Last Saturday around 4 p.m., I finished work in Dongdaemun. The weather was too nice to head straight home, so I met up with a friend and we started walking along Cheonggyecheon to enjoy some sweet desserts and a cup of coffee at Ikseon-dong hanok cafés . The area was bustling with couples on dates, families out for a stroll, and tourists enjoying their trip to Seoul. As I was walking along the Cheonggyecheon Stream toward Gwanghwamun, I happened to spot a mother duck and her ducklings swimming together among the grass.
After walking for a while, I climbed the stairs and headed toward Nakwon Shopping Center to go to Ikseon-dong. Perhaps because of the nice weather, Jongno seemed to be getting more and more crowded. Personally, I often visit Ikseon-dong when I want to drink delicious coffee, take a leisurely break, or snap some atmospheric photos. The blend of traditional hanok houses and modern vibes in the narrow alleys is something I never fail to mention when talking to my foreign friends about traveling in Seoul. This post is about two cafes in Ikseon-dong that never disappoint: “Seoul Coffee” and “Shilladang.”
Seoul Coffee: Back to the 1980s
Seoul Coffee is a famous spot even among Hanok cafes. It is a cafe where the elegance of a 100-year-old Hanok harmonizes perfectly with modern desserts. There is a vintage barbershop sign at the entrance, and the interior is decorated with antique furniture.
Since it is such a popular place, you may encounter a wait if you visit on weekday evenings or weekends. Once you secure a good seat, take a look around! You can see the wooden rafters remaining intact on the ceiling, and thanks to the glass roof, you can also see the sky. It is a tranquil space where you can sit and enjoy the sounds of people talking, the sunlight, and the subtle aroma of coffee.
The menu items I personally recommend are as follows.
- Butter Loaf Bread (Ang-butter): This is the signature menu item here. The price is 5,000 KRW. It features a generous filling of sweet red bean paste and thick slices of butter sandwiched between fluffy slices of bread. With one bite, you can experience the chewiness of the bread, the richness of the butter, and the sweetness of the red bean paste all in your mouth at once. It is a menu item I highly recommend.
- Vienna Coffee: This is one of the menu items I frequently order when visiting Seoul Coffee. It has a pleasant coffee aroma and a creamy texture that offers excellent flavor. It pairs even better with the red bean paste butter bread recommended above.
- Sobok Soft Ice cream: This is a menu item I ordered; it is a unique ice cream made with a rice and brown rice base. Since you can only taste it here, I highly recommend trying it. The flavor is nutty and light, making it perfect for those looking for a cool and clean dessert.
Seoul Coffee – View on Google Maps
Silladang: K-Desserts
The next place I will introduce is Silladang, which has a different atmosphere from Seoul Coffee. Silladang is also a cafe created by renovating a Hanok (traditional Korean house), but it feels a bit more opulent than Seoul Coffee. The interior design at the entrance gives the feeling of crossing a stream, and next to the entrance, there is a section selling gift packages.
I used to live in a Hanok with a courtyard myself. Whenever I visit this place, it reminds me of my old home. Inside, the stylish Korean mother-of-pearl style wall decor stands out. If you are looking for a quiet space to escape the bustling streets of Ikseon-dong Hanok Cafes and enjoy delicious desserts and conversation in a peaceful cafe, this is the perfect place.
This is a must-try menu item at Silladang.
- Kaesong Juak (The Star Dish): While other countries have desserts like donuts and churros, Korea has a dessert called Gaeseong Juak. It is a Korean-style donut made by mixing glutinous rice flour with makgeolli (Korean rice wine), shaping it into a round form, frying it, and then marinating it in ginger syrup.
Judging by its appearance, it looks soft, but the outside is crispy, and the inside is incredibly chewy. It is not overly sweet, offering a subtle sweetness and a nutty flavor. Since it is a menu item that appeals to everyone, including foreigners, it makes a great gift. - Omija (Five-Flavor) Tea: Although Korea has a vast array of traditional teas, the must-try item here is Omija tea. It is named Omija tea because it is said to possess five distinct flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy. Drinking it chilled, especially during the hot summer, not only quenches thirst but also helps relieve stress. It pairs perfectly with Gaeseong Juak.
- Gift Sets: As mentioned earlier, they sell gift packages, and the best thing about the gift sets here is the very luxurious packaging. Because the packaging is done in a high-end style that exudes a strong sense of traditional Korean aesthetics, it seems perfect as a gift for foreign tourists.
Silladang – View on Google Maps
Pocha Streets and Nakwon Romance
After having lunch or dinner and enjoying dessert at a cafe in Ikseon-dong, it will likely be late evening or night. At this point, if you naturally walk just a few minutes toward Jongno 3-ga Station, a whole new world unfolds. It is the Pojangmacha (street food stall) street. It is incredibly famous among the MZ generation these days.
A long street of street food stalls stretches out centered around Jongno 3-ga Station, and you can see many people sitting at outdoor tables enjoying drinks and snacks. If you are a traveler visiting Seoul, enjoy drinking, and want to experience Korean street food stall culture, this is a must-visit place. Stepping into a stall, ordering a bottle of soju, spicy stir-fried pork, or grilled fish, and enjoying a Korean night with friends or family will create a truly wonderful memory.
If you walk towards Nakwon Arcade, there are old and traditional restaurants in addition to the street food stalls. For decades, they have been selling local dishes such as gukbap and kalguksu at affordable prices, making it a great place to visit for travelers looking to experience an authentic Korean meal. You can find more details on where to get the [2 Best Gukbap in Seoul where you can taste the refreshing flavors of Korea] in my dedicated guide for solo diners.
Although Seoul is always a bustling and crowded city, there are also many places where you can quietly enjoy the city, such as the Hanok cafes in Ikseon-dong. You can enjoy delicious desserts with friends, family, or your significant other at Seoul Coffee and Silladang, which I introduced today, or have a drink at the street food stalls. I will continue to find and introduce more diverse and delicious places. For those who want to keep the night going, I’ve also mapped out the [Seoul night route (Jongno ~ City hall) that tourists should walk] that takes you through nearby Jongno and Deoksugung Palace.
- Tteokbokki and Kimbap in Front of Seoul City Hall, Cheongdamdong Witch kimbap
- Coffee Hanyakbang, A Hip Retro Café in the Alleys of Euljiro
- Vonzrr Bakery, a new large-scale café in Seochon
- Hongdae Sak, A Popular Spot for Tteokbokki and Fried Snacks Near Hongdae Station
- Samcheongdong Sujebi, A Warm and Hearty Meal in Seoul