Seocho fine-dining restaurant with smoked watermelon course: Vinovine

This time I visited Vinovine near Seocho Station. I went in the evening, and the entrance leading into the building already had a nice mood. It looked small from outside, but once inside, the space was divided better than I expected, and the overall dark, calm atmosphere made it good for dinner. The tables in particular were split into room-style spaces, so I didn't feel too conscious of my surroundings. It's a great Seocho dining spot to look for when you want to eat somewhere quiet.

Where is Vinovine, and is there parking?

Vinovine is located at B1, Hyojin Building, 6 Banpo-daero 23-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul. It's 292m from Exit 3 of Seocho Station, and parking is free for 1 hour 🚗

Vinovine's exterior. Maybe because I visited at night, the VINOVINE sign lit up with lighting really caught my eye. The entrance isn't big or flashy — it feels more like you're walking into the building — so if it's your first visit, just look for the sign. It's also a good spot to meet up near Seocho Station, and it's how I first found this Western restaurant near Seocho Station.

The counter visible from the entrance. Once you walk in, the counter is right there. The dark wood-colored counter and the wine glasses hanging above it stood out. Overall there were a lot of brown and beige tones, giving it a warm yet slightly upscale mood.

Inside Vinovine: glass-doored private rooms

Unlike a typical restaurant with open tables, Vinovine's defining feature is that the space is divided up. There are rooms separated by glass doors as well as a separate dining area, which made it comfortable to chat and eat with my party.

That makes it a good option for a slightly quieter meal — a date or a small gathering. I think this kind of atmosphere is one of the reasons people look for dining spots in Seocho.

The room I ate in had wood-toned walls. The lighting had a yellow glow, and the table was wide enough that there was plenty of room even as the course dishes came out one by one. It wasn't overly formal, but it was a space that felt good to focus on the meal in, and I liked it.

A neatly set table.

Once I sat down, the fork, spoon, and knife were neatly laid out, along with a wine glass and a water glass. Small plates were also set neatly on the table, and since the course hadn't started yet, I was excited to see what dishes would come out. The wood table paired nicely with the fabric table mat in particular.

What the 65,000-won dinner course at Vinovine includes

Vinovine's dinner course costs ₩65,000 and flows through seven courses total. Looking at the menu, there was a wider variety of dishes than I expected.

Starter: chicken liver, cocoa choux, abalone and tofu

Not the most common combination of dishes to start with.

The chicken liver had a soft, rich flavor, so the taste was quite distinct from the very first bite, while the abalone and tofu felt relatively light and clean alongside it.

The cocoa choux was soft and sweet~ Being able to taste several ingredients in small portions felt like a nice way to open up the appetite before the real meal began.

Appetizer: smoked watermelon with stracciatella and tomato water

Personally, the dish I was most curious about in terms of ingredient combination!

Instead of eating the watermelon plain, it was smoked to add a subtle aroma, which I found interesting.

The watermelon's freshness was layered with the soft texture of stracciatella cheese, and the tomato water finished it off cleanly — the harmony was better than I expected. It was a dish that reworked a familiar ingredient in a slightly different way, so it stuck in my memory.

Appetizer: shrimp with celeriac and brussels sprouts

The appetizer here was built around shrimp as the main ingredient.

The shrimp had a nice, plump texture, and with the celeriac and brussels sprouts added in, there was a nice range of textures to chew through. It was lighter and cleaner than the previous dish, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy.

Fish: white snapper with tomato and basil

Next up was the white snapper dish. The fish itself was light and soft, and the tomato added a fresh note. The basil aroma was also subtly present, so overall it wasn't heavy at all.

After eating several dishes before this, having a clean fish course come in the middle was a nice touch~

Primi: pecorino and genovese spaghetti

And then the pasta came out.

The spaghetti added pecorino cheese and genovese flavors, so you could taste the cheese's savory, salty note alongside the basil-forward aroma.

The noodles blended well with the sauce, and the portion was just right for the middle of a course meal. If you're the type looking for a Western restaurant near Seocho and curious about the pasta menu, this was a pasta that was enjoyable to have as a clean course dish.

Steak: Korean beef striploin with black garlic and potato

Finally, the main steak! Korean beef striploin came out with black garlic and potato on the side.

The striploin let you enjoy the clean, meaty flavor of the beef itself, and the black garlic added a subtle sweetness and deep flavor. After going through the appetizers and pasta, the steak felt like a hearty, fitting finish as the main dish.

Dessert: hojicha ice cream, warabi mochi and brown sugar

Last was dessert.

The hojicha ice cream had a more toasty aroma than typical green tea ice cream. It came with chewy warabi mochi and brown sugar, which paired nicely with the ice cream. It wasn't a heavy dessert to finish the meal with, so it stayed clean right to the end.

Which occasions suit Vinovine best?

Vinovine's atmosphere felt even better once you stepped inside than it did from the outside. In particular, with the space divided into rooms, it suited a calm, quiet meal rather than a lively atmosphere. There were familiar Western dishes, but also ones with slightly unusual ingredients like smoked watermelon or celeriac, so it was fun trying each one. I also liked that the dishes came out one at a time in order rather than all at once, so I could focus on each course as I ate.

Above all, the calm mood makes this a place I'd think of not just when looking for a Western restaurant near Seocho Station, but also for a date or an anniversary meal when you want to take your time. If you prefer room-style dining, it's worth keeping in mind as a candidate when looking for Seocho dining spots. If you'd rather taste a little of many course dishes instead of just the usual pasta or steak, this style of meal suits that well. Overall it was a place good for slowly enjoying both the food and the space, and it would suit anyone searching for a Western restaurant near Seocho looking for a slightly different course meal. What stuck with me most was how the variety of dishes made me look forward to what was coming next. On a day when you want a quiet atmosphere, good food, and good conversation, Vinovine near Seocho Station is worth a visit.

Vinovine opening hours

• Weekdays 11:30–22:00
• Break time 14:00–18:00
• Last order 20:30
• Closed on weekends