Itaewon and Haebangchon are two neighborhoods in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where diverse cultures and cuisines coexist. Itaewon is home to rooftop cafes and exotic restaurants with stunning views of Namsan Mountain, and Haebangchon is home to unique workshops, cafes, and independent bookstores. What are the best restaurants near me in Itaewon and Haebangchon that are popular with foreign tourists?
Itaewon / Haebangchon must-see course where all the hipsters gather?
Itaewon and Haebangchon are two neighborhoods with great views of the city and nightlife. There are many things to see and do, but the most important thing is to eat. Today, we’ve selected a few dining bars that you should definitely visit if you’re visiting Itaewon and Haebangchon.
A dining bar is a space designed to accompany appetizers or courses with alcoholic beverages. It’s a place where you can grab a bite to eat or enjoy a fancy fusion meal. Itaewon and Haebangchon are home to many such places, but you can’t just go anywhere! Here are 20 dining bars and best restaurants in Itaewon where you can enjoy a pleasant meal.
1. Casual Korean with mastery of pairing, <Carnaby Seoul>
- Address : 4F, 55, Hangang-daero 62-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : 11:30 ~ 23:00
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 17:00
If you’re looking for something Korean with a good atmosphere and restaurant near Yongnidan-gil, check out Carnaby Seoul. This Yongsan restaurant is known for its unique dishes using seasonal ingredients with traditional techniques. Carnaby Seoul welcomes its guests with various beverages like traditional liquors and wine, which are all carefully selected to match the food it showcases. Traditional classics with a touch of modern atmosphere will make you feel the charm of Korean alcohol.
2. Traditional and modern <Mija Seoul>
- Address : 61, Hoenamae-ro 13ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Closed on Sun, Mon, Tue
- Jun, Jul, Aug : Thu-Sat 17:30 ~ 23:00
- Sept, Oct, Nov : Wed-Sat 17:30 ~ 23:00
- Dec, Jan, Feb : Wed-Sat 17:00 ~ 22:30
- Mar, Apr, May : Wed-Sat 17:30 ~ 23:00
Recommended for those looking for a restaurant near Itaewon! Mija Seoul is a dining bar that serves fusion Korean food and traditional liquor pairings. Located in Itaewon’s Gyeongridan-gil neighborhood, you can enjoy seasonal course meals. Along with fresh seasonal ingredients, they also recommend traditional liquor to go with each course, so even if you’re not familiar with traditional liquor, you’ll have a great time. What about the flavors of Korean cuisine reimagined by a foreign head chef using Korean ingredients?
3. Hot folk tavern with a casual atmosphere! <Mr.Ahn’s Craft Makgeolli, Korean Mak House>
- Address : 1F, Beautnuri Building, 3 Hoenamae-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : 18:00 ~ 24:00
Makgeolli, a traditional Korean drink, is a must-try when you’re in Korea! If you’re looking to try makgeolli the right way, we recommend Mr. Ahn’s Craft Makgeolli, Korean Mak House. Mr. Ahn’s Craft Makgeolli, Korean Mak House is an Itaewon restaurant that is very popular among Koreans and foreign tourists alike, with a variety of curious snacks and traditional Korean liquors. The rest of the menu is great, but if you make it to this best restaurant in Itaewon, be sure to try the sweet but not overpowering Mr. Ahn’s Makgeolli.
4. Modern European dining, <VIN VIN>
- Address : Naeje 1, 2F, 99-9, Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : Mon 18:00 ~ 23:00 / Thu-Sun 18:00 ~ 24:00 (Closed on Tue, Wed)
If you’re looking for a restaurant near me in Haebangchon Village, head inside the emerging market. You’ll find a dining and Itaewon bar called VIN VIN. There’s a cozy indoor space, but the real attraction of VIN VIN is the terrace tables at the mouth of the alley. The menu is all French-inspired fusion food, and the menu changes frequently to take advantage of seasonal ingredients, so you’re sure to find something different every time you visit.
5. Natural Wine with Asian Food, <Sate>
- Address : 1F, 25, Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : Mon-Fri 18:00 ~ 25:00 / Sat-Sun 16:00 ~ 25:00 (Closed on Wednesdays)
Natural wine bar Sate is a restaurant near me that welcomes guests with an extensive wine list. Sate serves delicious fusion Asian food such as shrimp sando and grilled dorok pork belly. If you think that Asian food and wine don’t go together, you’re wrong! If you try Sate’s recommended appetizers with wine, you’ll find that the balance couldn’t be better. You can even watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, making it a cozy place to spend time.
6. Sinyongsan Woodfire Dining, <DANSE>
- Address : 23-5, Hangangdae-ro 7-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : 11:30 ~ 22:00
- Break time : 14:30 ~ 17:00
What is woodfire dining? It’s a place that serves dishes cooked over a wood fire. DANSE, located in Sinyongsan, is just such a place. How about wood-fired dishes in a unique space converted from an old house? DANSE‘s menu is full of mouthwatering dishes with names like ‘French Chicken Toast’ and ‘Grilled Shrimp and Crustacean Pasta’! The restaurant is open for brunch during the day and a wine bar in the evening, making it one of the best restaurants in Itaewon.
