With the rise of retro and vintage trends in South Korea nowaday, you can see everything related to this wave are taking all over social media platform like Facebook, Instagram and Naver blogs. The retro trend does not cover only the fashion, but also in music, food, arcades and many more. More and more retro spaces like retro-styled cafes, bars and restaurants have been poping up alll over the place.
Hotel Soosunhwa (ํธํ ์์ ํ)
You might think that Hotel Soosunhwa is a hotel when you first hear the name. But it is not! Instead of accommodation, Hotel Soosunhwa is a cafe and bar located in Euljiro area.
Hotel Soosunhwa is established on the 4th floor of an old building located in an area full of printing factories. The space is so understated that you would just walk past and you might not even realize there is a cafe here.
As you can see in the photos, the exterior appearance of Hotel Soosunhwa is definitely not something attractive you would happen to walk into.
The Interior of Hotel Soosunhwa
Walking into the space, the retro style interior brought me back in time to the 90s.
According to Louise Park, a Korean fashion photographer who designed the interior of Hotel Soosunhwa, the interior is inspired by combining the images conjured from two wordsโthe modern, Western nuances of โhotelโ and โsoosunhwaโ (which means narcissus flower in Korean), signifying the status of Euljiro neighborhood as the classical center of Seoul.
The interior features a mix of East and West elements: eastern and western paintings, floral lampshades and wooden furniture. There are also a lot of antiques on display, adding to the warm ambiance and making it a perfect place to enjoy tea and brunch.
The photogenic and Instagramable space is one of the reasons that Hotel Soosunhwa is gaining a lot of popularity among the youngsters. I would say everything is perfect here.
Food and Beverages
Hotel Soosunhwa offers a wide range of food and drinks. From coffee, tea, beer, wine to various types of cocktails, you can definitely get something that suits your taste!
We ordered a cup of flat white, Schisandra fruit ade, banana toast and Soosunhwa Open Sandwich.
I would say that the Soosunhwa Open Sandwich is the best sandwitch that I have ever had in town! Highly recommend to try this out!
I spend a few hours here chitchating with my friend and working on my laptop.
The dining environment is sort of dim and a bit noisy. It is not a good choice if you want to look for a quiet space to spend some time reading books.
Operating Hours
Every day: from 12.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.
How to get there?
Walk out from Euljiro 3(sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 2 or Subway Line 3, Exit 10). Hotel Soosunhwa is just 2 minutes walking distance from the station exit.
Address: 4F, 17, Chungmu-ro 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul.
Endnotes
If you would like to find somewhere peaceful away from the hustle and bustle, I highly recommend you to come and explore the hidden alleyways in Euljiro. There is another kind of excitement exploring all those hidden gems encompassing this neighborhood. You will definitely be amazed by these unique sides of Seoul!
