On my most recent winter trip in Korea, I had planned to explore some indoor places to watch the snowfall if I got lucky. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Seoul experienced heavy snowfall during the last few days of January due to a cold wave, leading to an all-white Lunar New Year.
- 1in1jan Café (1인1잔)
Eunpyeong Hanok Village (은평한옥마을)has been on my list of places to visit in Seoul for years and, NGL, I was in a dismay that it got extremely popular in the past couple of years with foreigners for its iconic café, 1in1jan. The café is probably the sole reason why most people are flocking to the hanok village nowadays, which is somewhat obscurely located in Seoul. Its 5-storey building, with a basement and rooftop, is situated advantageously with a view that overlooks the hanok village with Bukhansan in the backdrop.
On the very day of heavy snowfall in Seoul, I was joined by many other locals and tourists in the queue for the 4th floor of the café, where you can order a full set meal.
I had the Seasoned Chicken Leg Steak which was well-marinated with sriracha mayonnaise, with some sides of potato, roasted baby cabbage, paprika pickle, mini salad & bread. The set meal also came with a drink of my choice, which was the refreshing Omija ade.
Despite the long wait and hustling with other patrons, the panoramic views were worth it.
534 Yeonseo-ro, Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul, South Korea 서울 은평구 연서로 534
Tues to Sun
- Bakery & Coffee on 1st and 2nd Floor – 1인1잔(카페) – 10am – 9.30pm
- Showroom and Café on 3rd Floor – 1인 karimoku(쇼룸, 카페) – 10am – 8pm
- Brunch Café on 4th and 5th Floor – 1인1상(한상차림) – 11am – 7.30pm
- Rooftop Garden on 6th Floor – 10am – 9.30pm
2. The Forest Chosochaekbang (인왕산 더숲 초소책방)
After my leisurely brunch at Eunpyeong Hanok Village, I made my way via 2 local buses to Buam-dong. From the nearest bus stop, I trekked about 20 minutes to a book café nestled at the base of Inwangsan. Amidst the heavy snow, the climbing the hilly slopes was not an easy feat and felt closer to a hike instead. Thankfully there were many other people heading to and fro the café which was encouraging, and just like 1in1jan, the book café was packed with both hikers who were taking a respite and café-goers who visited deliberately for the space/view/atmosphere.
The book café features 2 storeys overlooking the city and has plenty of seats, both indoor and outdoor. Since it was the peak of winter, there were plastic globes in the outdoor section to keep the cold winds and snow away.
A full-fledge bakery and bookstore were parked within the 1st floor of the café, from where I browsed the books, got caught in a dilemma over what to order and finally ordered and enjoyed a slice of Pumpkin cheesecake. I would love to visit again in fall, when the backdrop would be colorful.
172 Inwangsan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea 종로구 인왕산로 172, Seoul, Korea
8am – 9pm daily
3. Kangaroo Wine Bar (캥거루)
As the snow started to subside, I made my way to lower ground in search of Kangaroo wine bar located in Seochon Hanok Village. Right as you step into the modern wine bar, you will see Bugaksan and the hanok village spread out under it. I highly recommend taking the high counter seats for the unobstructed view.
The concept of the wine bar was very casual – you pick your drinks and snacks from this area which was designed like a mini-mart, and head over to the counter for payment. There was also a proper food menu at the counter from which you can order from, featuring staples such as pasta and meat pies. Since it was compulsory to order 1 drink per person, I had a bottle of alcohol-free Mojito, along with a Pineapple Granita. Perhaps not a very good choice since I was already freezing from the cold.
3F 18-13, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea 종로구 체부동 120-14 3F
Tues to Sun 3pm – 11pm
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