Ikseon-dong Hanok Village

Ikseon-dong's hanok houses date to the 1920s, when developer Jung Se-gwon built Korea's first 'urban hanok' complex — traditional-style homes redesigned for city living, with plumbing and electricity added in. The area faced a redevelopment plan in the early 2000s that would have replaced it with high-rises, but that plan was scrapped and the neighborhood was preserved instead.

The current café scene started small: in 2014, a single renovated hanok cafe opened here, and by 2015 the whole area had filled up with cafes, bars, bakeries, and restaurants tucked into century-old houses. It's now one of Seoul's most photographed neighborhoods.

Honest heads-up: many of these hanok cafes are tiny — expect a wait at popular spots, especially on weekends. It's a short walk from Insadong and Jongno 3-ga Station, so it pairs easily with either.