9 Must-Visit Aesthetic Korean Cafes in Ikseon-dong, Seoul | 2024 Ikseon-dong Cafe Guide
These are all the best, most popular aesthetic cafes to visit in Ikseondong, including salt bread bakeries, cheese-themed cafes, and more!
Ikseondong is a small Hanok village established in the 1920s that quickly became one of the trendiest spots in Seoul, especially for cafes. This place is like a small maze full of unique cafes, restaurants, and shops with a wonderful combination of modernity and tradition.
The Ikseondong Hanok Street is filled with Hanok-inspired architecture and has lots of spots for cute photos! For more guides on places to eat and things to do in the Ikseondong area, check out our blogs in the links below:
Ikseondong Shopping & Activity Guide | 2024
1. Cheongsudang | 청수당
This is probably one of the most famous cafes in Ikseondong! The highlight of this cafe is the hanok interior decorated with a lush green bamboo forest and mystical lanterns. It brings a rare sense of peace amidst the bustling, crowded heart of Seoul.
All the furniture inside is made of wood, bringing a cozy and luxurious space. Although there are many seating areas, Cheongsudang is very popular so if you come during peak hours, you may have to wait in line. We recommend coming as soon as it opens!
Drinks and cakes at Cheongsudang are extremely high quality and premium, so they are a bit on the pricier side. The menu items here are delicious and the space is really beautiful, so it's worth the price!
They recently added new items to their menu, the Yakgwa Set, which comes in 4 or 7 pieces. The 4-piece set comes with the flavors egg, matcha, black sesame, and pistachio.
Hours: 10:30 - 21:00 (Last Order 20:30)
Address: 31-9, Donhwamun-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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2. Cafe Highwaist Ikseon | 카페하이웨스트 익선점
If you like the vintage, European-style aesthetic, then Cafe Highwaist is a good place for you to relax in Ikseondong. Both the interior and exterior have a cream color tone, and the decorations make the cafe perfect for cute photos.
As soon as you step in, you will be overwhelmed by the super luxurious and beautiful cake counter at Cafe Highwaist. From the famous vintage animal cakes and scones to other pastries and cakes, there are many choices for you select from!
Cafe Highwaist is the perfect spot to enjoy a variety of sweet desserts and coffee or tea with friends! You can even get a free drink (10,000 KRW or less) with your purchase and skip the line with the Creatrip Pass! Get it for special access to the best cafes & restaurants in Seoul here:
If you have a birthday to celebrate, you can also get one of their cute vintage animal cakes! Not only are they super cute, they're delicious and great for photos.
Cafe Highwaist is famous because many K-pop idols get these vintage animal cakes for their birthdays. Even Jimin from BTS gifted this cake to SUGA for his birthday! You can reserve a cake for pickup here:
Hours: 9:00 - 22:00
Address: 18, Donhwamun-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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3. Soha Salt Pond Ikseon-dong | 소하염전 익선
Ikseondong is known for its Hanok cafes and Soha Salt Pond is one of the most beloved spots. Right from the entrance, you will see a small garden with plants and a water mill with a little blue pond!
Soha Salt Pond in Ikseondong is most known for its delicious variety of salt bread, from classic original to truffle squid ink and pollock roe! The other pastries and drinks are delicious as well.
Not only is the cafe itself super aesthetic, the pastries and coffee are super cute as well. This cafe spot is delicious and just such a great place to chill at!
Hours: 9:00-21:00 (Last Order 20:30)
Address: 21-5, Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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4. Jayeondo Salt Bread | 자연도소금빵
Another popular spot to get fresh salt bread in Ikseondong is Jayeondo Salt Bread. There are multiple locations of this cafe, but the Ikseon-dong location is probably the prettiest one! There's a huge Hallabong tree among the outdoor seating area, which makes for the cutest photos.
You can order the salt bread in packs of 4 minimum (12,000 KRW), and they come in a cute paper packaging. They only sell the classic salt bread here, which is extremely fluffy, buttery, and crispy on the bottom! At Jayeondo Salt Bread, you stand in one line to order on the kiosk and then another line to pick up your order, since it can get quite crowded.
On the left side of the bakery, there's a separate counter to order drinks. You can get coffee, or opt for the fresh Hallabong juice, which comes with a full Hallabong orange with it!
Hours: 9:00-22:00
Address: 21-17 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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5. Mil Toast House | 밀토스트집
You may have seen this bakery on TikTok or Instagram before, as it went viral a couple years ago among tourists. Mil Toast is most known for their fluffy steamed bread as well as the cute, simple interior.
This place is always bustling with people coming in and out, and if you don't come early, you'll have to wait and might not be able to enjoy the famous steamed bread because it sells out very quickly! The interior has a really nice woody vibe and has both tables and bar seats, where you can watch the employees prepare bread and make coffee.
This is the famous steamed bread (스팀식빵), which comes wrapped in a cloth and steamer. You can get in plain, chestnut, or sweet potato. It costs 12,500-13,000 KRW based on the type that you order. For a more detailed review on Mil Toast House, check out our blog in the link below:
Hours: 8:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:30)
Address: 30-3, Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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6. Rami Scone | 라미스콘
Rami Scone brings a completely different atmosphere compared to the many Hanok cafes here. From the outside, Rami Scone stands out with its white walls and beautiful pastry display.
The cafe is unique because even though you are indoors, you'll feel like you're sitting outside because of all the windows on the side and even the roof! Rami Scone is one of the few cafes that offer vegetarian and gluten-free options in Ikseon-dong.
The fluffy souffle cheesecake is very popular and also gluten-free! There are also many delicious coffee and tea options to choose from.
Hours: 11:00 - 22:00
Address: 25 Donhwamun-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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7. Nak-Won Station | 낙원역
This is a cafe in Ikseon-dong that almost everyone who passes by stops to take a photo of because it is extremely beautiful and unique! The most famous part of Nak-won Station is the small railway track at the entrance.
The counter also has a little conveyer belt with all their desserts displayed on it! It's another unique aspect of this cafe that is really fun to see and take videos of. There is both indoor and outdoor seating here, so you can take your pick, but it is usually pretty crowded.
There are a variety of coffee, tea, cakes, and pastries to choose from and enjoy at this beautiful cafe in Ikseondong!
Hours: 11:30-22:30
Address: 33-5 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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8. Dongbaek Bakery | 동백양과점 익선
This is a cafe opened in 2017 in Ikseondong and still maintains a its popularity. At Dongbaek Bakery, you can enjoy delicious souffle pancakes in a vintage space.
If you sit at the bar, you can watch the barista making coffee and preparing drinks! The vintage decorations and tableware add to the old-school, comfy vibe.
At Dongbaek Bakery, the most famous dish is the souffle pancake, which is soft, fluffy, and sweet! The drinks here are very good as well, especially the strawberry tea with fresh strawberry slices inside. Check out our full review in the link below:
Hours: 12:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:30)
Address: 17-24, Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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9. Cheese Industry | 치즈인더스트리
If you're a fan of cheesy desserts, you have to check out Cheese Industry in Ikseondong, which is a cheese-themed cafe! The cafe is designed to resemble a cheese factory, with industrial machinery and cheese wheels as decoration.
You can find a variety of cheesecakes, pastries, bread, and crackers. They also sell coffee, tea, and ade. There are so many options to choose from, it may be hard to hold back from ordering too much!
They even have a selection of red and white wine, which pairs perfectly with cheese!
Hours: 10:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:30)
Address: 33-7 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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Ikseondong Food Guide
We hope that you can visit some of these super aesthetci cafes in Ikseondong! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com. You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!