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Seoul

Cafés, restaurants and places in Seoul, written by bloggers who went there.

Seocho, SeoulCafés

Baby-friendly Seocho café with tomato juice and egg tart: Mini Male

Mini Male Roastery & Coffee Bar Seocho Gyodae Branch is a specialty roastery café in Seocho, Seoul, a 10-minute walk from Seoul National University of Education. After a campus tour and lunch with a 17-month-old, the writer ordered the Helsinki latte, a 100% fresh tomato juice and an egg tart that tasted just like the ones she ate in Portugal. With a drink a toddler can actually have, Mini Male works as a café stop with a baby in tow.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Gangnam, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Daechi-dong hair salon men's down perm and cut: TONI&GUY Daechi

TONI&GUY Daechi is a hair salon in Daechi-dong, Seoul, a three-minute walk from Hanti Station Exit 1 on the 6th floor at 9 Seolleung-ro 64-gil. The visit covered a cut, a fringe perm and a men's down perm in one sitting, flattening side hair that flared above the ears and setting the fringe into a swept-down shape. For men who want flared side hair tamed, TONI&GUY Daechi is a solid option.

Written Sep 15, 2026Sponsored
Seocho, SeoulBars

Sadang Station bar, boneless dakbokkeumtang and soju: Hansabal Pocha

Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch is a pocha-style bar and restaurant on Bangbaecheon-ro near Sadang Station in Seocho, Seoul. The writer came with two friends and ordered boneless dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) with extra ramyeon noodles and gyeranmari (rolled omelette) over soju, and the best part was skipping the bones while the noodles soaked up the spicy sauce. For anyone who wants a relaxed, chatty table rather than a quiet bar, Hansabal Pocha Sadang Branch is a good fit.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulBars

Gongdeok izakaya small plates: jamón tuna, mackerel sushi — Orot Silbi

Orot Silbi is an izakaya in Mapo, Seoul, on the 3rd floor about 95 meters from Exit 10 of Gongdeok Station, and the third branch of the Blue Ribbon–listed izakaya Orot. The order was built around small plates to share: jamón tuna (26,000 won), saba bou-sushi, or mackerel roll sushi, 4 pieces (17,000 won), and whole shrimp kimchi okonomiyaki (20,000 won), with the truffle-sauce-and-shiso jamón tuna the clear favorite. Orot Silbi suits a group dinner near Gongdeok Station where everyone wants to taste a little of everything.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Dongjak, SeoulRestaurants

Noryangjin Korean BBQ restaurant: Set A for two at Naengsam Hanok

Naengsam Hanok is a frozen pork belly Korean BBQ restaurant on the 1st floor of the building by Exit 3 of Noryangjin Station in Dongjak, Seoul. Set A brings beef belly, frozen pork neck and frozen pork belly plus gochujang-marinated pork belly, and two people who added pork skin and mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) had more than enough, with doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and steamed egg included. With only about 5 tables, it is worth arriving at Naengsam Hanok before 6pm.

Written Sep 16, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulThings to do

Hongdae escape room café in Seoul: Hansel and Gretel at Cube Escape

Cube Escape Hongdae Branch is an escape room café an 8-minute walk from Exit 3 of Hongik University Station in Mapo, Seoul. In the fairy-tale adventure theme Hansel and Gretel (difficulty 4), we used 3 hints and escaped with 5 minutes left on the clock, earning an oatmeal cookie as the prize. Hansel and Gretel is not scary at all, making it a good entry-level theme for first-timers and easily spooked players.

Written Aug 17, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulRestaurants

BBQ restaurant near Hongdae, Seoul: 3-person ribs platter at Locos BBQ

Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch is a Texas-style smoked barbecue restaurant one minute on foot from Sangsu Station Exit 4 in Mapo, Seoul, near Hongdae. Three adults ordered the Locos BBQ ribs set for 3 at 79,800 won and shared two rib flavors, brisket, pork belly, pulled pork and six sides, then wrapped the leftover meat in burgers and tortillas. Locos BBQ Sangsu Branch suits group dinners and get-togethers where everyone shares one big platter.

Written Aug 26, 2026Sponsored
Seongdong, SeoulCafés

Cold brew café in Wangsimni, Seoul, pet-friendly: Nerdy Blue Burrow

Nerdy Blue Burrow is a cold brew and hand-drip coffee shop in Wangsimni, Seongdong, Seoul, set in an old house painted teal on the side street beside Sowol Art Hall. On a Sunday afternoon visit, the cold brew latte, nutty cream mocha and fresh cheesecake all stood out, especially the owner's own cold brew, which brings out a nutty depth and a light acidity at once. Pets are welcome under the café's own rules, so Nerdy Blue Burrow is an easy pick for a hideout-style spot with coffee you won't find elsewhere.

Written Aug 31, 2026Sponsored
Seongdong, SeoulCafés

Quiet Wangsimni coffee shop for catching up: Nerdy Blue Burrow

Nerdy Blue Burrow is a café and highball bar in Seongdong, Seoul, hidden in an alley by Sowol Art Hall, 3–4 minutes on foot from Wangsimni Station Exit 9. Over an afternoon with a friend, the order was a nerdy cream mocha at 6,500 won, cold brew at 5,000 won and fresh cheesecake at 6,900 won, and the sweetness balanced well against the bitter notes. With dimmed lighting and a playlist that changes every month, Nerdy Blue Burrow is an easy pick in Wangsimni when you want to talk quietly.

Written Aug 30, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae bar for solo drinkers with 6 seat concepts: Tipsy Couch

Tipsy Couch is a bar for solo drinkers on the 4th floor of a building near Hongik Univ. Station in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, with a house-party interior and six seating concepts. Arriving right after opening on a Friday, the writer looked around the sofa seats, bed seat and terrace, and talking with strangers felt easy because the owner seats guests by age, gender and language. For a Friday visit to Tipsy Couch, get there within an hour of opening.

Written Jul 3, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulBars

Yeonnam-dong izakaya with tori paitan and anago tempura: Koma Yeonnam

Koma Yeonnam is a newly opened izakaya on the basement level in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a short walk from Hongik University Station. On a rainy evening the order was tori paitan (chicken paitan soup) at 15,500 won, sesiri yaki (grilled chicken neck) at 17,500 won and anago tempura (fried conger eel) at 22,500 won, with a peach-scented soju served as a welcome drink. Koma Yeonnam cooks well enough to recommend for a date or a small group night out in Yeonnam-dong.

Written Sep 1, 2026Sponsored
Mapo, SeoulBars

Hongdae bar for solo drinkers with house-party seating: Tipsy Couch

Tipsy Couch Yeonnam Branch is a bar for solo drinkers in Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, a 4-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 3. The writer arrived worried that a first solo bar visit would feel awkward, but the house-party layout of bar stools, dining tables, sofas and bed-style seats made conversation with strangers easy. Tipsy Couch suits nights when you want to talk with new people rather than drink quietly alone.

Written Jul 30, 2026Sponsored