Haebangchon Sinheung Market Guide: Cafes & Shops

Haebangchon Sinheung Market

Seoul Date Course Guide

Sinheung Market Hidden Gems

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! 😎

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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.

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1. Huam-dong Rooftop Cafes

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We ended up getting off the bus one stop early

and took a stroll through the streets of Huam-dong.

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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.

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Walking down the stairs from the bus stop,

we saw lots of trendy, young locals

snapping photos everywhere.

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We walked past Cliff Cafe and headed

towards Haebangchon's Sinheung Market.

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Summer is just kicking off, but the sun was already blazing hot.

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You'll spot tiny boutique clothing stores

and hidden eateries tucked into the alleyways.

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2. Sinheung Market Location

🚩 2F, 95-9 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

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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.

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Now a massive hotspot in Haebangchon, Sinheung Market

actually began as a traditional market in the 1950s

for refugees after the liberation of Korea.

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Today, these vintage market alleys have been transformed

into a hub of hipster cafes and trendy restaurants,

famous for their stunning rooftop views.

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3. The Vibe at Sinheung Market

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Reading reviews online, people mentioned that stepping in here

feels like you've been transported to another country.

(The atmosphere is completely unique...)

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Vintage buildings, bustling crowds, a huge expat community,

and plenty of restaurants with terrace seating.

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Most of the cafes and eateries are on the smaller, cozier side.

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We usually go for Korean BBQ,

but today we wanted something different, so we decided

to check out a famous Chinese-fusion restaurant.

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4. Haebangchon Date Course

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Before heading to the famous local gift shop,

we explored the surrounding area.

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The shops are tiny but packed with adorable keychains and plushies.

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There's even a charming little flower shop! ~~ 🌸🌷🌹

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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.

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We also spotted Nogari Factory up ahead, where

plenty of people were enjoying cold beers at outdoor tables.

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5. Sinheung Market Gift Shops

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I'd seen so many reviews for a place called Cat Allergy,

so we had to pop in for a look.

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* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊

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Stamps, stickers, birthday cards...

If you love cats, you'll go crazy for all the cute items here. 😸😽

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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.

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But seeing that a single pair of socks was over ~$15,

I realized this place was a bit out of my budget... ಠ_ಠ

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Took some quick snaps of these fuzzy pipe-cleaner dolls and tiny dishes. ㅎㅎ

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Someone who clearly majored in piano was playing a beautiful tune.

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Thanks for the free concert! 🎹🎶🎵🎧 lol

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While we were looking around, we got the notification

that our table was ready. Time to move!

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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.

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6. Dining at H5NG

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We didn't originally plan to eat here, but

the sign caught our eye, so we looked up H5NG.

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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!

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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! 🫠

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7. Neighbors Rooftop Bar

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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

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The 3rd floor is completely outdoors, and

the 2nd floor seating is great too at Neighbors.

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It's a super popular spot with lots of international guests

and a huge staff.

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💟 Most people were having dinner

(they mainly serve Western dishes like steak and pasta),

but the atmosphere is absolutely perfect for a romantic date.

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🍰 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.

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🍹 Cocktails were priced around ~$12.

(Full review coming soon ✔️)

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8. Final Thoughts

Haebangchon Sinheung Market Guide: Hidden Gems & Rooftops

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🤍 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.

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🩵 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!

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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!

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It was a super fun day! 💖

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📍 Haebangchon Sinheung Market
2F, 95-9 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Check out my cafe review here 🔻

Neighbors Rooftop Bar Review