Seoul & Busan

Seoul

Myeong-dong (명동)

• Myeong-dong Shopping Street – All major Korean beauty brands (Olive Young, Hapa Kristin, Innisfree, Etude House, HBAF almond store)

• Lotte Department Store – High-end brands, Apple Store

• Shinsegae Main Store

• Ilpyeon Sirloin Myeong-dong Branch (일편등심 명동점) 🥩

• Breakfast porridge 🥣 – Seoul Jung-gu, Myeong-dong 6-gil 15, B1

• ☕️ Cream Chic – Viennese coffee, opens 9:30 AM

• ☕️ Gonggan Gap (공간갑) – Pudding ice blend

• ☕️ The Spot Fabulous – Opens 10 AM

• 🍜🥟 Myeongdong Kyoja (est. 1966) – Knife-cut noodles & dumplings

• 🐔 Myeongdong Dakhanmari – Whole chicken hot pot

Jung District (중구)

• Pastry Boutique – The Shilla Hotel Seoul

• 🥣 Seowonjuk 서원죽 (Seowon Abalone Ginseng Porridge) – Opens 7 AM

• Cafe Wildduck – Brunch

• 😋 Confier – Korean-French fusion cuisine

Yongsan District (용산구)

• Hwangtae Il-ro (황태일로):Known for dried pollock soup and dumplings

Itaewon (이태원)

• EENK – Local fashion brand

• Itaewon Vintage Street

• Gyeongnidan Street

• 🍸 Seoul Ludens 

• 😋 Beodeulgol Iyagi (버들골이야기) 

• 🍶 An Ssi Makgeolli (안씨막걸리) 

• 😋 Korean Bistro Mr. Ahn's Makgeolli 

• ☕️ Urban Cliff 

• A Sculptural Graphic Novel Library

• ☕️ Anthracite Coffee Roasters – Itaewon Branch(Converted from an old shoe factory)

Gangnam (강남) & Apgujeong (압구정) & Hannam-dong (한남동) & Cheongdam-dong (청담동)

🛍️ Shopping & Lifestyle

• Apgujeong Rodeo Street

• Boon the Shop, 10 Corso Como, KUD, Miss Gee Collection (Cheongdam), Beaker

• COEX Mall – One of Asia’s largest underground malls, home to Starfield Library

• Haus, Nothing Written, Clove, EPT, Grove 

• Shinsegae Department Store

• 0914 – Simone Leather Studio 

• Galleria Department Store (B1 Gourmet 494) 

☕️🍞 Cafes & Bakeries

• Tour a Tour – Opens 9 AM

• Jayeondo Salt Bread (자연도소금빵) – Seongsu – Opens 9 AM

• ☕️ TULEAR (꽁티드툴레아) – Brunch, opens 11 AM

• ☕️ NUDAKE Haus Dosan

🎨 Art & Culture

• SongEun Art & Cultural Foundation

😋 Dining

• Soigné (Sinsa Square, 2nd Floor) 

• Kwon Sook Soo 

• 🥩 Samwon Garden 

• 😋 Schedule Bistro

• 😋 Restaurant Dexter (French)

• 😋🐔 Jin Jeonbok Samgyetang (진전복삼계탕) – Abalone ginseng chicken soup

• 😋 Kitchen Hamo

🍸 Bars

• 🍸 Zest

• ARZU🎸

💆‍♀️ Facial&Body

• Sulwhasoo Spa

Gyeongbokgung & Samcheong-dong

• Gyeongbokgung Palace – Main palace of the Joseon dynasty; watch the guard-changing ceremony; free entry with hanbok rental

• National Folk Museum of Korea – Inside the palace; great place to learn about traditional Korean life

• Bukchon Hanok Village – Traditional Korean houses

• Samcheong-dong-gil – Street connecting Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon

Seongdong District (성동구)

• 🥩 Born & Bred – Premium Korean BBQ

Seongsu-dong (성수동)

• Known as “Seoul’s Brooklyn” – Old factories converted into cafes, galleries, and creative spaces

• Seoul Forest Park

Namdaemun (남대문)

• Namdaemun Market (est. 1964)

  • Original Grandma Kalguksu (원조할머니칼국수) – Handmade knife-cut noodles

• Culture Station Seoul 284 – Former Seoul Station from the Japanese colonial period

• Sungnyemun (Namdaemun Gate) – Historic city gate

Ewha Area (이대)

• Ewha Womans University

Hongdae (홍대 – Hongik University Area)

• Visual Aid – Trendy select store towards Yeonnam-dong

• AK PLAZA – Mall near Hongdae Station

Songpa District (송파구)

• Jamsil (잠실)

  • Lotte World – One of the world’s largest indoor theme parks, also includes a mall, hotel, and folk museum

• 🍞 Avekcheri – salt bread

Busan

Suyeong District (水营区 / Suyeong-gu)

• 😋 Meerock Super

• 😋 mimiracrac – Brunch spot, opens at 9 AM

• 🍸 Corduroy Fellaz 

Haeundae (海云台)

🌊 Sightseeing & Attractions

• Haeundae Beach 

• ✅ Blue Line Park & Sky Capsule Train – Small scenic train ride along the coast

🍽️ Restaurants & Cafes

• 😋 Sooble 

• 😋 Yulling 

• 🥩 Seumugogae 

• 🍞 자연도 소금빵 Jayeondo Salt Bread

• ☕️ Liberta Cafe

• 🍜 Chomil_mifo – Noodle/dish-focused casual spot