Euljiro wine bar lunch: polpo risotto & truffle gnocchi at Athlonga

Why we went back to Athlonga's main branch

Athlonga is a wine bar restaurant in Euljiro, near Dongdaemun DDP. Have you heard of Athlonga, the Dongdaemun DDP favorite? My husband and I had already gone on a date to the Athlonga Yeonsinnae branch, and the egg in hell and gambas we had there were so good that we couldn't forget them, so on a weekend we made an outing to Euljiro and visited the main branch too!

Where is Athlonga? Location, opening hours and parking

The Athlonga main branch is at 18 Dongho-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 3rd floor (lot-number address: 294-1 Gwanghui-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul), and it's open every day from 11:00 to 24:00 (last order 23:00).

• 📍 Address: 18 Dongho-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 3rd floor (lot-number address: 294-1 Gwanghui-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul)
• ⏰ Hours: daily 11:00–24:00 (last order 23:00)
• 🚗 Parking: Sangmyeong Building parking lot, 303-1 Gwanghui-dong, 100 m on foot from the restaurant (tell them you're visiting Athlonga and after 5 pm it's ₩10,000 per hour with no time limit)

Athlonga's interior and window view over Euljiro

Athlonga, the Dongdaemun DDP favorite, is the main branch, and it's close to Exit 7 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station on Line 5! Walk through a tiny entrance and up the stairs, and you get to look around a space with gorgeous, stylish interior design! The big windows make it a great spot for Euljiro views too, haha.

Athlonga's rooftop and space for group gatherings

Athlonga is a Euljiro wine bar that also runs a rooftop, but it was quite hot that day so we didn't go out there..! It looked like a place I'd definitely want to come back to for dinner once the weather cools down :) The interior is calm, modern stone, and I heard it holds up to 50 people across the 3rd floor and rooftop combined, so it seemed good for company dinners or group get-togethers too.

Athlonga menu and the drink ordering rule

Athlonga is apparently a casual wine bar created by a group of young people who work in the arts, and they even hold a jazz concert once a month! I was sad to have missed such a nice opportunity, but it had the kind of atmosphere where you'd want to enjoy an art exhibition and a jazz concert with a glass of wine, haha.

Athlonga is also known as a great pasta spot in Dongdaemun, with everything from meals to desserts: basil cream, lemon butter and burrata tomato pasta, then sirloin cap steak, grilled Iberico rib-finger meat and pork neck, mala cream and rosé cream gnocchi, sweet shrimp ceviche, gambas, egg in hell, grilled brie cheese, melon prosciutto, tiramisu and mango sorbet.

On Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays, Athlonga requires one glass of alcohol per person, but we came for lunch so we didn't have to order any. Athlonga, the Dongdaemun DDP favorite, has wines, whiskey, beer, highballs and other drinks, plus soft drinks and coffee!

Why we chose risotto and gnocchi over pasta

Even though it's a famous Euljiro pasta spot, this time we picked risotto and gnocchi as our mains at Athlonga, something different! I was torn with the rosé cream gnocchi, but the owner said the polpo (octopus) sells better, so we ordered that. We sat by the window, and true to its reputation the view was wide open, perfect for a date.

How does Athlonga's polpo risotto (₩27,000) taste?

Athlonga's polpo risotto is ₩27,000, a squid ink cream risotto topped with a whole octopus leg. The contrast of black and red was fantastic. The look overwhelmed me first, and the taste was fantastic too, @_@ !!

The polpo risotto at Athlonga, the Dongdaemun DDP favorite, has a big, springy octopus leg sitting whole in the center, so we cut it into bite-sized pieces with scissors. The springy, pop-in-your-mouth feeling was so good, and it tasted fresh with no off smell or fishiness at all.

And the thick, creamy risotto had a richness that I kept thinking about even after finishing it..? 🖤🖤🖤 A little grated cheese on top made it nutty yet clean. It's moderately salty, so I think everyone from kids to grown-ups would be satisfied, even if you bring a child.

How does Athlonga's truffle cream gnocchi (₩22,000) taste?

Athlonga's truffle cream gnocchi is ₩22,000, chewy potato gnocchi full of flavor, served with a black truffle sauce! The chewy gnocchi and the generous cream sauce were so delicious, I could cry T_T

Honestly, at other restaurants near Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station I've been disappointed more than once by how sparingly they use truffle, but at Athlonga they put in plenty of this precious, delicious truffle cream sauce, and I was busy mixing it all evenly, haha.

I was also curious about the secret behind the potato gnocchi at Athlonga.. the texture was so good, chewy like rice cake and bouncy to bite :) It's great for scooping up with lots of cream sauce, and it fills you up fast!

Served with sweet and sour cabbage, radish and cucumber pickles, it never got heavy and stayed clean on the palate. If you're looking for a place near Dongdaemun DDP, why not try Athlonga, a specially atmospheric spot close to Euljiro and Myeongdong that's good for dates and blind dates too? Haha.

Where to go near Athlonga after lunch

After eating our fill at Athlonga, the Dongdaemun DDP favorite, my husband and I went on to Myeongdong, browsed around on our date, and then headed home :) It felt like a fun, different kind of day for once, which put me in a good mood. DDP, which was also a filming location for Heart Signal Season 4 in 2023, is a good place to go with kids too!