Created in partnership with Portfolio, Condé Nast's new business magazine, our city business guides offer guidance for business travelers hoping to maximize their productivity (and enjoyment) while on the road. Stay tuned for more guides in the months to come.

Seoul has been undergoing a period of urban renewal, as its residents clamor to enjoy the fruits of South Korea's economic growth, much of which is a result of a boom in the spheres of technology and entertainment. As for the future, the country stands to benefit greatly from the recent free trade agreement with the United States. A new emphasis on enjoying the finer things in life-such as food, wine, and art-has helped to attract increasing numbers of Japanese and other Asian tourists in recent years. For business travelers, the city's transformation means a wider selection of world-class hotels and restaurants.

Where to Sleep
The Han River bisects Seoul into two distinct halves. The north is the seat of government, ministries, newspapers, and established industries such as banking and finance; the south is home to fashion, IT, entertainment, and venture capital firms. Depending on your business, it's better to choose your hotel's location wisely since traffic jams make crossing the river a hassle. On the north side, near City Hall, the Chosun opened in 1914 with German silverware, Irish linens, and elevators from the United States. It remains the place where visiting dignitaries stay. Its rival, the recently renovated and centrally located Shilla Hotel, sits on 23 acres of landscaped grounds and has a rooftop restaurant with impressive city views. South of the Han River, the new Park Hyatt has elegant and spacious rooms, equipped with high-tech bedside control panels from which every light, curtain, and shade can be adjusted precisely. Also a popular destination for business travelers, especially those in IT, is the JW Marriott, which is directly connected to a luxury department store and shopping mall. On the north side, in eastern Seoul, the new W Hotel overlooks the Han River. The lobby, where deals are struck during the day, transforms into one of the city's top haunts after dark.

Where to Eat
Seoul's dining scene has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, as young and innovative chefs experiment with traditional Korean cooking and other types of Asian cuisine. A stone's throw from City Hall, the 30-story Seoul Finance Center is lined with high-quality restaurants on its lower levels, including Nanxiang Steamed Bun, a Chinese restaurant specializing in dumplings, and Yongsusan , offering multicourse Korean court-style meals. The best of the center's more casual eateries are the Indian restaurant Ganga and Sakanaya, an elaborate sushi restaurant with a revolving sushi belt. A growing trend is the coupling of fine restaurants to Seoul's best galleries. Set in a hanok, or traditional Korean house, Do Ha Gun serves Continental cuisine at the Hyundai Gallery in the Jongno district. Inside the nearby Art Sonje Center, Dal's Indian dishes are as much of a draw as the gallery's contemporary art exhibits. At Cham Sut Gol, a Korean barbecue restaurant near City Hall, the decor is no-nonsense, but the meat is hard to beat, even in a city with great barbecues on every corner.