Haebangchon Sinheung Market Guide: Cafes & Shops
Step into Seoul's past and present at Haebangchon's Sinheung Market. Discover hidden vintage alleys, trendy rooftop cafes, and unique local shops.
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Step into Seoul's past and present at Haebangchon's Sinheung Market. Discover hidden vintage alleys, trendy rooftop cafes, and unique local shops.
This weekend, I finally made my way back to the Itaewon area!
Itaewon, Huam-dong, Haebangchon, Sinheung Market...
The names can be a bit confusing if you don't visit often, but
after exploring it myself, I finally got the lay of the land! 😎
Thanks to a friend who recommended a great spot for my upcoming birthday,
we had a delicious lunch near Seoul Station before moving toward Huam-dong and Haebangchon.
We ended up getting off the bus one stop early
and took a stroll through the streets of Huam-dong.
The Cliff Cafe is incredibly famous around here,
and it's so popular that there's usually a waitlist.
Looking at it from afar, watching the sunset from one of those prime seats
seemed amazing, but I figured you'd probably have to visit on a weekday
to easily grab a table.
Walking down the stairs from the bus stop,
we saw lots of trendy, young locals
snapping photos everywhere.
We walked past Cliff Cafe and headed
towards Haebangchon's Sinheung Market.
Summer is just kicking off, but the sun was already blazing hot.
You'll spot tiny boutique clothing stores
and hidden eateries tucked into the alleyways.
🚩 2F, 95-9 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
At first glance at the entrance, we wondered, "Is this really the place?"
It was packed with people and felt like an old-school market alley.
Now a massive hotspot in Haebangchon, Sinheung Market
actually began as a traditional market in the 1950s
for refugees after the liberation of Korea.
Today, these vintage market alleys have been transformed
into a hub of hipster cafes and trendy restaurants,
famous for their stunning rooftop views.
Reading reviews online, people mentioned that stepping in here
feels like you've been transported to another country.
(The atmosphere is completely unique...)
Vintage buildings, bustling crowds, a huge expat community,
and plenty of restaurants with terrace seating.
Most of the cafes and eateries are on the smaller, cozier side.
We usually go for Korean BBQ,
but today we wanted something different, so we decided
to check out a famous Chinese-fusion restaurant.
Before heading to the famous local gift shop,
we explored the surrounding area.
The shops are tiny but packed with adorable keychains and plushies.
There's even a charming little flower shop! ~~ 🌸🌷🌹
After putting our names on a restaurant waitlist, we headed over to
the 'Cat Allergy' gift shop. It was less than a 5-minute walk.
We also spotted Nogari Factory up ahead, where
plenty of people were enjoying cold beers at outdoor tables.
I'd seen so many reviews for a place called Cat Allergy,
so we had to pop in for a look.
* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊
Stamps, stickers, birthday cards...
If you love cats, you'll go crazy for all the cute items here. 😸😽
I actually spilled coffee at a cafe earlier in the day (my socks got totally soaked ㅠㅠ...), so I went in hoping to buy a new pair of socks.
But seeing that a single pair of socks was over ~$15,
I realized this place was a bit out of my budget... ಠ_ಠ
Took some quick snaps of these fuzzy pipe-cleaner dolls and tiny dishes. ㅎㅎ
Someone who clearly majored in piano was playing a beautiful tune.
Thanks for the free concert! 🎹🎶🎵🎧 lol
While we were looking around, we got the notification
that our table was ready. Time to move!
On the way back, we passed a taco joint and a beautiful
Western-style restaurant called Neighbors. We made a mental note to visit Neighbors after dinner.
We didn't originally plan to eat here, but
the sign caught our eye, so we looked up H5NG.
It's an Asian-fusion spot
where we tried the Mongolian Beef.
I'll save the full review for another post since this one is getting long!
The food, including the mapo tofu and dumplings, was generally
pretty good. Just a heads up: a bottle of beer here costs ~$7,
so don't drink too recklessly or the bill might surprise you! 🫠
Right after dinner, we hopped over to the place next door.
We missed out on the first rooftop bar we saw,
but this place totally made up for it. ㅎㅎ
The 3rd floor is completely outdoors, and
the 2nd floor seating is great too at Neighbors.
It's a super popular spot with lots of international guests
and a huge staff.
💟 Most people were having dinner
(they mainly serve Western dishes like steak and pasta),
but the atmosphere is absolutely perfect for a romantic date.
🍰 For dessert, they mainly serve tarts.
We tried the highly recommended Banoffee Tart.
The combination of mascarpone cream, caramel sauce, tart crust, and bananas
was out of this world.
🍹 Cocktails were priced around ~$12.
(Full review coming soon ✔️)
Haebangchon Sinheung Market Guide: Hidden Gems & Rooftops
🤍 It was such a fun day out in Itaewon!
It's a great date course (though introverts might find the crowds a bit draining...)
and a perfect spot to hang out with friends.
🩵 If you're looking for a unique date idea, I highly recommend this route (gift shops, dinner, and a bar). If you're not sure what to do this weekend, definitely check these places out!
Since there are no subway stations right next to the market, we took the Yongsan 02 mini-bus
down to Sookmyung Women's Univ. Station to head home. A quick warning: the roads are incredibly narrow and steep. I almost fell over while standing on the bus, so if you're taking public transit, hold onto the handles tight!
It was a super fun day! 💖
📍 Haebangchon Sinheung Market
2F, 95-9 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Check out my cafe review here 🔻
Haebangchon Shinheung Market started as a traditional market in the 1950s and has transformed into a vibrant place with trendy cafes and restaurants nestled in its vintage alleys. It's particularly known for its many rooftop restaurants with great views. The bustling atmosphere and numerous foreign visitors give it the feeling of being on an overseas trip.
The 'Cat Allergy' souvenir shop sells a variety of cute items for cat lovers, such as stamps, stickers, and birthday cards. Socks here are priced around ~$13 per pair.
H5NG (Hong) specializes in Chinese cuisine, offering dishes such as Mongolian beef, Mapo Tofu, and dumplings. A bottle of beer here is sold for ~$6.
Since there's no subway station near Haebangchon Shinheung Market, you can take Yongsan Bus No. 02 to Sookmyung Women's University Station. However, please note that the bus route has many narrow and steep sections, so the ride might be bumpy. Be sure to hold onto the handrail for safety.
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