JW Marriott Jeju Resort Is One Of South Korea’s Best Hotels For Food

Desserts from JW Marriott Jeju

JW Marriott Jeju

Though Seoul’s luxury hotels are packed with enticing restaurants, most enlist a Western-centric approach in the name of familiarity and convenience. While there’s nothing wrong with room service club sandwiches, French bistros, and pâtisseries, what if you’re seeking a high-end property that solely focuses on Korean gastronomy? (I’m guessing you didn’t fly around the world to be coddled with food you already know.)

Exterior of JW Marriott Jeju

JW Marriott Jeju

This is when Jeju enters the picture. A swift hourlong flight from Seoul, this enchanting subtropical island marked by twisting volcanic rock, black sand beaches, and jade-colored water has long been a getaway for Koreans and is on the world’s busiest flight route. As of last year: it’s also home to one of South Korea’s best hotels for food, JW Marriott Jeju Resort, a tranquil cliffside oasis envisioned by Bill Bensley—the creative force behind other iconic Asian destinations including Thailand’s Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle.

JW Marriott Jeju’s welcome ritual of hot tea and Udo peanut candies

JW Marriott Jeju

From the moment you’re greeted with tea and Jeju tangerine candy in the sleek Hanok-inspired lobby, it’s clear JW Marriott Jeju Resort is all about honoring Korean culture from check-in to check-out. The culinary journey flows to the 197 spacious guest rooms and suites—which brim with thoughtful Korean accents like bojagi print walls and the bold use of yellow, an obangsaek (traditional Korean color) representing prosperity—where you’ll be treated to sweet and savory nibbles artfully arranged on trays. Mind you: all of this deliciousness happens before your first sit-down meal at the property.

Jeju Brunch Royale at JW Marriott Jeju’s Island Kitchen is a lavish affair of free-flowing … [+] champagne, caviar, croissants, sushi, and other delicacies.

JW Marriott Jeju

JW Marriott Jeju’s afternoon tea spotlights Jeju ingredients.

JW Marriott Jeju

With four distinct dining concepts, JW Marriott Jeju Resort makes it easy to enjoy a delectable vacation without ever having to leave. As the property’s signature eatery, Island Kitchen presents one of Asia’s most lavish breakfast and brunch buffets. Offered daily, Jeju Brunch Royale commences with free-flowing Moët & Chandon champagne, French caviar, and an assortment of freshly-baked breads like eye-catching pretty croissants resembling Jeju’s layered rock coastline. From there, you can help yourself to an immaculate spread of sashimi, Korean seafood specialties like gejang (marinated raw crab), and other hot dishes.

For your sweet tooth, book afternoon tea at The Lounge. A whimsical twist on the traditional English afternoon tea, JW Marriott Jeju Resort’s version spotlights local ingredients, from the popular Udo Peanut Cream Latte to the irresistible confection Jeju Lemon Yuzu Caraibe, against expansive views of the sea. In between hikes on the famed Olle Trail and laps in the outdoor pool surrounded by the original pieces including a colorful stone commission by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, refresh yourself with a pint of local beer at The Shade House.

Joon Ko is JW Marriott Jeju’s executive resort chef, and turns out an exceptional seven-course … [+] tasting menu at The Flying Hog.

JW Marriott Jeju

Black pig is one Jeju’s most famous delicacies, and at The Flying Hog the resort’s executive chef Joon Ko puts a modern spin on the treasured meat that’s usually simply grilled. Instead, Ko uses elevated techniques like salt-curing and wet-aging before finishing it in a blazing-hot wood oven. It’s just one of seven enticing courses from The Flying Hog’s special tasting menu, which also features other Korean specialties such as Hanwoo beef and Jeju duck.

Chef Jin Lee crafts an exqusuite Jeju-style kaiseki at JW Marriott Jeju’s Yeoumul.

JW Marriott Jeju

If you’re a seafood connoisseur, make sure to dine at Yeoumul. Available only by reservation, this hushed and hidden-away spot is where chef Jin Lee—who honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in Toronto—presents an exquisite kaiseki-style menu focusing on Jeju’s incredibly diverse and of-the-moment natural bounty. While the chef’s creations frequently change with the seasons—my meal, for example, included tea rice topped with freshly-shaven dried tuna, pristine nigiri, and flash-fried dureup (Aralia elata shoots)—you’ll experience why South Korea is such a rich and rewarding desination for those who travel with eating well in mind.

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