AVA (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★☆☆

AVA (formerly known as AMA) is a popular artisanal chocolatier just a few steps from Ttukseom station, celebrated for its handmade chocolate with pistachio and peanut spreads.

With the viral Korean chewy cookies taking the world by storm a couple of years ago, it’s no surprise that they were among the first to incorporate them into their menu. Since one of my missions on this trip was to unearth some of the best Korean chewy cookies in Seoul, it made perfect sense to swing by and see what they had to offer. 

I still get a little confused by the name, though — the signage outside says AVA, while the menu and packing still use the former name, AMA. 🤦🏻‍♂️

I was mainly looking for their Dubai chocolate chewy cookies but as it turned out, they also have it in almond and macadamia flavors.

Dubai chewy cookie (₩7,000) — The texture was wonderfully mochi-like on the outside. 

I liked that it wasn’t overly sweet, although both the chocolate and pistachio flavors were less pronounced than I have expected. For a chocolatier, I was hoping for a bit more intensity in the outer cookie layer but nevertheless it was still pretty tasty. 

They don’t have a dine-in area, so I ended up sitting in a nearby park to enjoy it. Not surprisingly, I made a complete mess with the chocolate powder. 😆

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: 656-1112 Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Closest Metro Station: Ttukseom

Tel: +82 02-2088-4794

Opening Hours: 2:00pm - 8:00pm daily

Questo Gelato Bar 퀘스토 젤라또 (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★☆☆☆

We all know the bustling Seongsu neighborhood for its hipster bakeries, cafés, and restaurants, but the area around neighboring Ttukseom Station has also undergone a serious transformation in recent years. What was once a stretch of auto-repair shops and warehouses has experienced a quiet renaissance, with many of those spaces now converted into sleek modern boutiques, cafés, and bakeries.

I decided to take a closer look at a few of these spots before hopping on the subway to my next destination.

My first stop was Questo Gelato (퀘스토 젤라또), a highly rated artisanal gelato bar just a short walk from Ttukseom Station. 

The shop rotates 8 to 10 flavors daily, often including refreshing Korean melon and intensely rich pistachio. However, I was in the mood for something nutty this afternoon.

Salty milk pecan — Made primarily with French sea salt for a rich, savory depth, and topped with crunchy candied pecans for what was meant to be a sweet-and-salty balance.

Unfortunately, for a milk-based gelato, it lacked the creamy, milky texture I expected from a good scoop. The candied pecans were a nice touch, but they didn’t provide enough sweetness to balance out the saltiness.

Beyond the underwhelming gelato, what really soured the experience was the hospitality. The server (presumably the owner) came across as complacent and at times, outright rude when I asked about prices of each scoop and how to use the payment machine. Everything was in Korean, and since I don’t speak the language, a little patience would have gone a long way. Instead, he seemed reluctant to offer any help.

Food Rating: 4.6/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: 8-30 Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Closest Metro Station: Ttukseom

Tel: +82 0507-1418-9926

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 10:00pm daily

I’m Donut? Seongsu (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★★☆

My favorite donut chain, I’m Donut?, has expanded heavily into Seoul last year, with three locations in the trendy neighborhoods of Seongsu, Hongdae, and Gangnam (inside Shinsegae).

Known for their melt-in-your-mouth “nama donuts” (raw/fresh donuts) made with chewy rice flour, their signature treats are famous for an incredibly fluffy texture. In Seoul, they’ve introduced Korea-exclusive flavors like bossam (pork belly) and seaweed glaze to tame the taste buds of Seoulites.

As a huge fan of I'm Donut?, I decided to swing by for a quick breakfast the moment I arrived in hipster Seongsu-dong. his is their flagship branch, and not surprisingly there were over 30 flavors to choose from — classic signatures, cream-filled varieties, savory options, and of course the Korea-exclusives.

Breakfast time!!! 🍩🍩🍩

Maple prosciutto (₩4,800) — While the Bossam collection looked like the perfect savory breakfast choice, I went with this one instead — two slices of prosciutto (premium Italian dry-cured ham) on top of a maple glaze. The salty notes played really well with the sweetness. Not bad at all.

Muscat grapes (₩5,200) — But this one was even better.



The natural sweetness of the Shine Muscat grapes really shone through beautifully against the custard cream and fluffy dough. I loved it.

Surprisingly, there wasn’t much of a line at the flagship store. In fact, another viral bakery called Haz Bakery just a few steps away had an even longer queue.