7. The soul of the dish, <Soul Dining>
- Address : B1F, 35, Sinheung-ro 26-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00
- Break time : 15:00 ~ 18:00
Soul Dining is a contemporary restaurant with dishes as soulful as its name! Run by husband-and-wife team Yoon Dae-hyun and Kim Hee-eun, this Itaewon restaurant serves up dishes that reimagine familiar flavors with ingredients found in Korea. Come on down for a reservation and try their Soul Lunch Course and Soul Dinner Course, both of which will leave your mouth watering.
8. Where to get drunk on champagne every day, <Shabba Hannam>
- Address : 2F, 26, Daesagwan-ro 34-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : Mon-Fri 17:00 ~ 25:00 / Sat-Sun 15:00 ~ 25:00
Next up for those looking for a restaurant near Hannam Station. It’s Shabba Hannam, a hip champagne Itaewon bar about a 10-minute walk from Hannam Station. The best part about Shabba Hannam is that it’s free to bring in your own appetizers, so you can pair your favorite snacks with a glass of bubbly, and the place is always packed. If you want to enjoy a more casual atmosphere than a quiet one, you should definitely visit Shabba Hannam, the best restaurant in Itaewon.
9. Gyeongridan-gil’s Famous View Restaurant, <uphill namsan>
- Address : 2F, 36, Hoenamu-ro 42-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : Weekdays 15:00 ~ 23:00 / Weekends 12:00 ~ 23:00
uphill namsan is a casual dining bar located at the end of Gyeongridan-gil. The view of Namsan Tower from uphill namsan is so spectacular that you’ll be glad you chose here, even if it’s a bit of a hike. There are various types of tables in this restaurant, which makes it fit for any occasion! uphill namsan greets its customers with endless list of beverages and food that perfectly pairs with them.
10. Japanese dining with a twist, <Super Tongue Haebangchon>
- Address : B1F, 13, Sinheung-ro 5-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 17:00 ~ 24:00 (Closed every Mondays, Every last Tuesday of the month)
Who has heard of wine bars, but not sake bars? Super Tongue Haebangchon is a Japanese dining bar and sake & wine bar where you can pair Asian food with sake. What makes Super Tongue Haebangchon unique is that it is a one-table restaurant consisting of one long table! Each member of the group sits together at a table, and you may find yourself chatting with each other while eating sashimi or nabe.
11. A must for pasta lovers! <Bawi Pasta Bar Hannam>
- Address : B2F, 254 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 18:00 ~ 22:30 (Closed on Sun, Mon)
- Break time : 20:00 ~ 20:30
Have you heard of pasta omakase? Bawi Pasta Bar Hannam is a course meal of raw noodles and pasta restaurant. The course consists of a total of 9 dishes, and you can watch the pasta noodles being made in the open kitchen. If you want to dive into the world of raw noodle pasta that brings out the natural flavors of the ingredients, this Itaewon restaurant is the place to go if you think that pasta is all the same.
12. Get drunk on alcohol, get drunk on scenery! <Chakyung>
- Address : 2F, 46, Sowol-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Mon-Thu 17:00 ~ 23:30 / Fri 17:00 ~ 25:00 / Sat 13:00 ~ 25:00 / Sun 13:00 ~ 23:30
The best restaurant in Itaewon with an amazing view! Chakyung, which means “borrowing the view,” lives up to its name, offering delicious food with a stunning view of Haebangchon Village. The menu is divided into large plate dishes such as “Yukhoe with gamtae” and “Mentaiko buckwheat noodles” and small plate dishes such as “grilled eggplant” and “frozen grapes”. It’s more of an Itaewon bar than a restaurant, so ordering 1 drink per person is a must! With a night view of Namsan Tower, why not indulge in some alcohol tonight?
13. Korean food with all five senses, <Montsoop>
- Address : 1F, 17-7, Hangangdae-ro 21-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Wed-Thu 18:00 ~ 22:00 / Fri 12:00 ~ 22:00 / Sat-Sun 12:30 ~ 22:00 (Closed on Mon, Tue)
- Break time : Fri 14:00 ~ 18:00 / Sat-Sun 15:00 ~ 18:00
Montsoop is a Korean fine dining bar that offers a modern take on Korean food culture in the middle of a bustling city. Montsoop’s unique feature is that the menu doesn’t list the names of the dishes that make up the courses, only the main ingredients, which makes it even more intriguing. The wines on the bar are carefully selected by the sommelier, and when paired with the dishes that are served, they bring out the best flavors in this BEST RESTAURANT IN ITAEWON.
