Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
The converted hanok that houses this chic bistro in the revamped old neighbourhood of Ikseon-dong is Korean, but the dishes are contemporary European…
Must-see restaurants in Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Reserve three days in advance for the fine temple-style cuisine served here. Take your time to fully savour the subtle flavours and different textures of…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Koong’s traditional Kaeseong-style dumplings are legendary and more than a mouthful. Only order one portion, unless you're super hungry, or enjoy them in…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
You'll feel whisked to the Himalayas at this charming fair-trade cafe that raises awareness about Tibet (Rogpa is Tibetan for 'friend and helper')…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Sit on chairs at tables for this modern take on royal cuisine as you work your way through multiple dishes such as yukhoe (Korean steak tartare) and…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Following the same recipe since the 1980s, Gwanghwamun Jip is one of the most famous kimchi jiggae (stew) restaurants in South Korea. The homey interior…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
One of Seoul's most acclaimed fried chicken eateries, Mirak serves three types: crispy, marinated and garlic-topped. Most popular is the garlic pan…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Right behind the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Chosun Gimbap is a rare cheap eat in the area. Its signature dish, the chosun gimbap, is…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
In the basement of the Royal Building, Ogawa's expert chefs craft sushi and sashimi, piece by piece, and serve it directly over the kitchen counter – in…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Swiss-German chef Roland Hinni and his wife Yong-Shin run this charming gourmet restaurant that blends sophistication with traditional European cooking…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Spread over a series of hanok, Tosokchon is so famous for its samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) that there is always a long queue waiting to get in,…
Seoureseo Duljjaero Jalhaneunjip
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Little has changed at ‘Second Best Place in Seoul’, a tiny tea and dessert cafe, since it opened in 1976. Apart from the medicinal teas, it serves…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Crowds come to Ikseon-dong to be transported to old Seoul, and half of them seem to queue at Chang Hwa Dang, where the furniture and decor hark to a lost…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
For a fun lunch, buy 10 brass coins (₩5000) at the cafe about halfway along this old-school covered market. You'll be given a plastic tray with which you…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
In the basement of Ssamziegil is this smart and stylish restaurant, specialising in Jeonju (capital of Jeollabuk province) bibimbap, which is fresh and…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
A great place to try dolsotbap (hotpot rice) in an authentic hanok atmosphere in Insa-dong. Various ingredients are added to the rice, and you mix it all…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
There's usually a line for 'Season's Table', a good-value hansik (Korean food) buffet in the basement of Insa-dong Maru. A wide range of dishes are…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
One of the best gamjatang (pork-bone soup) joints in Seoul, this 24-hour restaurant bustles with office workers at lunch. Its version of the spicy,…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Daijangjangi means 'blacksmith', and that is exactly what the owner Lee Jae-Sung is. Some of his metal creations adorn the quirky interior of this hanok…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
The terrace seating at this combined bakery, cafe and restaurant is a great spot from which to watch the comings and goings of Bukchon. Its baked goods,…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Traditional jeonsik meals that tend towards vegetarian Buddhist-style cuisine are served on rustic pottery in this hanok. The food is fresh and has a…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Delightful Euro-style deli-cafe specialising in sandwiches, pasta and baguette-style pizza made with premium ingredients, such as camembert and rocket…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Run by members of a Taiwanese religious sect. Sit cross-legged for vegan food that combines all sorts of mixtures and flavours. The barbecue-meat…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
At this cafe on the ground floor of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food, you can choose from soft, delicately flavoured handmade gourmet rice cakes …
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
In an artfully styled hanok, interesting dishes to share are offered (such as tteokbokki served in a carved-out squash), alongside western cuisine…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Sometimes you just need a nicely cooked piece of meat – 2046 Pansteak serves up just that, still sizzling on an iron skillet along with spinach, a choice…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Usually busy, this place is famous for manduguk – the dumplings in the soup are whoppers (three make a meal). Also try its platter of haemul pajeon …
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
One of this convivial restaurant’s specialties is neobiani, a flavoursome beef patty the size of a small pizza. Meant for sharing, it comes with a mass of…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
This simple place serves tasty handmade meat-, seafood- or vegetable-stuffed dumplings. A few doors up the road, another branch specialises in noodles.
