Esmero
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About
Spanish dining restaurant on the 9th floor in Seongsu offering panoramic views, date-night ambiance, and dishes like seafood barley paella.
Perched on the ninth floor of a building in Seongsu, Esmero trades the district’s industrial grit for the airy elegance of an Iberian estate. High ceilings, warm terracotta tiling, rich woods, and gentle cream tones define the dining room, while expansive panoramic windows look out across the neighborhood skyline—shifting effortlessly from an open afternoon perch to an intimate, low-lit evening haunt. Generously spaced tables and an enclosed terrace section give the venue a hushed, relaxed cadence suited for quiet dates, introductions, and celebratory dinners. The kitchen takes classic Spanish staples and shapes them around accessible, well-judged textures. Bite-sized pinchos—offered topped with ham or assorted seafood—pair cleanly with an iced highball or a fruit-forward sangria to open the meal. From there, the tapas lean into crisp seafood and tender braises. Thinly battered calamari delivers a clean, delicate crunch when lifted with a squeeze of fresh lemon, while the *pulpo* pairs fire-kissed, tender octopus against smooth sweet pumpkin puree for a balanced sweet-and-savory contrast. The standout center of the table is the seafood barley paella. Esmero swaps standard rice for whole barley grains, lending each bite a distinctive, chewy pop that holds up against an intensely savory seafood stock. For diners leaning toward red meats, plates of juicy, grilled Iberico pork steak arrive with roasted seasonal garnishes that highlight the meat’s natural richness. With moderate portioning, fair pricing, and a level of quiet sophistication rarely found in bustling Seongsu—bolstered by convenient on-site valet parking—Esmero proves a rewarding rooftop stop for Iberian dining above the city streets.
Menu
- Seafood Barley Paella₩24,000
- Polpo with Pumpkin Puree₩31,000
- Pintxos₩5,000
- 그릴드샤워도우(5P)₩8,000
- 마리네이드올리브&페타치즈&드라이토마토₩10,000
- 구운가지커틀렛₩10,000
- 포테이토브라바스₩11,000
- 할라피뇨포퍼스(5P)₩16,000
- Fried Squid₩17,000
- 토마토부라타치즈샐러드₩18,000
- 하몽&멜론₩21,000
Local tips
- Try the seafood paella made with barley for a distinct chewy texture.
- Valet parking is available behind the building for 4,000 KRW.
- Pickles are available upon request.
Details
- 성수역
Opening hours
- Sunday
- 11:30–22:00
- Monday
- 11:30–22:00
- Tuesday
- 11:30–22:00
- Wednesday
- 11:30–22:00
- Thursday
- 11:30–22:00
- Friday
- 11:30–22:00
- Saturday
- 11:30–22:00