Sol restaurant in Gulshan opened to introduce a dining idea where Korean barbecue meets Bangladeshi craft, and its calm, crafted interior invites guests to slow down and enjoy a warm, local take on a foreign cuisine. The entrance is marked by a heavy carved wooden door that sets a quiet tone, and a small garden-like forecourt acts as a gentle threshold that softens the rush of the city. Inside, materials are simple and honest: timber, fair-face concrete, stone and mosaic are used with care to create a quiet mood rather than loud showiness. The design borrows the spirit of traditional Korean hanok roofs but reinterprets those forms with local tile and timber so the rooflines feel familiar in a tropical setting. Sound, light and a subtle landscape work together so the room moves from bright arrival to a softer, slower dining space where diners can relax. Each table has its own grill, and the team took care to solve smoke control by building a ducting system beneath a raised floor so smoke is managed without cluttering the room. Tabletops use mosaic tiles because they resist heat, look warm and are easy to maintain, and seating and furniture were made by local craftsmen after careful research so pieces read as simple, honest and human. Lighting is soft and indirect, often hidden behind metal mesh that lets glow filter down in gentle patterns, while a few plants are placed to soothe the eye rather than clutter the space. Small details, like metal chopsticks and modest patterned borders, nod to Korean tradition but are used for practical reasons and subtle meaning rather than show. The restaurant team travelled to study halal Korean dining in another country and chose to learn rather than copy, taking cues on hospitality and food rhythm and then shaping an approach suited to local tastes and budgets. Staff are trained not simply to serve but to host, so the goal is a feeling of welcome that matches the food’s communal nature. The menu and the space are meant to be approachable, offering the drama of table-top grilling while keeping the atmosphere calm and inclusive. Owners and the architect wanted a place that feels useful and precise, where honest materials, careful systems and human service add up to a pleasant meal. The result is a place that feels familiar yet new, where careful design, local craft and friendly service come together so diners can enjoy food, comfort and conversation in a relaxed setting that respects both Korean roots and Bangladeshi hands.
