cafe BonDn Today I visited Café BonDn, a place I’d fallen for after seeing photos of it online. My first impression was the sheer number of photos covering the walls. Black-and-white photos were packed edge to edge, and they seemed to be pictures of people who had spent time at Café BonDn. I’d been curious…

Seoul Station is where you catch a KTX train out to the provinces, but one block away — in the quiet, hillside neighborhood of Huam-dong — there’s a small cluster of cafés most travelers walk right past. Huam-dong sits at the foot of Namsan, and unlike the transit-hub bustle of Seoul Station itself, it still…

The Gyeongui Line Forest Road sits close to both Sinchon and Hongdae, which makes it one of the easier green stretches to fold into a morning in Seoul. After a walk along it, there’s nothing better than sitting down for a proper cup of coffee — so this time I’m introducing two cafés that open…

The Gyeongui Line Forest Park (경의선 숲길) is one of Seoul’s better urban transformations — an old elevated railway turned into a long, narrow strip of green that now runs through Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong, and Mapo. It doesn’t announce itself. It’s just there, quietly giving the surrounding neighborhoods somewhere to breathe.I put together a slow loop…

Seongbuk-dong is one of Seoul’s quieter, more historic neighborhoods — a hillside district near Hanseong University Station known for grand old villas, foreign embassies, and a slower pace than the city center. It’s also home to a small but distinctive cluster of bakeries and cafés, each with a completely different personality. This course covers three…

If you find yourself wandering through the historic, winding alleys of Seochon (just west of Gyeongbokgung Palace), there’s a spot worth seeking out. If you believe that coffee is more of a science and an art than just a morning caffeine fix, there is a spot in Seoul you cannot miss. Located in the quiet,…

Hit coffee Roasters This is a famous coffee place near Hongdae Station. True to its name, Hit Coffee Roasters (히트 커피 로스터리) has become a major “hit” among coffee purists in the Hongdae area. Located in a quieter pocket of the vibrant Hongdae district, it offers a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere where the focus remains…

Tucked away in the quiet neighborhood of Daeheung-dong, near the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Gwajabang (과자방) is a premium dessert boutique that has gained a cult following for its exceptional French-style pastries. The name translates literally to “The Confectionery Room,” reflecting the owners’ dedication to the craft of baking. It is a place where dessert…

The sign outside In Korean, the word ehae (이해) means “understanding” — and this café genuinely lives up to its name. It’s a space built for contemplation, quiet conversation, and the slow appreciation of a well-made cup of coffee, tucked into a residential stretch of Mangwon that most visitors to the neighborhood never wander into.…