Cafes, bakeries, dessert shops, and coffee spots in Seoul.
Salt bread has become one of the most recognizable bakery trends in Seoul. Known in Korean as sogeum-ppang (소금빵), it looks simple at first: a small buttery roll finished with salt. But the best versions combine several textures at once, with a lightly crisp exterior, a chewy or fluffy center, melted butter, and a savory…
Bingsu is one of the easiest Korean desserts to enjoy on a trip to Seoul. At its simplest, it’s shaved ice topped with sweet red beans and rice cake. At its most elaborate, it’s a bowl piled high with fresh mango, pudding, ice cream, cream, and flavored sauces. The hard part is choosing which kind…
Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace usually involves more walking than first-time visitors expect. After exploring palace courtyards, taking photos in hanbok, or watching a traditional ceremony, a nearby cafe can be the perfect place to rest before continuing to Seochon, Samcheong-dong, Bukchon, or Gwanghwamun. The area around Gyeongbokgung is especially interesting because its cafes are not all…
Seongsu is one of Seoul’s most popular cafe neighborhoods, but the best cafes in Seongsu are not all worth visiting for the same reason. Some are places where the coffee itself should be the priority. You might visit to explore different beans, enjoy specialty filter coffee, or have a short espresso at the bar. Others…
Ikseondong is one of the easiest places in central Seoul to experience traditional hanok architecture and modern cafe culture in the same neighborhood. The narrow alleys near Jongno 3-ga Station are filled with renovated hanok buildings that now house cafes, restaurants, dessert shops, boutiques, and small stores. For first-time visitors, the challenge is not finding…