Have you heard of Seongsu-dong, also known as the Brooklyn of Seoul? This area shares a similar kind of history and atmosphere of its American counterpart. Seongsu-dong was once an industrial town in Seoul, home to many local handmade shoemakers. As the shoe-making factories shut down, it soon became a ghost town.ย
In 2011, young creatives started heading back to the area due to the low rent prices and easy access to transportation. Young artists and designers have transformed many of the old buildings into hipster cafes and restaurants.
Seoul-metro-211-Seongsu-station-platform ยฉ LERK / wikimedia
No idea about what is going on in Seongsu-dong? Keep reading on and checking out my list of most stylish cafes in Seongsu-dong!
How to get to Seongsu-dong
When people talk about Seongsu-dong and the hot places, cool cafes, and hip spots, they are talking about the area that can be reached from Seongsu Subway Station, Konkuk University Subway Station, and Ttukseom Subway Station. Those subway stations are all on metro Line 2 (green line).
The cafes that I am going to introduce in this post are easily accessible by short walk from Seongsu Subway station
Daelim Warehouse (๋๋ฆผ์ฐฝ๊ณ )
Daelim Warehouse is a cafe/restaurant/gallery all in one place. It was built in an old, red-brick building that was once a warehouse. I could say that this is one of the most unique cafes in Seongsu-dong. I was amazed by its modern decos, very stylish. As you enter through the large, heavy doors, you will pass by Yang Jeong-ukโs works that look like the skeletons of huge animals from the ice age, after which you will step into a wide-open space.
After placing an order at the counter, I had a quick walk around the cafe. It is very spacious, spacious enough to grow trees inside. Also, there are many big tables that were laid out spaciously, definitely a great spot for big groups and families.
The ceiling beams inside the cafe are exposed. You can enjoy a cup of coffee while staring at the clear blue sky. The sunlight that streams down from above combined with the trees planted inside makes the whole space feel rather surreal.
Daerim warehouse offers a variety of food and beverage options at a reasonable price. My friends and I were too full so we just got ourselves a cup of coffee the other day.
Address: 78 Seongsu-ro, Seongsu-dong 2(i)-ga, Seoul
Opening hours: Every day 11 AM โ 11 PM
Contact: 02-499-9669
*Opening hours are subject to change at the ownerโs discretion
*There is an entrance fee of 10,000 KRW which includes one drink on weekends.
Baesan Warehouse Cafe (๋ฐ์ด์ฐ์ฝ๋ฆฌ์)
Other than Daelim Warehouse, this is another huge warehouse cafe in Seongsu-dong. And what is interesting is that Baesan Warehouse Cafe is just next door to Daelim Warehouse. Baesan Warehouse Cafe, in comparison, is a bit crazier with pops of color and pop-art displays. My friends and I had no clue about its concept or vibes and hence, were pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed when we reached.
If you are a big fan of Korean variety shows, you might have watched this show called โHow do you play?โ (๋๋ฉด ๋ญํ๋). It airs on MBC and this show was started in order to find out what Yoo Jae-suk would be doing during his days off. Baesan Warehouse Cafe was one of the filming locations for the show.
According to the staff there, Baesan Warehouse Cafe sometimes also doubles up as an event space. One of its latest events was the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Launch Party. How cool it is!
As my friends and I already had enough coffee, so we just ordered flora tea and two pieces of cakes to be shared among three people. The cheesecake reminded me of my childhood memory. Any Tom and Jerry fans here? The cheesecake looked exactly the same as the one that belongs in Tom and Jerry.
Good news for coffee drinkers: the coffee actually costs less than the tea at this cafe!
Address: 78, Seongsu-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04784, South Korea
Opening hours: Every day 11 AM โ 12 AM
Contact: 02-6238-8130
Endnote
My friends and I really enjoyed our time at both cafes although our wallets bled. Not one bit of regret! Also, I look forward to exploring more nice cafes in Seoul again after the corona pandemic. Stay safe everyone.
Read more: Seongsu Handmade Shoes Street- The Art Of Tailored Craftsmanship
