Ikseon-dong: The Trendiest {Tourist-Free} Neighborhood in Seoul

Before arriving to Seoul, Gena was told about a trendy neighborhood called Ikseon-dong from her Korean co-teacher. She described it as ‘up-and-coming’ and not quite as touristy when compared to other major neighborhoods in Seoul: Hongdae, Itaewon, Meyong-dong {to name a few}. From that point on, the two of us made it a priority to check it out for ourselves. 

Gena and I visited Ikseon-dong after a morning exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Bukchon Hanok Village. We hopped on the bus for a 5 minute ride until we arrived at, what appeared to be, a bleak side street. I was a bit skeptic as we carried on through an alley way – this wouldn’t be the first time I fell victim to a questionable location Gena has lead me to {lolz}.

But, to both of our surprise, we had stumbled upon a complete hidden gem.

As we ventured further along the alley, I began to hear mumbled voices. Suddenly, we were standing in a small crossroad with the most charming side streets at every corner. Only a handful of narrow alleys lie within Ikseon-dong, and each one is more delightful than the next.

The neighborhood is one of the oldest in Seoul, so most of the buildings are hanoks {traditional Korean style homes}. That being said, a modern influence is apparent in the Insta-worthy cafes, restaurants, clothing and jewelry boutiques. As mentioned in my previous post, there is something to be said about old world meeting new world, as it does so often in Seoul. That’s one of the things that intrigues me most about the city.

Artists and fashion designers were the original creators behind the magic of Ikseon-dong back in 2013. You’ll find multiple art galleries open to the public, and a number of chic boutiques carrying the latest trends. Vintage Bonnie sells vintage {obviously} items dating as far back as the 1920’s. Overall though, it has an 80’s vibe, so it’s fun to take a peek inside the colorful shop – no purchase necessary!

As we continued to wander, we passed by a small jewelry store with a prominent {yet classy} ‘SALE’ sign. Like crows, we noticed something shiny and were hooked. The gorgeous, handmade jewelry sold from The Poetry is definitely worth a look. Following some shopping, we agreed it was time for a coffee break.

The cafe culture alone is reason enough to visit Ikseon-dong.

With only an afternoon to spare, we didn’t have too much time to spend cafe hopping, but there were definitely a couple stand outs. The first one being Madang Flower Cafe. This flower shop/cafe hybrid stole my heart the moment I laid eyes upon it. I dragged Gena inside for a look and instantly felt like I had entered a glamorous greenhouse.

Ironically enough, the second cafe we visited was already on my list of cafes to hunt down in Seoul. Little did I know, it was located in the center of Ikseon-dong. Seoul Coffee is everything you could ask for in a cafe – and then some. The architects that designed it removed the ceiling to provide natural sunlight, while still keeping the traditional hanok structure intact. Another example of old meets new, Seoul Coffee is extremely unique. The locals adore this cafe, so make sure you arrive early to snag a spot.

And finally, we made our way to Tiger Tiger. About a 5 minute walk from the center of Ikseon-dong, you’ll find Tiger Tiger on a remote side street. This botanical-themed cafe was the perfect location to cool off after walking around in 85% humidity. The cafe claims to have an outdoor patio, however we were so insistent upon finding air conditioning that we didn’t even notice.

What we did notice upon arrival, however, was the fabulous interior. I’m telling you – South Korea is ‘yaaas queen’ of cafe culture. They’ve nailed it. After vanilla lattes and some classic Gena and Rachel conversation, it was time to venture back out into the city and continue our afternoon.

Overall, my first impression of Ikseon-dong was a positive one. I am so grateful for Gena and her CT {shout out} for guiding us to one of the lesser-known areas of the city. Don’t get me wrong, the locals are all over it, so you’ll still have your fair share of bumping and shoving as you navigate the narrow alleys. But in terms of tourists, this neighborhood has only just began gaining credibility.

Ikseon-dong is located in Jongno, Seoul and can be easily reached by bus {MAP}.

You can read the full blog post about my first 48 hours in Seoul here.