CJ Foodville Officially Opens 'Olivepepe' in Gwanghwamun

New Italian Brand Opens
Vibrant Atmosphere with Central Pizza Oven and Open Kitchen

On December 11, CJ Foodville announced the official opening of 'Olivepepe (OLIPEPE)' in Gwanghwamun. Olivepepe is CJ Foodville's new Italian brand, aiming to offer a vibrant dining experience where delicious Italian cuisine and natural conversation come together.

The Olivepepe restaurant is located on the second floor of the Cheonggye Korea Building in Gwanghwamun, spanning approximately 170 pyeong (about 561 square meters) with 156 seats. The interior design is inspired by Italian street scenes, with local architectural elements reinterpreted in a modern style. At the center of the restaurant, a pizza oven and open kitchen visually showcase the process of making dough daily with 'Caputo flour' certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, topping, and baking pizzas. A variety of seating options are available, including window seats overlooking Cheonggyecheon, booth seats, bar seats, and private group rooms.

Olivepepe Gwanghwamun Branch Opening. CJ Foodville

The Olivepepe menu ranges from aperitivo (pre-meal drinks) and antipasti to wood-fired pizza, pasta, coffee, and desserts. The signature pizza, 'Oli Olive,' is generously topped with green, black, and Kalamata olives as well as five kinds of cheese, maximizing the savory flavors of the olives and the matured dough. Guests can choose between the 'Oli Olive,' which highlights the clean flavors of olives and roasted garlic, and the 'Chori Olive,' which adds smoky chorizo for extra umami. Both pizzas pair excellently with wine.

'Cacio Olivepepe' is Olivepepe's signature pasta, drawing out deep flavors using only cheese and pepper. The combination of cheese and pepper infused into the tubular 'Zita' pasta creates a taste that is both classic and unique. The addition of olive crumble maintains a clean balance amid the rich flavors.

Coffee and desserts also reinforce the Italian identity. In collaboration with Risarcoffee, a pioneer in popularizing espresso bars, Olivepepe offers a lineup that includes espresso, espresso pieno, and con panna. Classic desserts such as tiramisu, gelato, and granita arancia are also crafted to a high standard.

Additionally, Olivepepe presents a curated wine list by Lee Hyungtaek, the winner of the 24th Korea Sommelier Competition. The carefully selected collection captures the unique appeal of different Italian regions, ranging from wines from Trentino in the north to Sicily in the south, enhancing the pairing experience with Olivepepe's menu.

CJ Foodville plans to closely monitor customer feedback at the Olivepepe Gwanghwamun branch and will carefully consider future operational directions based on these insights.

A CJ Foodville representative stated, "Olivepepe was created to embody the relaxed yet lively spirit of Italian dining, offering a cheerful atmosphere and a diverse menu. As we enter the season of year-end gatherings, we hope guests will enjoy delicious Italian food and engaging conversations at Olivepepe for a memorable time."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.