Hongdae is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Seoul with shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife all in one place! Full of youthful energy and endless things to try, you’ll always stumble upon something new and exciting here. To help you make the most of your visit, here are the top five activities to enjoy in Hongdae!

How to get to Hongdae

Hongdae refers to the area around the Hongik University campus, and it’s easily accessible from three subway stations:

• Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX Airport Railroad, Gyeongui–Jungang Line)

• Hapjeong Station (Line 2, Line 6)

• Sangsu Station (Line 6)

You can start your journey from any of these stations to enjoy this neighborhood, as everything is within walking distance.

1. Explore the best eateries

Hongdae is one of the great spots to dine out. The streets are filled with diverse eateries featuring not only Korean delicacies, but also other international cuisines. You’ll be drooling over the many street food options and restaurants. Make sure to come to Hongdae with an empty stomach to enjoy the delicious treats to your heart’s content!

Pizza Never Sleeps

This pizza joint is famous for its slices topped with pepperoni, fried potatoes and refreshing draft beer. Try a half-and-half pizza so you don’t have to choose just one topping!

• Address: 4th floor, 73, Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: Noon–11 p.m. (Sun.–Thu.) / Noon–midnight (Fri.–Sat.)

Gangnam Pork Sanghoe

One of the best unlimited pork BBQ restaurants in Hongdae. With 23,900 won, you’ll taste various pork barbecue cuts as well as unlimited cold noodles, fried chicken with a special sauce, soft drinks, and incredibly fresh vegetables on the side.

• Address: 28 Hongik-ro 5an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map   

• Hours: 11:30 a.m – Midnight

2. Visit photogenic cafés

Hongdae is a paradise for Instagram lovers who enjoy touring beautiful picture-perfect cafés. There are many different cafés in the neighborhood including animal cafés (See side bar), themed cafés, and others with amazing interiors serving artistic desserts and drinks. Don’t miss capturing some amazing pics of your coffee and treats at a few of Hongdae’s beautiful cafés!

Coconut Box

This café transports you to Bali in the heart of Seoul. Enjoy pastries, desserts and beverages, all beautifully crafted by skilled pâtissiers and baristas. Right next to Coconut Box is the Trick Eye Museum, a great spot for creative and unique photo opportunities.

• Address: B2, 20 Hongik-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 9 a.m.–10 p.m. daily 

943 King’s Cross

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, don’t miss the chance to explore the magical world at this Harry Potter-themed café! Visitors can explore photo zones, complete wizard-themed missions and try desserts like Wizard Chocolate and Mandrake Cake. Admission includes one drink and a wizard package for the experience. 

• Address: 24, Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. (Mon.–Thu.) / 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m. (Fri.–Sun.)

• Admission: Adults 20,000 won / Children (12 and younger) 15,000 won / Free for children under 48 months

Shinleedoga (신이도가)

Shinleedoga is a stylish traditional hanok café where you can enjoy creative desserts like Teddy Bear Cake and Mango Cake paired with flavorful beverages. The café features plenty of photogenic spots, attracting many young visitors, and it connects to the next-door building, offering enough space.

• Address: Jandari-ro 20-12, Mapo-gu, Seoul (near Hapjeong Station Exit 3), Naver Map

• Hours: 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

3. Shopping K-beauty & K-fashion trends

Between Hongdae Shopping Street and Hongdae Festival Street, you’ll find countless shops and outdoor vendors offering Korean-style fashion, including clothing and accessories. The area is also home to many popular K-beauty brand stores, perfect for gift hunting.

• Hongde Shopping Street: 365-9 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hongdae Festival Street: 365-28 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

4. Find your inner child

Korean teens grow up enjoying various entertainment facilities, including singing rooms, PC cafés, board game cafés, arcades, and comic book cafés with their friends after school. Hongdae is home to many of these types of businesses. Feel like a kid again and enjoy a board game or an escape room while you’re visiting. Many of these entertainment spots have English-speaking staff, so gather your friends and have a blast!

