If you know us, you know we are always looking for the intersection of incredible food and smart luxury travel. This visit to The Lounge at Signiel Seoul was both.
Three years ago, we tried to come here for afternoon tea and completely missed our chance because we did not have a reservation. That same trip, Vincent proposed to me inside Signiel Seoul. So coming back to celebrate our anniversary and finally doing this tea felt like a full-circle moment.
We paid $6 for the whole experience. Here is how.
The Price: What It Costs and How We Hacked It
The Signiel Afternoon Tea Set is 160,000 KRW for two people (about $106 USD). For a 79th-floor luxury hotel in the heart of Seoul, $53 per person is already strong value, especially because Korea is a no-tipping culture. The price on the menu is a flat fee with no hidden service charges or tax surprises.
We booked our stay at Signiel through the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program using my Platinum card. One of the FHR perks is a $100 food and beverage credit per stay. We simply charged the afternoon tea to our room, which brought our out-of-pocket cost down to $6 USD.
Bringing a Third Person? Here's a Useful Pricing Quirk
Adding a third guest costs only 60,000 KRW (about $40 USD), which actually lowers the per-person average. We asked the staff how they handle plating for three:
- An extra piece is added to each of the individual savory bites and finger foods
- The third person gets their own choice of premium tea and sparkling wine
- The large tower cakes remain the same size to share among the group
| Party Size | Total (KRW) | Approx. USD | Per Person (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 People | 160,000 KRW | $106 | $53.00 |
| 3 People | 220,000 KRW | $146 | $48.67 |
The Beverages: Mariage Frères Tea and Sparkling Wine
The set includes two glasses of sparkling wine (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, your choice) and a hot beverage: premium coffee or tea.
I went with the Banti Roa Rig non-alcoholic sparkling, which was sweet and crisp. Vincent chose the Umi Rose Young, which had a more bitter, fruity white-peach profile.
For the hot beverage, we skipped the Signiel signature coffee and went straight for tea. The Lounge serves Mariage Frères, a high-end French tea house with over 320 years of history. We selected the Passion de Fleurs, a white tea that was smooth and fruity. It worked as a perfect palate cleanser between the rich pastries.
One detail I loved: they remove the tea leaves before bringing the pot to the table so the tea cannot over-brew and turn bitter. Small touch, but it makes a real difference.
The Food: Where the Korean Fusion Shines
Afternoon tea is an English concept, but what makes the Signiel version stand out is how thoughtfully their pastry team weaves Korean ingredients into the menu. This is not a gimmick. The integration feels intentional and genuinely creative.
Course 1: Savory Bites (Start Here, Work Up)
Scallop and Pear Tart Torched scallop layered with crisp Korean pear, apple, and lemon, finished with a dusting of seaweed powder. The sweetness of the Korean pear pulls out the umami of the scallop and seaweed in a way that is uniquely oceanic. You would not find this flavor profile at a European afternoon tea.
Beetroot Sandwich My personal favorite of the savory course. Beet jam, vibrant green chive sauce, cream cheese, and pine nuts. The flavor is intensely sour, smoky, and dark. It had my face puckering and I loved every second of it.
Course 2: The Sweets Begin
Before the main tower, the team surprised us with a "Happy Anniversary" mini cake featuring a Shine Muscat grape. If you follow my food content, you know Shine Muscats are having a serious moment in Korea right now. This bite layered the incredibly sweet, crisp grape over smooth cream on a perfectly baked biscuit base. Simple concept, excellent execution.
Course 3: The Tower (Left to Right, Bottom to Top)
Kkurongji (Caramelized Croissants) Korean pastry culture loves taking French classics and adding a local twist. These were flat, heavily caramelized croissants, dipped in matcha and milk chocolate. Vincent was team chocolate. I was very firmly team matcha. The earthy bitterness was exactly my thing.
Lemon Cheesecake Zesty and bright. A familiar, comforting flavor that balanced out the more experimental bites around it. A necessary reset.
Binyeo Cake (The Grand Finale) Sitting at the top of the tower and shaped like a traditional Korean hairpin (binyeo), this was the best bite of the afternoon. Pistachio sponge and chestnut layered with vanilla and mocha mousse. Almost no visible cake structure, just pure, ethereal cream that dissolved the moment it hit the tongue. It was not overly sweet, which is the highest compliment I can give an Asian dessert.
Verdict
The Signiel Lounge Afternoon Tea is one of the best dining experiences we have had in Seoul. The views at 79 floors are unreal, the service is attentive without being intrusive, and the way they fuse Korean flavors into a European format keeps every single course interesting.
If you are visiting Seoul, especially if you are already staying at Signiel, this is a must-do. Just make sure you book a reservation in advance. They fill up, and you do not want to be us three years ago standing outside wishing you had planned ahead.
If you want to see the full room tour of our Korean Premier Room at Signiel Seoul, read that review here.
