Exploring Yeonnam-dong & Hongdae

• 8:00AM: Woke up and got ready for my first full day! It was as if the entire city of Seoul was just waiting for me to step out and unravel the incredible adventure it had prepared for me. My makeup also came out so good that it put me in such an incredible mood. It was still quite early, but I already felt so blissful and confident after welcoming all that positive energy.
• 10:00AM: Took the train to Hongik University Station (Hongdae) and walked to Yeonnam-dong to look for places that were already open. I think most establishments in Korea open at around 11AM, so I got to peacefully walk around the neighborhood for a bit until I found a cafe that was on my list.
• 10:30AM: Breakfast at Cafe Skön. Good thing I grabbed a gimbap on the way cause the blueberry scone I ordered from this place already felt like dessert. It was a bit too sweet but I still loved it with my iced chamomile tea. I also got to whip out my tripod and took photos of myself without shame because not much people were there around that time.

• 11:30AM: Walked around Yeonnam-dong and found lots of cute cafes, restaurants, and novelty stores! I would describe this neighborhood as Hongdae’s pretty little sister—a bit quaint but still very youthful and vibrant.

• 1:00PM: Got lost in Hongdae. It was already so packed and busy around this time, but I was just walking around and checking out all the fun and interesting stores within the area. It honestly felt as if the entire youth population of Seoul was there, and understandably so because it was a Saturday. Hongdae is literally the place to be. There were a ton of boutique shops that sold vintage clothes, novelty items, accessories—anything you could possibly think of.
• 2:30PM: I got so carried away that I almost forgot to eat lunch so I grabbed a bite at Salady, a vegan-friendly food chain that I seriously wish we had in the Philippines. I ordered a delicious warm beef loin bowl, which I’m starting to badly crave as of writing. My body was also starting to feel sore from all the walking so it was nice to take a quick break.

• 3:30PM: I just continued walking around Hongdae, but this time went to bigger stores like Line Friends and Olive Young. When I walked back to the main shopping street, I found this really cute vintage clothing store that sold repurposed Carhartt and Ralph Lauren polos. They basically cropped them and added zippers but they looked so cute, and I was obsessed! I ended up buying a classic white RL one that I wore the next day.
• 5:45PM: I stopped by a cafe that I really wanted to see—Sin Lee Doga Cafe (신이도가). It’s a traditional hanok cafe with the best ambience but honestly just average food and drinks. I met a German and Austrian pair of girls who were so nice and sweet. They were both exchange students and I got to ask them about their experiences living in Seoul, which was so cool and refreshing.

• 7:00PM: As the sun began to set, I also saw Hongdae transform into the liveliest neighborhood in Seoul. I remember how vibrant and dynamic it already was years back, but there was something so different about Hongdae in 2022 that made me feel unusually bold and adventurous. The energy at night was electrifying and for the first time that day I actually wished I had company. It would have been nice to grab soju and beer at a K-bbq and maybe go to a noraebang afterwards—just like how we see it in K-dramas!
• 9:00PM: Went back to my hotel in Myeongdong. My body was aching all over so I bought a bath bomb from the Olive Young across my hotel and had a bubble bath. I also bought leg patches that helped soothe my sore calves and went straight to bed.

Yeonnam-dong and Hongdae are undeniably two of my favorite neighborhoods in Seoul. There’s just something so fun and exhilarating about these areas that make you want to make the most out of your day. I would have definitely enjoyed them more with friends, but exploring solo was also quite unforgettable. ❤

Watch out for day 3—a.k.a. my birthday mood board tomorrow!