Real Escape Room Challenge

• Address: 4th floor, 21, Wausan-ro 27-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Rock-Q Coin Singing Room (Noraebang)

• Address: 10 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

• Fees: 1,000 won for 3 songs or 8,000 won for 1 hour

5. Enjoy nightlife & bar hopping

Hongdae is undoubtedly one of the best nightlife spots in Seoul alongside Gangnam and Itaewon. Among these spots, Hongdae offers a more free and comfortable vibe, catering to people of all ages, including those new to nightlife. Check out some of the fun themed bars and clubs or bar-hop to find your favorite spot.

JASE

This trendy cocktail bar has creative drinks, a variety of snacks and adorable interior decorations.

• Address: 6-11, Wausan-ro 19-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Joseon Sidae (Joseon Dynasty)

Travel back to the Joseon Dynasty and enjoy traditional drinks, great Korean food and fun photo zones for cool pics with your friends.

• Address: B1, 44, Hongik-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: Noon–2:30 a.m. (Sun.–Thu.) / Noon–4 a.m. (Fri.–Sat.)

Enjoying cafés is a big part of Korean culture, and the country is home to a wide variety of unique cafés. Animal cafés stand out as a top tourist attraction among them. The blend of delectable desserts and cute animals continues to attract both locals and tourists, particularly in major cities like Seoul.

These cafés originally started with cat or dog themes, but now they have evolved to include even wild animals like meerkats and raccoons.

To ensure a positive and responsible experience, having a proper guide can be helpful to find cafés providing a safe and healthy environment for both the animals and visitors. In the Hongdae area of Seoul, you can explore a cluster of animal cafés conveniently located within a close distance. Visiting those cafés can give you fun and special experience of seeing adorable animals in the city. Check them out!

NOTE: South Korea now prohibits displaying wild mammals outside zoos. However, some existing businesses can continue displaying them through 2027. Also, some animal cafés operate under zoo licenses that allow them to legally display wild animals.

1. Thanks Nature Café

This lovely café not only serves amazing Korean desserts but also offers a unique opportunity to spend time with adorable lambs! Each year, the café owner visits Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm and carefully selects two lambs from the herd struggling to get their mother’s milk due to their small or weak physique. These chosen lambs are then raised as the stars of Thanks Nature Café. With dedicated and attentive care, the lambs grow up healthy and lively. As they mature, they are returned to Daegwallyeong, and new baby lambs take their place as the new stars.

Most animal cafés tend to focus on the interaction with animals, so they often have limited beverage and dessert menus. Also, the presence of roaming wild animals can sometimes lead to an unclean and odorous environment. However, Thanks Nature Café guarantees a leisurely time by separating the spaces for the lambs and the café area. The café also stands out for its desserts, especially its waffles and Korean shaved ice (bingsu). Another advantage is that there is no separate admission fee required unlike other animal cafés.

Enjoy a tasty dessert and hang out with fluffy, chubby lambs in Hongdae!

• Address: B1, 21 Seogyo Prugio Shopping Mall, 10 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

• Address: B121 Seogyo Prugio Shopping Mall, 10 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.

2. Day of Butler

Day of Butler is home to many rescued cats and welcomes visitors to spend time with them. It also serves as self-sustaining shelter, using café proceeds to care for the abandoned cats.

Each cat here receives good care and training so most of the cats are very healthy and friendly. They enjoy playing with visitors while sitting on their laps. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to pet and be surrounded by a bunch of adorable cats. Also, as the café has a spacious and clean environment, it’s a great spot to enjoy a refreshing drink. If you want more attention from the residents, you can purchase cat food for 3,000 won.

The café even has an adoption program for visitors who fall in love with any of the cats there. The requirements to apply include visiting the café at least three times to get to know the cat you’re interested in adopting.

Visting the café costs 10,000 won, drinks are a separate purchase. However, cat lovers see this fee as a donation and willingly contribute.

Please note that children aged 13 and below can only enter if accompanied by a guardian.

• Address: 2F Taekyung Building, 19-8 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: Noon– 10 p.m.

