Haebangchon Italian spot with abalone squid ink risotto: Villa de Blue

I heard there was a place in Haebangchon with both a gorgeous vibe and great food, so I had to check it out.

This is Villa de Blue Haebangchon (빌라드블루 해방촌), located in Haebangchon, and it has that feeling of stepping into a southern Italian resort town — I was excited before I even walked in. If you're into that Positano-style Mediterranean resort vibe, this place is right up your alley.

Where is Villa de Blue Haebangchon, and what are its hours?

• Address 서울 용산구 신흥로 30-1 1층 (30-1 Sinheung-ro, 1F, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea)
• Hours 12:00–22:00
• Break time 15:30–17:00
• Reservations Available via Catch Table
• Parking No private lot; use nearby paid parking

It's about a 10-minute walk from Exit 2 of Noksapyeong Station, so it's easy enough to get to by public transit too. The moment I walked in, the interior was the first thing that caught my eye — blue tones mixed with a warm atmosphere that genuinely made me feel like I'd landed at an overseas resort. It really captured that southern Italy feeling, like Positano or Amalfi, and I loved it.

The space fits right into Haebangchon's unique atmosphere too, so I ended up spending just as much time looking around the restaurant as eating.

Do you need a reservation for the terrace seats?

Villa de Blue Haebangchon has regular tables, bar tables, and terrace seats facing outside. On a nice day, eating out on the terrace would feel amazing. That said, the restaurant doesn't have a huge number of seats overall, so if you want a specific spot, I'd recommend booking ahead. A lot of the other guests seemed to have reservations too — especially on weekends or in the evening, booking ahead seems like a smart move.

Villa de Blue menu and what we ordered

🍽️ Villa de Blue menu — Looking at the menu, they had everything from pasta to lasagna, risotto, steak, and seafood dishes. The wine list was pretty extensive too, making it a great spot to pair a glass with your meal. We ordered Villa de Blue's signature dishes: the aligot cheese lasagna (₩22,000) and the abalone squid ink risotto (₩25,000).

Aligot cheese lasagna, 22,000 won

First up, the cheese-waterfall lasagna I'd been looking forward to! Once it arrived with the aligot cheese poured over the top, it looked gorgeous from the get-go. The cheese cascading down like a waterfall made it perfect for photos and videos.

With the rich, nutty cheese added to the lasagna, the flavor was so much fuller — the dish itself was delicious and really satisfying.

I could see exactly why it's famous as Villa de Blue's signature menu item.

Abalone squid ink risotto, 25,000 won

The abalone squid ink risotto we ordered alongside it was also delicious. There was a deep, distinctive squid ink flavor that paired well with the abalone, giving it a nutty, savory taste.

Ordering the rich cheesy lasagna alongside the squid ink risotto was a good combo — each dish had its own distinct charm. In an atmosphere like this, a glass of wine on the side would really make it feel like a trip abroad.

Is Villa de Blue Haebangchon good for a date?

We also needed some plain pickles on the side, so I asked a staff member, and they kindly brought some over. The food was great, but honestly what I loved most was the atmosphere of the space itself. It's different from the usual Haebangchon vibe — it has that southern Italian resort feeling, which makes it a great date spot, and also a fun place to dress up a bit and eat with friends. Relaxing on the pretty terrace seats with a glass of wine would feel amazing. If you're looking for a stylish Italian restaurant in Haebangchon, Villa de Blue is worth a visit.

Villa de Blue — where you can enjoy that Positano resort feeling along with delicious Italian food, right in Haebangchon 🤍