Food Rating: 7.1/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: 316-50 Seongsu-dong 2(i)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Closest Metro Station: Seongsu

Website: https://www.instagram.com/imdonut.kor/

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Born and Bred Woodfire (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★★☆

I got a late start planning this trip to Seoul, so a few restaurants on my list were already fully booked for my stay. My dream of dining at Born and Bred, my favorite premium Hanwoo 1++ specialist, was also dashed — as the venue was absolutely full in October. Fortunately, I stumbled upon Born and Bred Woodfire while searching for an alternative grill house.

Born and Bred Woodfire is a brand-new dining concept from the team behind Born and Bred, who is a longtime prominent wholesaler of Hanwoo beef in Korea. They have given their original location at the historic Majang Meat Market in Seongdong-gu a complete facelift, and Born and Bred Woodfire was born. (Born and Bred Original on the upper floor of the same building is dedicated to a more high-end omakase experience).

As the absolute pinnacle of Hanwoo in South Korea, a meal at Born and Bred is never cheap — it easily runs to around HK$1,000 per head depending on the premium cuts ordered. Born and Bred Woodfire, however, is a completely different proposition. 

Located on the ground floor of the main building right in the heart of Majang Meat Market, it elevates high-end Korean beef by cooking dry-aged Hanwoo cuts over an authentic oak wood-fire grill, infusing them with rich, complex smoky flavors. Unlike the group’s other concepts that lean heavily toward tasting menus, this outlet operates on a simple à la carte selection of premium cuts and fresh grilled ingredients, making it considerably more affordable and a much better option for solo diners. 

I was shown to a counter seat as soon as I checked myself in at the reception. As expected, the menu is compact, and you cannot specifically request special cuts such as ribeye caps that are available at their other branches.

Baby romaine (₩20,000) — The charcoal-grilled romaine arrived with a lovely crisp texture, paired beautifully with crispy puffed Job’s tears, shaved Parmesan and a homemade anchovy-and-garlic mayo. An excellent way to whet my appetite before the meat.

Hanwoo 1++ Ribeye (₩78,000) — The minimum order per cut is 150 gram. Not long after ordering, my server returned to show me the piece before handing it to the chefs. It was exceptionally well-marbled.

Condiments were kept simple: chimichurri, wasabi-infused mustard seeds, salt and pepper. 

After watching the chef place the ribeye on the grill and breathing in the wonderful aroma of wood smoke, it didn't take long before it was ready to be served.

The beautifully charred steak was served alongside a pile of garlic confit.

The steak was really succulent and deeply flavorful. 

I was wondering briefly whether the tenderloin might be a even better choice thanks to its meatier texture, but by then I was simply too full to find out.

Woodfire ice-cream (₩8,000) — As always, there is always room for dessert. I expected something more intriguing than the description suggested — vanilla ice-cream, smoked bourbon caramel and candied walnuts but it was exactly that. To be honest, it is easily skippable. 

Tonight’s experience felt different from my previous visit to their other Majang branch in 2025. While I loved the extra layer of smokiness from the wood-fired ribeye, the interactive “personal chef” format at the other location was far more heartwarming — chatting with an assigned chef who guides you through the meal step by step creates a warmer atmosphere. That said, the price tag here is far more gentle on the wallet (even if the menu is smaller). Ultimately it depends on what you are looking for from the dining experience.

Food Rating: 6.7/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: 761-4 Majang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Closest Metro Station: Majang

Tel: +82 010-3682-5007

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 10:30pm (Tue - Sat)

Le Chemin 르슈망 (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★☆☆

After more than an hour of wandering the narrow, winding alleys of Haebangchon including a stop at the revitalized Sinheung Market, it was time for a quick drink. The choice came down to two of the neighborhood’s most popular cafés and patisseries — Le Montblanc (르몽블랑) and Le Chemin (르슈망).

Le Chemin, a highly sought-after French pastry café tucked into the hillside, is widely celebrated on social media for its beautifully crafted seasonal “Namsan Mont Blanc” cakes that perfectly recreate the iconic N Seoul Tower. Beyond the viral cakes, it also earns high praise for its authentic French canelés, which feature a deeply caramelized, crunchy crust and a remarkably smooth, custardy centre.

Unfortunately, on this afternoon visit the selection was very limited. Other than a hazelnut cake, the only things left were different flavors of canelé.

