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Among the tall modern buildings, is there a place that maintains the sensibility of the 80s? Lately, in this fast-past world, things that have kept their own identities tend to shine more. We have gathered iconic places in Seoul which have gained value and endless visitors over time. Let's fall for Seoul’s charm, where the past and the present coexist.

Vibes of “dabang” coffee shops in the 1980s

<Eulji Dabang >

Eulji Dabang, which is located in Euljiro, first opened in 1985. You can find a very narrow entrance of Eulji Dabang near Exit 5 of Euljiro 3-ga Station. Once you get inside, everything about the interior – from the couch that seems to be from 1985 to the lights, clock and calendar on the wall, and small items like a menu board– comes together and truly brings out the identity of dabang. Regarding the menus, there are teas that go well with the dabang atmosphere, such as cold arrowroot juice, omija (schisandra berry) juice, ginger tea, and ginseng tea.  During the winter season, many people visit Eulji Dabang to order ssanghwa-cha topped with egg yolk. So if you’d like to experience a retro vibe and also taste a traditional tea, it’d be a great idea to visit Eulji Dabang. 

Unnecessary Items for Sale

< Bulpilyo Sangjeom (Store of Unnecessary Stuff) >      

“Buying unnecessary stuff.” The store is located near Noksapyeong Station. You might be a bit confused because you have to walk through a narrow alley to get to the store, but you will soon be able to find the store as you walk from Exit 2 of Noksapyeong Station. Various items for sale are displayed at the entrance of Bulpilyo Sangjeom, a select shop where vintage items are sold.  Although the store is quite small, the store is divided into two sections and have a warm, cozy ambience overall. Moreover, the items are closely placed all over the store, including on the wall and along the aisle, in a way that forms harmony like an exhibition hall. From the way the items are displayed and also from the layout of the space, you can notice right away how much effort and affection have been put into the store. If you are into the kind of a vibe that’s between antique and vintage, we recommend you visit this store at least once. 

The Perfect Place for True, Authentic Rice Cake

< Apgujeong Gongjootteok >

The signature menu of Apgujeong Gongjooteok is heukimja(black sesame)-injeolmi rice cake. For this rice cake, the sheer amount of black sesame sprinkled on top is impressive. Once you open the packaging, you can smell the sweet and nutty sccent instantly. With the sweetness from black sesame and sticky texture of injeolmi, the rice cake has a very deep flavor to it. On top of that, the nutty flavor of black sesame is added, which is a recipe for non-stoppable reaching out for more.  The heukimja-injeolmi rice cake isn’t the only popular rice cake. Another popular one is gureum-tteok(cloud rice cake), which is named this way because the layers of nuts, chestnuts and glutinous rice make the nuts and chestnuts look like they’re floating up in the sky. Also, ssukgaetteok (mugwort rice cake), which is mainly made with mugwort and topped with savory sesame oil, is one of many types of rice cakes available for you to choose according to your taste. In addition, Apgujeong Gongjootteok also sells other types of mugwort rice cakes as well, such as mugwort songpyeon and mugwort injeolmi. So if you like the aromatic mugwort, then this is a must-visit place for you. 

A Unique Café in the Hub of Vintage Coffee Shops

    < Café Grandpa Factory >  

From Seongsu Station, you can easily get to Café Grandpa Factory on foot. The coffee shop is divided into 1st floor, 2nd floor, 3rd floor, and a terrace. This coffee shop is not only huge, but you can also find intricate details to the interior throughout the place.  On the 1st and 2nd floor, there are various types of seats – the ones that remind you of a typical coffee shop space, the ones for a space where you can comfortably relax and talk like you would at a library, and ones for a large table appropriate for a meeting – that are spaciously apart from one another. On the 2nd floor, there’s a path up to a tree house, which is the signature place of this coffee shop. The tree house is a separate place from the 2nd floor, and it’s a wooden place where you can look down at the entire terrace seats.  3rd floor is a rooftop area with lots of flowers and grass, just like a small farm. There’s a roof installed to help you avoid rain on rainy days as well. The rooftop area on the 3rd floor and the outdoor terrace on the 1st floor are set up in a way that is great for enjoying the sun on beautiful days, so they have a different charm from the indoor coffee shop spaces on the 1st and 2nd floor.