Ok, so for straight up honesty, I have never ever been to South Korea at all. However a hobby of mine is to watch all the vlogs and take down places I want to go. So now I have so many locations that just seem to cool not to share. Hope these help you with your South Korea plans.
General tips
!!WARNING/DISCLAIMER:!!
If you read the small intro you would have now realised I have never been to South Korea. These locations are purely based on my wish list of places to go, so take these suggestions with a grain of salt or do further research on the location is you wish.
Also this guide while be randomly update with each new location I discover.
Cafes/Small eateries
Lingling
Cafe
I have heard some great reviews on the food here. Plus everything here looks so aesthetic ( like total New Jeans/Illit vibes). This will definitely be a must go on my future trip to Korea.
Aqua garden cafe Lotte World Tower
Cafe
This concept seems so fun! Though please keep in mind they have a requirement that you buy a drink. This is definitely a must go for me when I finally get to South Korea.
slot
Coffee shop
This Café looks super vibey to sit in, kind of Wood, stone and rainy day vibes. I feel like a coffee and pie/cake would hit deferent here, especially on a rainy day.
Melting Of
Coffee shop
Cute café with lots of bunny themed cakes & drinks.
Coffee Publisher
Coffee shop
Super old-school, nostalgic vibes placed right by the Seoul station so it's great for arrival and departures from Seoul.
Conte Bagels & Coffee
Coffee shop
Haven't seen to much of this place on vlogs but seems super cute with interesting bagel flavours ( SALT BREAD YUM!)
Kongteu
Coffee shop
A coffee shop I found in a large café vlog I just knew I had to save for later. It looked like a small store but I loved how it seemed to decorated. It reminded my of someone's apartment kitchen, as If you at your friends chill apartment to enjoy a coffee.
Namuyoil
Wine bar
mirei
Coffee shop
Unfortunately I can't find any pictures of this place but honestly vibes and menu look kind of like the LingLing café (1st cafe location on the list) and will be a must visit for me.
Everyday Happy Birthday
Cafe
Also super aesthetic café with some nice desserts and drinks. Also something that will be high on my list of things to visit. What do you mean I get to blow a candle out like every day's my Birthday? (They seem to put candles on all the desserts)
Glitter
Cake shop
Bakery
Cafe
Found this while flick through wander log and honestly the outside looks so like cutesy, nostalgic to me.
HanJungSun
Bakery
I'm lead to believe this place is quite viral so maybe your have already heard of it but combined 2 amazing thing ( Fruit and Mochi) I shall come to see what's it about.
차니베어스테이션
Art cafe
You have may have picked up my addiction for themed cafes with cutesy vibes. Bear themed foods and pretty drinks plus a stationary store? Say no more.
Nutten
Coffee shop
Cafe
Knit shop
Yarn store
Hello Kitty Apple Cafe
Gift shop
Just discovered this while flipping through wander log but HOW CUTE!
Hello Kitty cafe
Cafe
Saw this on a vlog and it looked so cool.
위스위츠 We sweets
Coffee shop
3 things that make me want to suss out this café: Cute bear art/theme, the cute dog on the wander log photo's inside this café and also apparently it has a 5 star rating.
Overdeep
Cafe
Only seen this place in a vlog once which is wild cause thins place looks like such a vibe. Looks like a great photo opportunity and also a unique café experience
Cafe Teteum
Coffee shop
Bear theme? Bear with me ( Sorry not sorry). Love the sper calmong look of this place and the bear theme.
Tongue Seongsu Space
Temporarily Closed
Cafe
I think this place is currently very trendy. I just wanna go see all the strange abstract furniture.
Rain Report
Cafe
This place defientlyt had a 15 minute of fame moment last year or so but I love the concept and feel this would just tick all the right boxes for me.
Standard Bread
Bakery
Coffee shop
Camel Coffee Seongsu
Cafe
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I believe this place is fairly trendy and popular, at least amongst a handful of the vloggers I've watched. Also seems like a cool meal idea.
Happy cheese smile yeonnam
Restaurant
Apparently this has got some of the best ttetbokki and sweet potato fritters ever. Also I don't know why but the building seems so cool.
Camello Yeonnam
Italian restaurant
Apparently this place has some of the best pasta ever ( I know big claim!) but honestly I can see how the it would taste amazing when the room you in is so pretty. This for sure on my must go list.
Grain Seoul
$$$$affordable
Brunch restaurant
Love the set meal x breakfast look plus the store looks super cute.
Chain stores
Ok so as the title suggests this are not "hidden-in-the-back-alley,only-locals-know" but this places look really cool. I have put a few of eachs location.
Butter Shop
Home goods store
BUTTER
Home goods store
Butter
Home goods store
From the web: Cheerful retailer offering contemporary & novelty products for the kitchen, bath & home.
butter shop
Gift shop
Butter Shop
Home goods store
Artbox Daechi
Home goods store
Artbox Hottracks Jamsil
Home goods store
Artbox Coexmall Starfield
Home goods store
Artbox Wirye Alleyway
Home goods store
Stationery store
Artbox Garosugil
Home goods store
Artbox Hyundai City Mall Garden5
Home goods store
Cafe Onion Anguk
$$$$affordable
Cafe
Cafe Onion Seongsu
$$$$affordable
Cafe
Onion Cafe Gwangjang Market Branch
Coffee shop
Cafe Onion Mia
$$$$affordable
Cafe
Object
Home goods store
General store
From the web: Retail outlet selling stationery, accessories, household goods & novelty gifts, with a coffee bar.