Iced milk tea (₩6,500) — Like most milk teas in Seoul, it leaned heavily on milk and sweetness. This one had almost no caffeine in it, although I probably didn’t need any to stay awake today.

Chestnut canelé (₩4,500) — At a French patisserie I would normally try something more sophisticated, but after tasting nearly half a dozen pastries since arriving in Seoul, I wanted something simple this afternoon. 

Their highly touted canelé fit the bill perfectly. Underneath the crunchy crust was a sweetened chestnut compote. Not bad.

My chill-out time was drawing to a close. I didn't notice the sun had already disappeared, so it was time to head to tonight's dinner venue, a place I have been looking forward to since making the reservation last month.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: 1–2F, 101-1 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: +82 010-2764-0674

Website: https://www.instagram.com/le.chemin_seoul/?hl=en

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 9:00pm (Mon - Tue, Thu - Fri), 12:00pm - 10:00pm (Sat - Sun)

7 of The Best Cafés, Restaurants and Dessert Spots in Haebangchon Village

Haebangchon Village (解放村), nestled on the steep southern slopes of Namsan in Yongsan-gu (龍山區), offers tourists a rare blend of living history and contemporary Seoul charm that feels both authentic and refreshingly unpolished. Once a post-liberation shantytown settled by returning Koreans and North Korean refugees after 1945, the neighborhood still retains the character of one of Seoul’s last “moon villages”, or daldongnae (달동네), which are spontaneous hillside settlements that formed on steep mountain slopes and high-elevation areas during the rapid post-war and industrialization eras between the 1950s and 1980s.

Visitors can climb the historic 108 stairs originally built in 1943, or now take the inclined elevator uphill. 

Exploring the revitalized Sinheung Market, where decades-old stalls now sit alongside indie shops and street art, is a must. 

The narrow, winding alleys and hillside vantage points deliver sweeping views of Namsan Tower and the city below, giving travelers a tangible sense of the layers of modern Korean history. 

Beyond its historical depth, Haebangchon draws visitors with its famously relaxed, multi-cultural atmosphere and thriving café-and-dining scene. The neighborhood has evolved into a creative hub where Korean residents, long-term expats, and artists coexist, resulting in an eclectic mix of rooftop cafés with panoramic city views, specialty coffee shops, international eateries, and intimate bars tucked into converted old buildings. Here are 7 of the best cafés, restaurants and sweet spots you shouldn't miss on your visit to Haebangchon Village.

1) Le Montblanc café (르몽블랑)

Le Montblanc is a popular dessert café housed in a former knitting factory in Haebangchon’s Sinheung Market, famous for its hyper-realistic yarn-ball and sweater-shaped mousse cakes. Tourists love visiting for the whimsical Instagram-worthy desserts, the industrial-yet-cozy multi-floor space with rooftop views, and a unique experience that blends local history with creative pastry art.

Address: 99-4 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: +82 070-8887-8200

Website: https://www.instagram.com/le_montblanc/

2) SAY TOUCHÉ

SAY TOUCHÉ is a design-focused lifestyle brand flagship that combines a café with a curated shop and gallery-like spaces, co-created by AKMU’s Lee Chan-hyuk and photographer Lim Jae-rin. Its stylish, plant-covered exterior, multi-floor experience of coffee plus unique home objects and art, makes it a perfect stop for design lovers seeking an aesthetic, Instagrammable break in Haebangchon.

Address: 1F, 53 Noksapyeong-daero 32-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: Not publicly listed (mainly contact via Instagram)

Website: https://saytouche.kr/

3) Taco Stand (타코스탠드)

Tacostand is a casual Mexican taqueria in Haebangchon known for authentic street-style tacos (birria, carnitas, chorizo, and more) made with homemade tortillas and bold salsas, plus a lively terrace. Tourists seek it out for genuine Mexican flavors in a fun, colorful setting with outdoor seating—ideal for a relaxed meal with drinks while exploring the neighborhood’s hillside streets, provided that a two-hour wait is not a concern.

Address: 34 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: +82 010-9776-8989

Website: https://www.instagram.com/tacostandkr/

4) Gelateria Torre (젤라떼리아 토레)

Gelateria Torre is an artisanal gelato shop just outside the Sinheung Market that specializes in high-quality Italian-style gelato with creative seasonal flavors, such as Jeju Hallabong ricotta cream. Patrons love the fresh, refined scoops that stand out from typical ice cream, offering a refreshing and authentic sweet treat while strolling through Haebangchon’s lively market alleys.

