I’m heading off to Seoul in a week’s time, with a couple of days in Busan too. I have made a list of things to do and see, but just checking if anyone here has any good recommendations they can share? Would like to see a gig or two there if anyone knows any decent (smallish) venues?
Any decent veggie/vegan restaurants or cafes suggestions would be very welcome too!
I lived in Korea for a while, here are a few Busan recommendations.
Gamcheon culture village
Bosudong book street
For live music I saw some great Korean punk bands at this place https://maps.app.goo.gl/UCnkr3Gj51Tx8hVE8, it’s in KSU area, you might be able to stumble upon some good music in other bars around the same area.
Jagalchi fish market is interesting but maybe not so much if vegan.
Korea is a tough place to be vegan/veggie… Things that sound ok on a menu like a tofu soup can turn out to be cooked in a pork broth
Just remembered this vegan restaurant in Seoul which is good.
This looks great, thanks so much!
OK, time to dust this thread off.
First question - Seoul hotel location… the conference I’m attending is at Coex in Gagnam, which as an area frankly looks very much not my style (sorry) and a bit out of the way. Any good areas that are easy enough to get by metro to Gagnam but also to more fun bits near the centre?
When we went to South Korea we started and finished in Seoul, so stayed in two areas.
The first was in Insadong (the Moxy hotel), which was good for the big palaces and food markets.
The second was in Hongdae (the L7 hotel), which was near the university and so the bars, food and night life was great (especially along Eoulmadang-ro), and it’s also near the Gyeongui Line Forest Park.
Gangnam is on the south side of the river and can be a little tricky to get to (we ended up catching the bus to get there).
Oh yes, the other area in Seoul that we really liked was Seongsu - it’s the old warehouse area with lots of breweries and cafes (Cafe Onion with it’s amazing sugar-covered brioche cones is worth a trip).
In general, the thing we loved about Seoul (and the rest of the country), is how many young people you see out and about just taking up public space in a way that you don’t get in the UK - it makes everywhere feel welcoming and safe.
This is actually on the list of hotels I can pick - how was it? Looks like it’s trying a bit hard to be cool, but otherwise gets good reviews. Convenient for transport at least.
It was fine. Well located, clean and the rooms weren’t poky. We didn’t eat in the hotel at all, but there are loads of places all around it.
I watch a YouTube channel of a guy riding his bike round Seoul and sometimes other bits of S.Korea. It’s basically a bit of zen viewing but it does give a good view of the different neighborhoods and daily life. Oh and he covers a lot of coffee shops and places to eat. So just thought may be of interest. Think he is probably on instagram etc as well.
