Neon Board Reader · 21 stories

Neon Menu, Seoul Cafes and Bars

Writes about Seoul cafes, restaurants, bars, and beauty spots she visits around the city. · Writes about: Cafés · Restaurants · Hair & beauty salons · Bars

PlaceYongsan, SeoulBars

Itaewon cocktail bar for light drinkers: honey champagne at Uyeonin

Uyeonin (우연인 혼술바) is a cocktail bar for solo drinkers on the first basement level of a building on Itaewon-ro, a short walk off the main Itaewon street in Yongsan, Seoul. Two friends who don't drink much ordered a honey champagne and a Long Island iced tea at Uyeonin, found neither cocktail bitter or heavy, and ended up chatting with the guests next to them and ordering one more round each. Uyeonin is an easy Itaewon bar to recommend to anyone nervous about drinking alone for the first time.

Written Oct 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Songridan-gil bakery for housewarming gift boxes: Okuku Bakery

Okuku Bakery Jamsil Main Branch is a large bakery café with parking on Songridan-gil in Songpa, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Songpanaru Station. For a housewarming gift, the writer chose kkurutwi, duck-shaped lemon madeleines, rocher madeleines, a chestnut pastry and more, and had them packed in a gift box for an extra 1,000 won. Thanks to the neat, upscale box, Okuku Bakery is a great place on Songridan-gil to put together a bread gift.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Wirye dessert café: cookies & cream cake, coffee bun, Cafe The Venezia

Cafe The Venezia is a brunch and bakery café right in front of Wirye Lake Park in Songpa, Seoul. At lunchtime the writer had the arugula ricotta sandwich and Americano set, then finished with a cookies & cream cake and a coffee bun for dessert. Cafe The Venezia is a good Wirye spot for a get-together or a date when you want brunch followed by cake and fresh bread.

Written Oct 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station Korean pub for 3: jeon, suyuk and kalnakji, Daseon

Daseon Kalguksu Gyodae branch (다선칼국수 교대직영점) is a Korean pub specializing in hangover kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) near Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. Three of us ordered assorted jeon (Korean savory pancakes), plate suyuk (boiled pork slices) and 2 servings of the stamina-boosting Daseon kalnakji (knife-cut noodle soup with octopus). From the welcome barley rice to the kalnakji packed with whole octopus and clams, portions were so generous that kalnakji was left over. For a company dinner, a get-together with friends or good food to go with drinks near Gyodae Station, Daseon Kalguksu Gyodae branch is a great fit.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Seocho cake shop, after-work Strawberry Mango No. 1 for 4–5: Chef Cho

Chef Cho Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam is a fruit cake shop in Sweet Park on B1 of Shinsegae Gangnam in Seocho, Seoul. During mango season, the writer stopped by after work in the evening, waited in line and took home a Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream No. 1 (₩53,000). Strawberries and mango are layered between white sponge and 100% fresh cream, so every bite has fruit. Chef Cho's Strawberry Mango Fresh Cream No. 1 is a celebration cake worth recommending for 4–5 people to share.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangdong, SeoulCafés

Myeongil-dong bakery café with parking and 2nd-floor seats: Stay Bread

Stay Bread Myeongil branch is a rice bread bakery café in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong, Seoul, a 5-minute walk from Myeongil Station. On a return visit, the writer picked out chestnut bread, brown rice nut fig campagne, olive rice bread and chocolate rice bread from the 1st-floor bakery to take home, and also tried a fig financier. Because the bread is made with rice, it sits easy in the stomach, and with parking next to the shop and roomy 2nd-floor café seating, Stay Bread Myeongil branch is a solid pick for a bakery café in Myeongil-dong.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Yeonnam-dong café: anaerobic Green Geisha over big ice, Central Site

Central Site Yeonnam is a hand-drip coffee and tiramisu café on three floors in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered the Ecuador Llanoria Green Geisha Lot 1 anaerobic washed hand drip, the signature tiramisu and a chocolate cookie, and Central Site Yeonnam staff brought everything to the seat and cleared it afterward, so the stairs were no trouble. Watching the drip brewed right in front of you, and a single large ice cube that keeps the flavor intact to the last sip, are what make Central Site Yeonnam worth the visit.

Written Jun 29, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Japanese restaurant by Yeontral Park: ebi-don & tendon, Jongno Donburi

Jongno Donburi Yeonnam is a Japanese donburi (rice bowl) restaurant near Yeontral Park in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae area, Mapo, Seoul. The writer ordered cold bukkake udon, ebi-don topped with thick fried shrimp, and tendon with an added onsen egg. The tempura stayed crisp to the last bite, and the cold udon came in a sweet, refreshing broth. With a clean open kitchen and a cozy feel, Jongno Donburi Yeonnam suits dates, meals with friends and solo dining alike.

Written Jun 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Gangnam Station waxing salon: first nape wax and brow wax, Nu Waxing

Nu Waxing & Brow is a waxing and brow salon on the 7th floor of the Jump Milano building near Gangnam Station in Seoul. Bothered by the fine neck hairs that show when her hair was tied up, the writer got her first-ever nape wax at Nu Waxing & Brow, along with her regular brow wax, and found the pain mild and the cooling and soothing care thorough. With her neckline and brow line tidied in one visit, Nu Waxing & Brow was a satisfying choice.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulRestaurants

Gyodae Station gimbap shop: 5-min kiosk takeout after work, Halls

Halls Gimbap Main Branch (홀스김밥본점) is a gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) snack bar near Exit 1 of Gyodae Station in Seocho, Seoul. On the way home from work, the writer ordered a small Halls dakgangjeong and a Jindo scallion tuna gimbap + dakgangjeong set at the kiosk. Despite a steady stream of delivery orders, the takeout was ready in 5 minutes; the dakgangjeong was sweet with a hint of Cheongyang chili, and the tuna gimbap had a mild, non-spicy scallion flavor. Halls Gimbap Main Branch suits office workers near Gyodae Station who want a filling solo meal or quick takeout.

Written Jul 4, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Seonjeongneung lash lift redo after a 1-month droop: On The Boutique

On The Boutique (온더부티크) is a lash lift salon about a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 of Seonjeongneung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. The writer's previous lash lift had loosened and drooped within a month, so she had it redone with On The Boutique's On Ttolmang Perm (온더똘망펌), a black-tint lash lift; every lash was curled with none lost, and the black coating left her eyes defined without mascara. Verdict: if drooping lashes are your problem, On The Boutique is worth going back to.

Written Jun 30, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon café with alligator pie & lemon madeleine: Bakerist Brown

Bakerist Brown is a large bakery café near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, spread from basement level 1 to the 3rd floor. The writer ordered an alligator pie, a lemon madeleine, a 6-flavor Gangnam Sand set and the best-selling salt cream coffee, and loved the flaky pie layers, the tangy lemon glaze and the salty cream with bitter coffee. Bakerist Brown is a Sinnonhyeon dessert café with a wide range of breads and genuinely good coffee.

Written Jul 1, 2026Sponsored