Address: 97-1 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: Not publicly listed

Website: https://www.instagram.com/gelateria_torre/

5) Villa de Bleu

Villa de Bleu is a Mediterranean-inspired brunch and wine bar celebrated for its signature “cheese waterfall” aligot lasagna and Italian-French comfort dishes in a cozy, Amalfi-like setting. The main draw to the bar include the theatrical tableside cheese pour, solid wine list, and intimate atmosphere that works equally well for a leisurely brunch or a romantic dinner in Haebangchon.

Address: 1F, 30-1 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: +82 0507-1409-8242

Website: https://www.instagram.com/villadebleu_/

6) Le Chemin Patisserie

Le Chemin is a French-style pâtisserie in Haebangchon specializing in refined desserts, notably creative canelés and seasonal cakes (such as the Namsan Mont Blanc) crafted by skilled pastry chefs. The elegant, high-quality French pastries and cozy multi-level space, provides a sophisticated sweet stop that feels special during a day of neighborhood exploration.

Address: 1–2F, 101-1 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: +82 010-2764-0674

Website: https://www.instagram.com/le.chemin_seoul/?hl=en

7) Softbar

Softbar is a trendy soft-serve ice cream shop (with a branch in Seongsu-dong) known for unique, high-quality flavors like honey grapefruit yogurt, pistachio, and Dubai chocolate. It's a must-do for those who enjoy a quick, photogenic, and refreshing treat while walking the hills of Haebangchon, especially on warm days when a creative soft-serve cone perfectly complements the area’s casual café-hopping vibe.

Address: 1F, 93 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Tel: +82 0507-1487-0976

Website: https://www.instagram.com/softbar_official

Here's the map:      

    

Raison d'être 레종데트르 Hannamdong (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★★☆

After enjoying a very pleasant lunch at Y'east today, I took a leisurely walk around Dosan Park before firing up my Uber app to get my ride to Hangangjin station. Seoul’s subway system is pretty extensive, yet navigating from one corner of the city to another can still feel needlessly complicated. The journey from Apgujeong (狎鷗亭) to Hannam-dong (漢南洞) is a perfect example — taking the subway would have been a nightmare, while a Uber ride took no more than fifteen minutes.

Hannamdong is one of my favorite parts of the city. While it’s relatively small compared to Seongsu-dong (聖水洞), there’s no shortage of trendy cafés and boutiques. 

My first stop was supposed to be Jaein Patisserie but that didn’t really pan out. While there was no noticeably long queue in front, I was told that the waiting time for a table would take a whopping two hours! That's two hours I didn't have, so that put me onto Plan B...



Café Raison D'être (레종데트르) is a popular French-inspired boutique dessert and mousse cake café in Seoul with locations in Seochon, Hannam-dong, and Gwanghwamun. 

This branch in the affluent neighborhood of Hannam-dong is tucked away on the second floor of a commercial building. 

The café is known for treating its pastries like works of edible art, often showcasing the freshest Korean seasonal fruits.

Several of their signature creations were available, including “The Duck” (황색 소아/오리) — a striking yellow-duck-shaped mousse cake made with Jeju yuzu, apple, and peach compote that has gone viral but I ended up getting something else instead.

Iced Earl Grey milk tea (₩6,500) — Rich, creamy, and decadently sweet like the royal milk tea you find at street-side cafés. I didn’t mind the extra glucose to keep my energy up.

Fig cake (₩9,500) — A seasonal creation that makes excellent use of fresh figs currently in season.

The unsweetened figs were bursting with natural sweetness and freshness, and pairing them with a centre of fig compote was pure joy for any fig lover.

The delicate buckwheat mousse, with its mildly earthy and nutty notes, made the fruit’s sweetness stand out even more. I loved it.

I’m afraid that’s all the time I have for Hannam-dong on this trip. On each trip I take it upon myself to visit one new attraction, and this afternoon I’m heading to Haebangchon Village (解放村) in Yongsan-gu (龍山區), a historic hillside neighborhood known for its super-chill vibe and café scene.

Food Rating: 6.6/10

Price: ₩₩₩

Address: 683-36 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Closest Metro Station: Hangangjin

Tel: +82 0507-1385-1543

Website: https://www.instagram.com/raisondetre_dessert/?hl=en

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 7:30pm daily