• Entrance fee: 10,000 won

3. Winter’s Village

This is one of Hongdae’s most popular spots, so you may have to wait in line on weekends to hang out with these beautiful dogs. Winter’s Village is famous for being home to over 10 Samoyeds, a Malamute and Pomeranian.

If you’re looking for a café to relax at a comfortable seat with fancy desserts and beverages, this might not be for you. However, if you want to cuddle, feed and hang out with these large fluffy dogs, then head on over!

Please be aware that since the Samoyeds shed a lot, people wearing dark-colored clothes or those with allergies should be cautious. Admission is available for ages 10 and above, and children aged 13 and below can enter if accompanied by a guardian.

• Address: 19-5, Wausan-ro 17-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Tuesday off)

• Entrance fee: 15,000 won

4. Table A

Table A is an indoor zoo animal café with the most diverse array of animals in Hongdae. It holds the official verification as an indoor zoo from Seoul City. As a certified zoo, Table A follows animal welfare standards and has trained caretakers looking after the animals.

The indoor zoo houses a variety of animals, including raccoons, meerkats, Fennec Foxes, and more in the five-story building. Visitors can interact with exotic animals like chinchillas and snakes under the instructions of the caretakers during specific program hours. Some animals like raccoons and cats are freely roaming around, but to catch the attention of these mischievous creatures, you might need to purchase some snacks. As there is a lot to see and enjoy, Table A assures a delightful time for visitors of all ages!

Table Table A also features a cat café in the next-door building, accessible with the same ticket. Those who purchase an entrance ticket can get a 20% discount on all beverages.

Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a guardian during their visit.

• Address: 146 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

• Hours: Noon – 9 p.m.

• Entrance fee:  18,000 won (Both the indoor zoo and cat cafe for 2 hours)

Going on a snacking tour in Hongdae is a fun way to discover a variety of Korean foods and treats. Enjoy the snacks while strolling around the lively streets brimming with a youthful atmosphere, street performances and trendy shops. Sampling the neighborhood’s street-food options has become a popular social media trend, so don’t be surprised to see locals and tourists taking videos and photos of Hongdae’s delicious offerings.

Street Food Alley

Head to Hongdae’s Street Food Alley where you’ll find candied fruit skewers, waffles, cakes, donuts, ice cream and more. FYI, some famous shops may have long lines, but don’t hesitate to line up as your turn will come quickly and is worth the wait.

• Address: Hongik-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Naver Map

32cm Ice Cream

Enjoy the challenge of finishing this long soft ice cream for 3,000 won. It’s served with one or two flavors in a single ice cream cone and the options include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mango, yogurt, and green tea. Be mindful of holding it carefully to prevent it from falling to the ground!

Candied Fruit (Tanghulu)

Candied fruit is a stick of fresh strawberries or grapes, coated with hardened sugar syrup. Every bite offers a great balance of sweetness and tartness.

Marshmallow Ice Cream

Inspired by roasting marshmallows over an open fire, this sweet treat doesn’t require a campfire. Choose from the available ice cream flavors and watch as the vendor uses a blow torch to roast the outer marshmallow right before your eyes. The toasted marshmallow exterior pairs well with the creamy, ice-cold ice cream inside.

Crepe

Crepes are a popular street dessert in Hongdae packed with sweet and colorful toppings. You can choose from combinations of fruit, Nutella, whipped cream and more, and strawberry and banana are especially popular choices.

Hello: Annyeong-haseyo (안녕하세요)

Thanks: Gamsa-hamnida (감사합니다)

Snack: Gansik (간식)

Let’s try this: Igeo meogeo-boja (이거 먹어보자) *Informal

What’s inside?: Ane mwo-ga deureo-isseoyo? (안에 뭐가 들어있어요?)

Can I have this one?: Igeo hana juseyo (이거 하나 주세요)

How much is it?: Igeo eolmayeyo? (이거 얼마예요?)

What is the other flavor?: Dareun maseun mwo-yeyo? (다른 맛은 뭐예요?)

It’s delicious!: Masisseoyo! (맛있어요!)

Korean

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