Window-seat late lunch in Sangmu, Gwangju: truffle soup, Camel Orzo

On Friday after a doctor's appointment, my brother and I decided to grab food nearby before heading home, and that led us to Camel Orzo, a well-known Italian spot in the Sangmu district. It's from the same group as Maekmundong and the now-closed Tate Modern, and ever since I found out it opened last fall, I'd wanted to check it out.

Where Camel Orzo is and when it opens

• Address: 261 Uncheon-ro, 1st floor, Urban Peak Sangmu, Unit 102, Seo-gu, Gwangju
• Hours: Daily 11:00–23:00
• Break time: Weekdays 15:30–17:00 / Weekends 16:00–17:00
• Last order: 21:00

Where is the easiest parking near Camel Orzo?

• Switzen mall parking lot — 2 hours free, weekdays and weekends < the building the restaurant is in
• Nice Park Gwangju Chipyeong parking lot (Chipyeong-dong 1209-6, Seo-gu) — 2 hours free, weekdays and weekends < Recommended ✨️
• Peace Park underground parking (102 Naebang-ro, Seo-gu), Megabox annex parking

Camel Orzo sits inside the Switzen mall, but on this late weekend lunch visit, the lot's entrance alley was so jammed I couldn't even get in. So I'd recommend Nice Park Gwangju Chipyeong parking lot (Chipyeong-dong 1209-6, Seo-gu) instead! It's 2 hours free and only about a 1-minute walk from the restaurant.

The window table and the room at Camel Orzo

The exterior alone gives off European vibes 〰️

There are plenty of tables, and since we came after the main lunch rush, there were lots of open seats — we got seated at a window table with a lovely view.

They also have baby/high chairs

Camel Orzo's menu and what we ordered

The Camel Orzo menu, a well-known Italian spot in Sangmu

There are so many menu items that picking blind would probably give you decision paralysis. I'd already decided ahead of time after reading other blog reviews and checking Camel Orzo's Instagram —

• Truffle mushroom soup (extra croutons) — ₩6,000
• Pollo gamberi arugula pasta — ₩18,500
• Camel Margherita pizza — ₩19,500

— and that's what we ordered.

If you join their Instagram story event or leave a Naver receipt review, you get a free side item (americano, fruit bowl, or gelato) — so make sure to participate!

Truffle mushroom soup: ordered extra croutons, got baguette?

The truffle mushroom soup is one thing I'd definitely recommend ordering to try.

It has a really rich truffle and mushroom aroma, tasting luxurious and delicious. If you like cream soups, you'll definitely be satisfied!! Though I did ask for extra croutons and got baguette instead 🤔

How the Camel Margherita pizza tastes

I picked the Camel Margherita pizza because the chef recommended it directly on the restaurant's Instagram. It's a basic wood-fired pizza with just dough, tomato, mozzarella cheese, and basil — but I understood right away, from the first bite, why sticking to the basics can be so powerful.

The savory, chewy mozzarella cheese was excellent, and the burst of tangy cherry tomatoes plus fragrant, slightly bitter basil balanced out what could've been a greasy pizza — I ended up enjoying it right down to the last bite.

I've been really into wood-fired pizza lately and order one at every Italian place that has it — and this one is genuinely top-tier. Officially calling it a great Italian restaurant in Gwangju ✨️

Polpo gamberi arugula pasta with octopus and shrimp

Next up was the pollo gamberi arugula pasta, ordered after seeing a review from someone who claimed to have tried almost the entire Camel Orzo menu.

The dish name wasn't familiar, so I checked the menu description: an oil pasta with fresh flavor, made by sautéing octopus (pollo) and shrimp (gamberi) in garlic oil, then finished with green pesto.

The server told us to mix the green pesto on top well with the noodles before eating.

The pasta was cooked just right, and the fresh green vegetables — arugula, water parsley, frisée — cut through the oiliness nicely, making it a really satisfying combination with the oil pasta base.

Chewy octopus, plump shrimp, plenty of garlic and other ingredients packed in — this dish nailed both flavor and texture, easily the best menu item of the meal.

If you're looking for a nicely atmospheric, reasonably priced restaurant in Gwangju for anniversaries, dates, or catching up with friends, I'd recommend Camel Orzo, a great Italian restaurant in the Sangmu district!