6 Best Restaurants in Jung-gu, Seoul

The name of this tucked-away café, located in an incredibly narrow alley in Euljiro, means “traditional medicine room.” Visitors are charmed as much by the vintage lamps and traditional Korean furniture inside as by the single-origin coffee and baked goods. Items can be purchased on the first floor and there’s seating available on the first, second, and third floors of the establishment. The coffee itself may not be to everyone’s liking, but it's a must-see for the charming decor alone.

Just a short walk from the main Myeongdong neighborhood, Cafe Guhalgu is a charming four-story café at the foot of Namsan Mountain. The café serves coffees, teas, and ice cream-topped waffles. Some seats have a bit of greenery and blue skies, but climb up the narrow stairs to the rooftop and you will be rewarded with panoramic views of Namsan Tower. 

Tucked in a small alley near Namdaemun Market, Cafe Stairs is a two-story coffee shop that's been built into a house dating back to 1935. The structure was remodeled in 2019 and has been a mainstay of the Hoehyeon-dong neighborhood since. In addition to a decent coffee menu, their black sesame latte is worth trying for those with a sweet tooth. Upstairs, the café offers both table and floor seating reminiscent of an older time in Korea.

Located on the fourth floor of a warehouse in Euljiro, Hotel Soosunhwa is a picturesque cafe, bar, and co-working space. While they do serve basic coffees and lattes, they are best known for their colorful, fruity drinks like their passion fruit–ade and sangria. The cafe’s low-lighting, vintage decor, and exposed concrete are not exactly conducive to better focus but artistic types come with their laptops on weekdays. During the weekend, the space is crowded with groups of friends, and waiting for a table can take longer than an hour. The cafe also hosts events such as concerts, markets, and talks on a regular basis.

Originally built in 1932 during Japan’s colonization of Korea, this café once housed many prominent military and political figures before opening in its current form in 2018. Although the building has been heavily renovated over the years, its history lives on through the structure, which still very much feels like a residence. The cafe serves Americanos and lattes in addition to a variety of baked goods, like fruit tarts and macaroons, from their bakery. If possible, try to get a seat in the cafe’s attic---by far the coziest room in the cafe.

A surprise tucked away in the lobby of a commercial building, Jeokdang serves coffee, tea, and Korea-inspired desserts. Tall arches frame different corners and dark red carpeting lines the floor, creating an upscale but comfortably peaceful ambience. Their ice cream sandwich---a marriage of yakgwa (a traditional sweet Korean confection) and milky, vanilla goodness---is a must-try all year-round, and their red bean bingsoo (shaved ice) is the perfect, melt-in-your-mouth summer treat. The cafe also sells modern Korean ceramics and gift sets of Korean sweet bean jellies.