After picking up a small cake from Patisserie Decide (Art, Local Markets, and Pastries: A Rainy Day Walk Through Samcheong-dong, Seoul), located in the back alleys behind the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), I headed over to Seochon(서촌) for my evening appointment. Having walked around quite a bit on my own, my legs were starting to feel a bit sore, and all I wanted was to quickly find a café with an open seat during peak afternoon hours.
That’s when I dropped by Tongin-dong Coffee Gongbang for the first time in a while. It used to have a large space right along the main street, but I had heard a few years ago that it relocated to a quiet inner alley. In the meantime, countless new cafes have popped up across Seochon, and while I’d been meaning to check out the new location for ages, it finally crossed my mind to visit this time.
Tongin-dong Coffee Gongbang, Weekend
- Address: 1F, 16, Jahamun-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: Monday – Friday 08:00 – 19:30, Saturday – Sunday 08:00 – 21:00
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Since it’s a spot that has maintained its presence in Seochon for a long time, the coffee quality was just as delicious as I remembered. Even though it was drizzling slightly, the temperature was quite pleasant, so they had the folding windows wide open. It was wonderful to sip coffee while feeling the outdoor breeze. The space isn’t large; rather, it has a cozy, charming vibe. Next time it’s a bit quieter, I’d love to bring a book or my laptop, sit right at the window-facing bar table, and spend some peaceful time there.
Tiiin Seoul
- Address: 1~2F, 17, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 12:00 – 18:00, Saturdays 12:00 – 19:00 / Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiiin.seoul
- Reservations (Catch Table): https://app.catchtable.co.kr/ct/shop/tiiinseoul
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
This is a small bistro in Seochon that I had reserved in advance for dinner. I actually wanted to dine on the second-floor terrace while enjoying the traditional hanok rooftop views of Seochon, but unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate that day. (Note: Even with a reservation, you aren’t guaranteed a seat on the second-floor terrace, as specific seating cannot be pre-selected.)
There were two of us, so we ordered the House Salad, Grilled Prawns Linguine, and Steak Frites. Overall, the portion sizes were just right, the flavors were satisfying, and the atmosphere struck a great balance. My only slight regret was that it would have been even better with a glass of wine. Next time, I’m definitely planning to enjoy their food paired with wine out on the terrace!
+ As a side note: While we were able to take out the small cake from Patisserie Decide, light the candles, and celebrate together (the staff will kindly provide a lighter if you ask), we weren’t allowed to eat the cake inside the bistro. Of course, policies can sometimes vary depending on the time or situation, but as a rule, outside food consumption isn’t permitted.
Since we were stuffed from dinner and determined to take some photos in Seochon as planned, we set out to check out a few photo booths. We started by capturing some memories at Automatico and Young Archive (you can check out my previous post covering those here! : Gwanghwamun to Seochon: An Aesthetic Walking Route for Coffee, Indie Films, and Photobooth Hopping), but then we stumbled upon an unexpectedly amazing photobooth for black-and-white pictures inside the 45ID Seochon store.
45ID Seochon
- Address: 1F, 59-1, Jahamun-ro 7-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours: 12:00 – 21:00
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/45id_official
- Map: Google Maps | Naver Map (Recommended for navigation in Korea)
Getting professional studio portraits felt a bit too formal, but generic chain photobooths didn’t quite cut it either, which is why 45ID‘s Polaroid-style concept was originally on our radar. Since we ended up shooting at Automatico and Young Archive first, we were just about to walk past 45ID when we realized they had a photobooth tucked inside!
The space was tiny—just enough room for two people to squeeze in together—but the resulting black-and-white photos turned out incredible. It hit that sweet spot of being neither too dark nor too bright. Finding such a great outcome in an unexpected spot right before heading home left me in the best kind of mood.
The weather right after the rain stopped was a bit humid, but a cool breeze was blowing. On my way home, I could have easily caught a bus or the subway at Gyeongbokgung Station. Instead, I chose to walk all the way from Seochon, past Gwanghwamun Square, down to City Hall. For anyone like me who loves to walk, I truly recommend this route—day or night. Just taking a stroll along this path lifts your spirits and gives you this wonderful, refreshing sense of openness.
Safe travels, Soy Kim
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Art, Local Markets, and Pastries: A Rainy Day Walk Through Samcheong-dong, Seoul
