Jeontong Dawon (전통다원)

828.5M 2024-03-18

11-4 Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-6305

Jeontong Dawon is a hanok-style tea house located in Insa-dong. It offers seating both inside the hanok and in the outdoor garden, allowing guests to choose their preferred spot. Visitors can enjoy various types of traditional Korean tea along with traditional Korean snacks such as yugwa (fried rice sweet). It is situated within the Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art premises, offering the opportunity to explore the museum as well.

Owl Museum (부엉이박물관)

832.8M 2022-09-19

143, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3210-2902

The Owl Museum is filled with over 2,000 pieces of owl-themed arts and crafts collected from all over the world by the owner. Renovated from a house, the museum has a feel of an antique café as the owner offers a cup of coffee or tea to visitors. Located near the city, those interested in owls should stop for a view and a drink. Various stories of how the collection was gathered as well as information on owls are also interesting.

Vegetarian Restaurant Osegyehyang (채식요리전문점 오세계향)

835.8M 2024-03-18

14-5 Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-7171

Osegyehyang is a vegetarian restaurant located in Insa-dong. It specializes in vegetarian cuisine, offering a variety of dishes including noodles, traditional Korean dishes, and specialty items. Some of its popular dishes include maesil tangsuchae (vegan deep-fried pork with sweet and sour sauce), pyogobeoseotmari (rolled shiitake mushrooms), vegan yangnyeom chicken (vegan seasoned fried chicken), tteokbokki, jjajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles), jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), vegan steak, and bulgui ttukbaegi (vegan bulgogi), all prepared without meat but still delicious.

Persian Palace (페르시안궁전)

839.0M 2024-03-18

9 Sungkyunkwan-ro 6-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-763-6050

Persian Palace is a restaurant specializing in Indian cuisine and Iranian kebabs, run by an Iranian chef. They offer set menus such as lamb curry, spinach curry, and butter chicken, which can be enjoyed with tandoori nan. The spiciness of the curry can be adjusted, and they also have vegan options available. For dessert, they serve Persian homemade desserts like mast (Persian yogurt) and saffron ice cream. They provide halal food and prayer rooms for Muslims.

Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현 녹지광장)

841.8M 2025-06-17

Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Songhyeon Green Plaza, located between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jongno, is a space for culture and rest. The site was formerly used as housing for Shiksan Bank during Japanese rule. After Korea’s liberation, it served as a residence for the US Embassy and military personnel. Later in 1997, it was returned to the Korean government but remained unused for years. In 2022, the ownership was transferred to the Korean House and Land Corporation and then to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which redeveloped it into a green plaza and opened it to the public. Upon entering the plaza, visitors are greeted by a spacious lawn adorned with flowers during the blooming season. The plaza is connected to the nearby tourist attractions through shortcuts cutting through it, including Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), Gwanghwamun Plaza, Insa-dong, and Bukchon Hanok Village.

Seoureseo Duljjaero Jalhaneunjip (서울서둘째로잘하는집)

843.8M 2024-03-15

122-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-5302

Seoureseo Duljjaero Jalhaneunjip is a sweet red bean porridge and traditional tea house near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Sweet red bean porridge is a sweet and smooth dish typically containing chewy rice cakes and chestnuts. In Korea, it's a traditional food eaten during dongji (the shortest day and longest night of the year). They also offer traditional teas like ssanghwatang (herbal tonic tea), which contains seven medicinal herbs, sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch) with a blend of cinnamon and ginger flavors, and sikhye (sweet rice punch), a drink known for aiding digestion.

Jalppajin Memil Ikseon Branch (잘빠진메밀 익선)

847.6M 2024-03-18

73 Yulgok-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-70-4531-1214

Jalppajin Memil is a specialty restaurant that directly kneads 100% buckwheat dough to make buckwheat noodles. They offer both bibim makguksu (spicy buckwheat noodles) and mul makguksu (buckwheat noodles). Additionally, they serve memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe), memil mandu (buckwheat mandu), and tender suyuk (boiled pork slices). They have a selection of 10 different kinds of makgeolli (unrefined rice wine) including chestnut, citrus, corn, and mulberry, allowing customers to choose according to their preference. Their famous makgeolli sampler set, which allows customers to taste five different types of makgeolli in small quantities, is popular.

Olive Young - Daehakro Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 대학로점)

847.8M 2024-06-27

1F~3F, 237, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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PungGyeong [Korea Quality] / 풍경 [한국관광 품질인증]

848.4M 2023-05-02

32-6 , Seonggyungwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-10-7103-6993

PungGyeong, located opposite Sungkyunkwan Academy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a hanok-style guest house whose outer wall is painted with a stylish blue pine tree. The guest house is equipped with bedrooms and a kitchen/diner with a table. Residents can have toast for breakfast, and simple Korean meals are provided for guests staying more than two days. In the winter you can sample traditional Korean tea brewed by the owner.

Insa-dong (인사동)

850.3M 2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-0222

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, the main street is blocked to vehicular traffic and it becomes a cultural space. Stores set up booths outside and Korean candy merchants and fortune teller stalls can easily be found; there are traditional performances and exhibits as well. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture first-hand, and also purchase pieces of fine art.

Jeontong Dawon (전통다원) - Area information - Korea travel information