"Seoul was once one of Asia's most underrated cities, but thanks to the Korean pop culture wave that has swept the fashion and entertainment industries from Beijing to Bangkok recent years, the South Korean capital is currently reveling in a tourism boom."
- Justin Bergman <The New York Times>
Good restaurants, cafes and shopping places in Seoul where locals go
When traveling with limited time, we always want to choose and visit delicious, attractive, and satisfying locations. Seoulshopper would like to introduce the places that the locals really like, not the places that have become famous for advertisements and sponsorships from travel agencies.
Welcome to Seoul. Share this with any Bibimbap or Kimchi lover!
Restaurant
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Chowon
After a bit of shopping in Hannam-dong, we headed over to the Namyeong-dong food alley for the first time in a while. The area around Namyeong-dong... -
Keebo Edamame
There are quite a few trendy restaurants in Namyeong-dong these days, and I recently visited Keebo Edamame (Yongsan, Seoul), a spot my girlfriend h... -
Fabrizio’s Kitchen
Today, I’d love to introduce Fabrizio’s Kitchen (Yongsan, Seoul), a restaurant run by Chef Fabrizio Ferrari, who became widely known after appearin...
Cafe
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Lowkey (Seongsu store)
Lowkey (Seongsu, Seoul) is an incredibly well-known roastery café, loved by coffee enthusiasts for its exceptional brews and inviting atmosphere. ... -
Fritz Coffee (Wonseo store)
I’ve always enjoyed drinking Fritz Coffee. Until now, the only location I had visited was the one near my office in Yangjae. But since we had plans... -
London Bagel Museum (Anguk store)
London Bagel Museum (Samcheong, Seoul) is often ranked among the top 3 bagel spots in Seoul. It’s not only beloved by locals but also a go-to dest...
Shopping
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Point of View (seongsu)
Lately, I’ve been exploring different neighborhoods in Seoul, and today, I’m sharing my experience at Point of View, a specialty stationery shop l... -
Nonfiction (samcheong store)
It had been ages since I last visited Samcheong-dong, a place I used to frequent but hadn’t been to in a while due to my changing routines. This ti... -
H559 (outlet)
I recently came across an exciting announcement on Instagram that Sculp Store has opened an outlet store called H559. This store offers discounted...
Attractions
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Changdeokgung Palace (Secret Garden)
I was planning to visit Changdeokgung Palace for a hanbok photo shoot and went online to make a reservation. That’s when I stumbled upon an event c... -
Seoul Museum of Art (Seokpajeong)
I visited the Seoul Museum of Art (Seokpajeong) to see Kawashima Kotori’s exhibition [Saranran], and found that the ticket included access to the o... -
Seoul Sky
I visited Seoul Sky (Jamsil Seoul), the observation deck at Lotte World Tower where you can see the entire city from the highest point in Seoul! I...
Hotels
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Voco (Myeongdong)
Lately, I’ve been craving a staycation, somewhere near Seoul, where I could lounge around with a book, enjoy a peaceful morning swim, and take a b... -
Hangaroum
While searching for a charming Hanok (traditional Korean house) accommodation to host an overnight party with friends, I stumbled upon Hangaroum, a... -
Stay Dayoff
During my recent trip to Seoul, my friends and I spent a night at During my recent trip to Seoul, my friends and I spent a night at Hanok (Korean t...
Tips
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Luggage Lockers (Seoul station)
When it comes to train stations in Korea, Seoul Station is the first one that comes to mind. It’s super spacious, always crowded 24/7, and just fe... -
Luggage Lockers (Hongdae)
A perfect guide to using luggage storage (lockers) when visiting Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong, and Yeonhui-dong in Seoul. Hongik University Station is a ... -
Free luggage storage lockers (The Hyundai Seoul, Yeouido)
While in Seoul last week, I stayed in Yeouido, so after checking out of my hotel, I headed to The Hyundai Seoul (department store). I considered le...
Fun
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T1 Base Camp (pc room)
I was once really into TFT (Teamfight tactics) gaming and was watching a few videos on YouTube, and at some point, the algorithm kicked in and star... -
Sinheung Market (Haebangchon)
Maybe the wet season is about to start, the weather is already really humid. It's been a long time since I last visited Haebangchon (Seoul). As a... -
Namdaemun Market
After a long and exhausting workweek, I just wanted to relax this weekend. But with the change of seasons, I felt restless, tired of staying indo...