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SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) — The journey to the top restaurant in South Korea begins with a whale show.
The airy 123F Lounge sits on the top floor of Seoul’s Lotte World Tower, 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 site.
But getting to the restaurant isn’t as easy as jumping on and off the elevator; It’s a complete experience that can easily take up to an hour.
After purchasing an entrance ticket — 27,000 Korean won (about $20) for adults and 24,000 won ($18) for children — visitors enter a waiting hall where blue lights swim across a giant screen on the ceiling.
Several different sections follow — some with opportunities for professional photos, others showing the construction materials used to build a tower — a bewildering series of whale-themed spots.
A temporary exhibition featuring whale-themed multimedia displays at the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea.
Jesse Yung/CNN
There are two long corridors — one lit up in dark blue on wall-length screens with whales swimming beside you, the other with LED ceiling panels that rotate using colorful mosaic patterns that contrast starkly with the black-and-white photos of whales on the walls. Indistinct whale calls add to the underwater atmosphere. Another room features fake clouds hanging in the air and painted whales on the wall that look like they’re in mid-flight.
(I later found out that this was all part of a temporary exhibition honoring whale photographer Jang Nam-won.)
Sunset from Sky Seoul Observatory in Lotte World Tower.
Jesse Yung/CNN
Upon exiting, visitors are guided by video to sit in a darkened room, while an artistic rendition of the history of Seoul and the Lotte World Tower plays – slowly rising like a curtain before the screen splits into two giant panels. A stunning view of Seoul through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The observatory spans several floors and has huge windows that allow a 360-degree sweeping view of the metropolis. One can see the N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain, the bridge spanning the river, parks and sports stadiums, and rides at the nearby Lotte World theme park.
Each floor offers different attractions, such as small cafes on the 119th and 122nd floors. On the 118th floor is the Sky Deck, a glass floor that allows you to see all 478 meters (1,568 feet) between your shoes and the street below. On the 120th floor is the Sky Terrace, an outdoor balcony with a perfect view of the winding Han River.
The Sky Deck on the 118th floor of Seoul Sky, with a glass floor.
Jesse Yung/CNN
After a fair amount of ow-ing and ah-ing, you finally arrive at the lounge on the 123rd floor.
The restaurant is spacious and comfortable, with plush chairs and lamps at every table. Windows make up an entire wall, stretching up to the high ceiling to flood the space with warm light as the sun sets. A free viewfinder allows you to zoom in on the landscape.
The menu is expensive by Korean standards — $28 for a beef patty, $19 for tomato spaghetti and $18 for a Caesar salad — but we took our time and watched the sun sink below the horizon, turning the sky briefly a bright orange. .
The restaurant offers pizza, sandwiches, steaks and appetizers, including a selection of cheeses.
The window seats at 123F Lounge boast views of the Han River in Seoul.
Gaon Bay/CNN
The view was just amazing in the dark, the city spread out in a grid of lights before us.
Although the 123F Lounge is the perfect place for a romantic dinner or a special date, there were families with children and groups of friends of adults when we visited. The lounge can also be rented for special events such as wedding receptions and product launches.
Lotte World Tower is located in the Jamsil neighborhood of Songpa-gu district, southeast of Seoul. It is open all week, although hours vary by day, and is accessible by metro, bus or private vehicle.
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