Where to Eat in Seoul by Neighborhood: My Local Picks from Hongdae to Namdaemun
Tteokbokki in Hongdae, tonkatsu in Mangwon, gamjatang and oden in Dangsan, LA galbi in Yeouido, dumplings in Namdaemun: my Seoul food picks, area by area.
-
-
K-Beauty in Seoul: Which Treatment Should You Book?
Hydration facial, head spa, face contouring, back massage, hair clinic, pro makeup or a perfume class? I compare 7 Seoul beauty spots I tried, plus booking tips.
-
Seoul Café-Hopping Guide: My Favorite Cafés & Bakeries by Neighborhood
A palace-view café, Times Square salt bread, Jeju matcha soft serve, award-winning croissants and a mango cake worth booking: Seoul cafés grouped by neighborhood.
-
How to Book Restaurants & Beauty Spots in Seoul as a Tourist
Catch Table, Korean-only Naver booking, Instagram DMs, waiting lines, break times and English kiosks: how I actually get a seat (or a spa bed) in Seoul.
-
Osteria Sam Kim, Hapjeong: Celebrity Chef Sam Kim’s Fresh Pasta (Get the Vongole)
Chef Sam Kim’s cozy Italian restaurant in Hapjeong, known for fresh handmade pasta. A clam-packed vongole, truffle lasagna and a surprise-hit eggplant starter.
-
Oneul Naui Jewelry, Jongno: Couple Rings, Wedding Bands and a Milgrain Guard Ring in Seoul’s Gold Street
A friendly gold shop in Jongno’s jewelry district, run by a family workshop for 28 years. Couple rings, wedding bands, diamonds and gold, with honest, no-pressure advice.
-
Mercer bis Café, Yeonnam: Fire-Pit Terrace Café with Fluffy Tokyo Chiffon Cake
A storybook café by Yeontral Park in Yeonnam-dong with real fire pits inside and on the terrace, big windows full of green, and soft chiffon cake from a Tokyo dessert brand.
-
Byeolbam, Guro Digital Complex: What a Korean “Hunting Pocha” Is Really Like (Entry, Lines and Prices)
An honest look at Byeolbam in Guro Digital Complex, a Korean pub where groups of strangers meet: ID and entry rules, weekend lines, lockers, snack prices, and how it compared to Bamsa.
-
MeiTaWang Egg Tart, Seongsu: The Giant Salted Egg Tart (Line, Price and How to Store It)
A takeout shop near Seongsu Station that sells just one thing: a 150 g salted egg tart. Here is the line, the price, gift boxes and how to reheat it.
