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What it’s like to have a meal in the 5th tallest building in the world

The journey to the highest restaurant in the South Korea starts with a whale display.

the airy 123F Lounge is on the top floor of Lotte World Tower in Seoul, 555 meters (about 1,820 feet) above the ground. The tower is the tallest building in the country – and the fifth tallest building in the world, according to its official website.

But it turns out that getting to the restaurant isn’t as simple as getting in and out of an elevator; it’s an entire experience that can easily take up to an hour.

After purchasing a ticket — 27,000 Korean won (approximately $20) for adults and 24,000 won ($18) for children — visitors enter a waiting room, bathed in blue light as whales swim across a giant screen in the roof.

Several different rooms follow – some with professional photo opportunities, others showcasing the building materials that make up the tower – before an intriguing series of whale-themed spaces.

There are two long hallways – one lit up in dark blue as whales swim alongside it on wall screens, the other with LED ceiling panels rotating in colorful mosaic patterns, in sharp contrast to black and white photos of whales on the wall. .

Vaguely whale-like calls enhance the underwater environment. Another room has fake clouds suspended in the air and whales painted on the wall, appearing mid-flight.

(I later found out that this is all part of a temporary exhibition celebrating the work of whale photographer Jang Nam-won.)

Many whales later, you finally reach the elevator, which takes a minute to ascend to the Seoul Sky observatory, traveling at 10 meters per second.

Upon exiting, visitors are told to sit in a darkened room while a video, apparently an artistic representation of the history of Seoul and the Lotte World Tower, plays – before the screen splits into two giant panels, slowly lifting like a curtain to reveal the breathtaking view of Seoul through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The observatory spans several floors, with giant windows that allow for a 360-degree view of the metropolis. One can see the iconic N Seoul Tower perched on Namsan Mountain, bridges spanning the river, sports parks and stadiums, and even rides at the nearby Lotte World theme park.

Each floor offers different attractions, like small cafes on floors 119 and 122. There’s the Sky Deck on the 118th floor, with a glass floor that lets you see the entire 478 meters (1,568 feet) between your shoes and the street below. The Sky Terrace, on the 120th floor, is an open-air balcony with a perfect view of the winding Han River.

After the proper amount of ooh-ing and aah-ing, you finally arrive at the hall on the 123rd floor.

The restaurant is spacious and welcoming, with comfortable chairs and lamps at each table. The windows make up an entire wall, extending to the high ceiling to flood the space with warm light during sunset. A free viewfinder lets you zoom in on the landscape.

The menu is expensive by Korean standards — $28 for a beef stew, $19 for tomato spaghetti, and $18 for a Caesar salad — but we lingered, watching the sun dip over the horizon, briefly turning to heaven. burning orange.

The restaurant also offers pizzas, sandwiches, steaks and appetizers, including a selection of cheeses.

The view was so impressive in the dark, the city a grid of light spreading out before us.

While the 123F Lounge is a perfect spot for a romantic dinner or special date, there were also families with children and groups of young adults friends when we visited. The hall can also be rented for special events such as wedding receptions and product launches.

Lotte World Tower is located in the Jamsil district of Songpa-gu district in southeastern Seoul. It is open all week, although hours depend on the day, and is accessible by metro, bus or private vehicle.

Source: CNN Brasil

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