I originally planned to make a quick solo trip to Pace Gallery in Hannam-dong(한남동) because an exhibition I wanted to see was coming to an end. Then I made lunch plans with a friend, and the day turned into a longer route through Itaewon(이태원), Hannam-dong (around Hangangjin Station/한강진역), and eventually Ichon Hangang Park(이촌한강공원) (to be continued in Part 2).
Personally, I thought this was a great route whether you’re exploring on your own or spending the day with a friend. One small warning, This is a fairly walking-heavy route, so I’d recommend it if you enjoy exploring Seoul on foot.
We decided to go to Tac, a New York-style fusion taco restaurant, for lunch. It opens at noon, and when I arrived around 11:40 AM, there was already a tablet next to the entrance where we could join the waitlist. I didn’t realize this at first, though. I spent some time looking around the neighborhood and didn’t actually join the waitlist until after 11:50. As a result, we didn’t get seated until around 12:40. So, definitely join the waitlist as soon as you arrive! If I had joined at 11:40, we probably could have gone in shortly after they opened.
CAMBAG HANNAM
- Address: 58-13 Itaewon-ro 54-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Hours: Open 24 hours, year-round
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cambag.era
- Map: Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
While we were waiting, we needed somewhere to spend some time. After looking around some brand showrooms and select shops, we came across CAMBAG, a photo booth I hadn’t seen before, and naturally had to try it.
What I found particularly interesting was that you could choose from different camera styles, including vintage, film-camera, and old digital-camera looks. I also liked that there was a booth where you could take photos against a black background. We went with color photos this time, but next time, I’d like to try the black background with black-and-white photos.
+One small thing that caught me off guard was that the camera had trouble focusing a few times. It worked fine after I held up my palm to help it focus before taking the photo. Other than that, I really liked this photo booth because it had a distinctive feel.
TAC
- Address: B1, 28-4 Itaewon-ro 42-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
After wandering around the neighborhood for a while, we finally got the notification that our table was ready and headed to Tac. The two of us initially ordered two pieces each of the fish taco and octopus taco, along with a beer each. One thing to note is that you order by checking off your choices on a paper menu with a pen.
The tacos were completely different from the ones I’d had before. Personally, I found the octopus taco particularly interesting and delicious. The octopus was incredibly tender, and I really liked the combination with the grilled bell peppers. The fish taco was also good, but personally, I preferred the one I had at Mexicali. So next time, I’d probably try something different. (That’s just my personal preference, though. Tac’s fish taco has very good reviews, so I’d still recommend trying it if it’s your first visit.)
We were still a little hungry, so we ordered the corn ribs as well. I already knew they were one of the popular menu items, and after trying them, I could understand why. The seasoning tasted strangely familiar, but it worked so well with the corn. Most importantly, it paired incredibly well with beer. We probably should have ordered it alongside the tacos from the beginning, but it turned out to be an especially good beer snack on its own.
PACE GALLERY
- Address: 267 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM / Closed Sundays and Mondays
- Official Website: https://www.pacegallery.com/
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
After filling ourselves up, we headed to the main destination of the day: Pace Gallery. The exhibition was a solo exhibition by ceramic artist Young Sook Park(박영숙) titled ‘When Form Meets Gesture‘. It was a special opportunity to see collaborative works by Park Young-sook and Lee Ufan(이우환), combining Park’s iconic moon jars(달항아리) with Lee Ufan’s brushstrokes.
The gallery has also previously exhibited works by artists such as Mark Rothko. If the timing works out, I’d recommend checking it out when you’re visiting Hannam-dong, especially if you enjoy contemporary art and gallery-hopping.
PASSION5
- Address: 272 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion5_kr/
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
TERRACE HANNAM
- Address: B1, 272 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Map: Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Because of my friend’s schedule, we couldn’t continue farther, so we needed to find a cafe near the gallery(+Hangangjin Station). Of course, it would have been nice to find a smaller, more unique cafe, but it was around the time when everyone seemed to be heading to cafes. We wanted somewhere spacious and close by, so we ended up at Passion5.
You can think of Passion5 as a premium version of Paris Baguette(Bakery). It has been around for quite some time, and there’s a huge variety of bread and desserts to choose from. Right downstairs is Terrace Hannam, a brunch cafe. You can simply order a coffee or other drink there, bring down bread and desserts you bought from Passion5 on the first floor, or have a full brunch meal.
There are plenty of seats, and the central courtyard lets in plenty of natural light, so the space doesn’t feel enclosed or stuffy. There are also restaurants on the upper floors of the building, so it’s worth keeping them in mind if you’re in the area.
The rest of our route — from CAMBAG and Tac to Pace Gallery, Passion5/Terrace Hannam, Hyundai Card Music Library, Travertine Hannam, and finally Ichon Hangang Park — continues in Part 2.
Safe travels, Soy Kim
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Art Galleries and K-Fashion: A Rainy Day Guide to Hannam-dong, Seoul
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