata sprouts) – You will experience why South Korea is such a wealthy and rewarding destination for travelers who value good food.