City Walks & Cafes
Seongsu, Yeonnam-dong & Ikseon-dong
Seoul Trendy Cafe-Hopping Guide
Category: Area Guide・Last updated: 2026.05.22・Approx. 7 min read
🗺️ Master Seoul's "Big Three" Cafe Districts
When it comes to cafe-hopping in Seoul, these are the three areas every traveler heads for. Seongsu is the hottest factory-conversion district, often called "Seoul's Brooklyn"; Yeonnam-dong is a treasure trove of back-alley sweets and Instagram-worthy spots; and Ikseon-dong is a blend of tradition and retro charm set inside 1920s hanok (traditional Korean houses). We'll introduce both the hot new openings and the long-loved classics, complete with subway access.
Right next to Hongdae, this back-alley area stretches along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park (a.k.a. "Yeontral Park"). It's packed with cute, colorful dessert shops, British-style cafes and takeout spots, making it a cafe-hopping staple for young travelers. The most photogenic way to enjoy it: grab a takeout treat and relax in the park.
🚇 Access
Line 2
Airport Railroad
Gyeongui-Jungang
Hongik Univ. Station (홍대입구역 / Hongik Univ.)
Exit 3
About 50 min from Incheon Airport via the Airport Railroad / about 20 min from Myeongdong Station
🆕 Hot & Trending Now
Cafe Layered Yeonnam
레이어드 연남 / Cafe Layered
Rising
Got even more famous after a visit from Gaeul of IVE. British countryside interiors and romantic floral arrangements make it a stunner. The Yeonnam-only "matcha white chocolate scone" is incredibly popular.
📍About 10 min walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3 🏢223-20 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu 🕐11:00–22:00 (daily) 🍰Scones & tea
📷 See official Instagram →
Yeonnam-dong Cherry Blossom House
연남동 벚꽃집 / Cherry Blossom House
Rising
A cherry-blossom-themed cafe in a converted house with a big cherry tree in the garden. The signature drink is the "cherry blossom cream latte", with a cherry blossom drawn on top. Cherry blossom decorations fill every corner of the cafe, so you can soak up springtime vibes year-round. It's bound to be packed in March and April. Pet-friendly.
📍About 7–10 min walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3 🏢50 Donggyo-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu 🕐Mon–Thu 11:00–22:00 / Fri–Sun 11:00–23:00 📞+82-507-1359-3121
📷 See official Instagram →
🏆 Long-Loved Classics
FUHAHA Cream Bread
푸하하 크림빵 / FUHAHA Cream Bread
Classic
A cream-bread specialty shop made by a chef who trained at France's Le Cordon Bleu, using a brioche dough fermented at low temperature for 72 hours. The signature "salted cream bread" wins over travelers with its buttery flavor and not-too-sweet cream. There's no seating, so it's takeout only — best enjoyed in Yeontral Park.
📍About 7 min walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3 🕐09:30–22:00 🥐Takeout only
📷 See official Instagram →