14. A revolt against familiar menus, <Chez Maum>
- Address : 11-76, Hangangdae-ro 10-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Hangang-ro 3-ga)
- Business Hours : Tue-Fri 17:00 ~ 23:00 / Sat 16:00 ~ 23:00 (Closed on Sun, Mon)
Drink and savor Chez Maum is an Itaewon bar that opened in 2018 and has been steadily gaining popularity for its hearty food that goes well with wine pairings. When you taste the unusual dishes such as pasta with maze meat sauce and grilled Gouda cream fillet**, you’ll realize that this is an Itaewon restaurant opened by an office worker who loved wine and food. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, it’s okay, but ordering at least one alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink per person is mandatory. If you’re near the restaurant, be sure to stop by.
15. You can feel the exotic atmosphere, <EMBASSY SALADAENG>
- Address : 1F, 26, Hoenamae-ro 35-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 11:30 ~ 21:30
- Break Time 15:00 ~ 17:00
The best restaurant in Itaewon, EMBASSY SALADAENG, has an exotic atmosphere that will make you wonder if you are in Korea. The restaurant is housed in a former consulate building, which adds to the exotic feel of the place. The heated pool in the center of the space is a highlight of EMBASSY SALADAENG! From Southeast Asian favorites like Poo Pad Pong Curry and Live Tom Yum Hot Pot to Western favorites like Caviar Scallop Basil Pesto Risotto and White Ragu Pasta. At EMBASSY SALADAENG dining bar, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation.
16. Hannam-dong French Bistro Wine Bar, <Mutin>
- Address : 2F, 4-2, Daesagwan-ro 12-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business hours : Tue-Fri 18:00 ~ 24:00 / Sat 16:00 ~ 24:00 (Closed on Sun, Mon)
Mutin is one of those natural wine Itaewon bars that you want to recommend to others, but you also want to keep to yourself. When you walk through the flower shop-like exterior, the modern interior immediately catches your eye. Mutin serves only natural wines and recommends 2-3 wines for customers who are unfamiliar with natural wines. The sophisticated French cuisine that you can taste the flavor in the first bite and the glass of natural wine you sip! This is a magical Itaewon restaurant that you will be thinking about again for days afterwards.
17. A place that reminds you of home, <5412>
- Address : B1F, 12, Itaewon-ro 54ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Mon-Thu 17:00 ~ 22:00 / Fri-Sat 17:00 ~ 24:00 / Sun 15:00 ~ 22:00
‘Jeonbuk Sunchang Dolminari Shrimp Pancake’, ‘Jeju White Pork Bossam’, ‘Bulgyo Kkojak Moojim and Green Onion Chips’…the menu names alone are mouthwatering, and this restaurant near me is located at 5412. It serves a variety of traditional Korean liquors and delicious Korean food, but it has a quiet and calm atmosphere rather than the noisy Itaewon bar feel. Visit as the sun is slowly setting to grab a bite of Korean snacks and a glass of traditional liquor – you might just want to stay and sit at the 5412 dining bar.
18. Noksapyeong Brunch Wine Bar, <NATURAL HIGH>
- Address : 1F, 248 Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Weekdays 12:00 ~ 22:00 / Weekends 10:00 ~ 22:00
Itaewon restaurant, NATURAL HIGH, is a place where you can enjoy brunch in the warm sunshine during the day and wine in a romantic atmosphere at night. The restaurant is divided into lunch and dinner only, where you can enjoy the brunch menu without ordering wine before 17:00, and experience the fire-flavored wood-fired dishes after 17:00. The two different attractions make it the best restaurant in Itaewon where you want to stay all day! If you want a colorful experience, you should definitely visit NATURAL HIGH Itaewon bars.
19. The flavorful <brulee>
- Address : 2F, 28, Hannamdae-ro 18-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : Wed-Fri 17:00 ~ 23:00 / Sat-Sun 12:00 ~ 23:00 (Closed on Mon, Tue)
- Break time : Sat-Sun 15:00 ~ 17:00
Brulee is a wood-fire dining restaurant utilizing a fire pit and wood-fired grill. Under the slogan, “Putting good things on fire and serving them beautifully,” Chef Jinrae Kim creates creative dishes. With eight fire-inspired dishes, you’ll soon find yourself falling in love with the flavors of fire. End your day with good company and delicious food.
20. A contemporary restaurant presented by Gucci! <GUCCI OSTERIA>
- Address : 6F, 223 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Business Hours : 12:00 ~ 22:00 (Closed on the first Mondays of April and November)
- Break time : 16:00 ~ 18:00
Is there an Itaewon restaurant run by the luxury brand Gucci? Gucci Osteria is located in Hannam-dong. The restaurant’s interior and objects are filled with Gucci’s signature splendor. GUCCI OSTERIA offers a unique menu with storytelling every season, but their signature dish is the Emilia Burger. When you see the burger served in a tiny pink box, you might not be able to pick up a fork to eat it.
Itaewon and Haebangchon used to be and in some parts, still are, the heart of foreigners in Korea. Because of this exotic ambiance, many locals consider this part of town as somewhere overseas. Which means that restaurants in Itaewon and Haebangchon might be the perfect choice for people who are looking for somewhere between new and familiar!