Object
Souvenir store
Line Friends Gangnam Flagship Store
Permanently Closed
General store
Souvenir store
K-POP SQUARE Hongdae
General store
LINE FRIENDS SQUARE SEONGSU
General store
Nyunyu Wholesale Dongdaemun
General store
Yes, this is a chain store but I think this particular store is the biggest and best of them all.
Photo booths
Photo Lab Plus
TEDDYBEAR BOOTH!!!
Shot up
Photography studio
DON'T LXXK UP Gangnam
Photo booth
Their is a few of this brand so keep an eye out.
Places to stay
Tong Tong Petit Hotel
Hotel
Apperntly this hotle is well place (near some attractions and a metro station) and the staff are multilingual. I think that I read that this hotel is good for peple traveling by themselves so maybe do some extra research if plan to go here with more people.
Attractions
Buk-Seoul Museum of Art
Art museum
Art gallery
N Seoul Tower
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Lookouts
From the web: Opened in 1980, this iconic tower offers panoramic views of the city & a revolving restaurant.
Bukhansanseong Fortress
Heritage preservation
Fortress
From the web: Protective fort built in the 1700s, consisting of 6 gates, 8 secret gates & 2 water entrances.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Landmark
Cultural landmark
Heritage preservation
From the web: Village dating to the 14th century filled with narrow streets lined with restored traditional homes.
National Museum of Korea
National museum
Museums
From the web: Major building opened in 2005 to house the country's cultural & military artifacts & artworks.
Banpo Hangang Park
Park
From the web: Relaxed park for riverside walks, bike rides & sports, plus views of an illuminated bridge fountain.
Hangaram Art Museum
Art museum
From the web: Art exhibitions & retrospectives in a 3-level concrete-&-glass building, part of a cultural complex.
Gimpo Art Village
Art center
Lotte World
Theme park
Water & Amusement Parks
Amusement park
From the web: Theme park rides, water flumes & marine life exhibits in a family centred 3-in-1 adventure park.
Sanrio Lovers Club
Cafe
fwee Agit - Seongsu
Cosmetics store
ROM&ND PINK OFFICE
Cosmetics store
Greedy Scent Yeonnam (그리디센트 연남)
Perfume store
Seoul Upcycling Plaza
Museum
Seoul Forest Park
Park
Fun & Games
Playgrounds
From the web: Vast, tree-filled park featuring a lake, bike path & roses, plus deer to feed & a butterfly house.
Yongma Waterfall Park
Park
Yongmasan
Hiking area
Neighborhoods
1
연남동
Known for it's dining scene, "little chinatown" and thrift market.
Drama Locations
1
mong ted
Cafe
This is Sol's house from the drama "Lovely Runner" and it currently opperates as a cafe.
2
91-9 Jangan-dong
The house used to filmed "Our beloved summer". Well I don't believe that it can be accessed by the public a lovely mural of the two characters can be seen on the side of the house.
3
Namdobunsik Ikseon
Korean restaurant
I believe this is the restraunt that Lim Joo-kyung and her two friends go to eat ttetbokki while out on her first girl day.
4
와이앤아니마
General store
The manga cafe from true beauty. Apprently you can by the braclet that Suho and Seojun both wore. It can also been seen in the backgroung on Love next door
5
32-4 Bukchon-ro 6-gil
This is the house Joo-kyung and her family live in. Its seems to have become an art museum and possibly also have been visited by a member of BTS.
6
커피한약방 혜화점
$$$$affordable
Cafe
The cafe used y the study group from true beauty. Looks so cute and retro would so visit even if it wasn't a drama location.
7
Hyundai Premium Outlet Space1
Outlet mall
This is the location that many scenes for the episode that Joo-kyung help Seo-jun pick his little sister a gift.
8
멍텅구리 즉석떡볶이
$$$$cheap
Restaurant
This place is used to film a scene in True beauty, is apparently also super popular among locals with many types of ttetbokki available including non-spicy options like the one in this photo, being there most popular dish. One downside I believe, is that they have larger portions sizes so this may not be a great place for solo dining.
9
Ihwa-dong Mural Village
Sights & Landmarks
Neighborhoods
I belive this is Bong-Soon's house from Strong Woman Do Bong Song. It also seems to have some really cool murals and veiws.
10
Deoksugung Palace
Cultural landmark
Sights & Landmarks
Has a famous wall where multiple Kdrama's have filmed including Doctor slump & Extraordinary Attorney Woo
11
Naksan Park
Park
Nature & Parks
I believe a few scenes from Love next door was filmed here including the stairs promo poster. Also believe a handful of other drama's where filmed here.
12
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Garden
A popular drama locarion used in Marry My Husband.
13
Seongsan-ro 22-gil
The tunnel and stairs are another popular film location used in Lovely Runner, Family by choice & Doctor slump.
14
N Seoul Tower
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Lookouts
Is it a drama list if we don't inculde Namsan tower. Bussiness proposal, King of the Land, Love next door, True Beauty, Boys over flowers ( KOREA), and Legend of the blue sea all have scenes here.
15
Common Ground
Shopping mall
Shopping
Film locations & good shopping, this cool place is made of blue shipping containers and has featured in a few drama's including, Vincenzo & XO Kitty ( no not a kdrama but imma include it).
Shopping
1
Rieti store Kinfolk Seongsu
Sunglasses store
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