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Cafés, restaurants and places in Seoul, written by bloggers who went there.
Woowoo is a quiet solo-drinking bar on the second floor of a building near Gwangja Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Three friends came by on a weeknight as a second-round spot and ordered a Negroni and a Glenfiddich, and with almost no other guests in the room they could talk and drink without watching the tables around them. Whether you come alone or with a couple of friends, Woowoo is a calm place for one good drink.
Ward Coffee Gusan Station Branch is a budget dessert café with a yellow storefront on Seoreoung-ro in Eunpyeong, Seoul. Seven mini bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastries) cost 3,300 won, a single churro 1,500 won and a Dubai chocolate waffle 7,500 won, all ordered as takeout — the bungeoppang were crisp outside and soft inside, the churro was baked after ordering and served warm, and the waffle came with a generous amount of kadayif. For the price, Ward Coffee Gusan Station Branch gives you enough to order several desserts at once.
Goshi Goshi Sookmyung Women's University Station Direct Branch is a Japanese-style rice bowl and pork cutlet restaurant a 5-minute walk from Exit 8 of Sookmyung Women's University Station in Yongsan, Seoul. On a weekday off, before a movie in Yongsan, the writer ordered the yukhoe (raw beef) rice bowl for 13,900 won and added a 3,900 won side of pork cutlet, and the fresh — never frozen — raw beef and generous portion were the highlights. With solo counter seats plus 2- and 4-person tables, Goshi Goshi is an easy place to eat a filling meal alone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
