Blending the warmth of Korean hospitality with the clean-lined elegance of Japandi design, the 1,850-square-foot Seoul restaurant, located in New Delhi’s MGF Metropolitan Mall, offers a dining experience centered on gathering and storytelling.
The brief was simple in theory: Create a Korean restaurant that is easy to maintain while maximizing seating capacity. However, the execution required a nuanced approach.
Korean dining culture revolves around group experiences, which led Urban Mistrii to envision a floorplan that prioritizes large communal setups rather than couples’ seating, a departure from the typical Indian restaurant model.
Communal dining at Seoul
Originally a narrow, constricted passage, the entrance was reimagined with a stretched ceiling membrane that creates an illusion of volume, setting the tone of openness and expansion that defines the dining journey.
Inside, two distinct private dining rooms anchor the space. One accommodates up to 20 diners with a partitioned layout for flexibility, while the second nods to tradition with floor-sitting arrangements that honor Korean cultural rituals.
Six-seater booths further balance comfort and efficiency, ensuring that every square foot serves the communal ethos without feeling crowded.
Balancing form with function
Materiality also plays a key role. Durable nonporous table slabs resist staining, while earthy Kota stone grounds the restaurant’s flooring in both practicality and visual warmth.
Above each table, a chimney system manages the smoke and oil associated with Korean barbecue cooking, adding to the functionality of the space.
Japandi minimalism with pops of color
The design language of Seoul pairs the quiet minimalism of Japandi—natural materials, restrained lines, and a sense of calm—with vivid moments of color. A bold yellow canvas wall, curated artworks in soft pink tones, and a striking blush-hued bar inject vibrancy into the otherwise neutral palette.
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