Songnidan-gil is a street of cafes and restaurants located behind east Seokchon Lake Park. The road is split down the middle by Songpa-daero essentially giving the neighborhood an east and west end. Originally a residential area, unique and small cafes and restaurants have started to open up between the houses since 2017, spreading through social media to create the hip new place to be. The opening of LOTTE World Tower in 2017 also helped the popularity of Songnidan-gil. As the suffix “~idan-gil” is only added to popular areas in Korea, the name “Songnidan-gil” mimics “Gyeongridan-gil,” a street filled with unique cafes and restaurants on the other side of the Han River. From AM to PM, Songnidan-gil is the place to be. Our recommendations: Start by taking a light walk through the jogging course at Seokchon Lake Park and then pick up a coffee at a nearby cafe around the lake.

Wicker Park, a cafe by the lake
Looking out across Seokchon Lake, you might see a sign that says “Wicker Park” through the trees and vines. Wicker Park opened in June 2017 and has a small terrace and a garden with calm jazz music adding to the ambience. Wicker Park keeps things light, with wooden chairs, metal table, delicate lighting and plants creating a peaceful atmosphere in the cafe. It has a simple, paired back coffee menu that focuses on quality rather than overcomplicated things by adding ingredients like whipped cream and syrup. The cafe is best known for its filter coffee. Two different kinds of coffee beans are available, both from Tokyo’s “Onibus Coffee” as the brand focuses on making coffee that tastes clean and that customers can drink on a daily basis. If you’re used to a sweeter coffee, why not consider grabbing a light dessert to balance the bitter flavor. We recommend the cafe’s smores, with chocolate and marshmallow melted on top of a biscuit. For many, serving smores will come with high expectations, but Wicker Park pulls it off and the sweet snack contrasts well with the bitter coffee.
At the cafe occasionally holds an event called “Hand Drip Day.” On this day, Wicker Park invites baristas from cafes in other regions and lets them brew the coffee. They started this event to introduce different kinds of coffee and to share the joy of drinking coffee. “I hope this cafe becomes a café where neighbors can visit every day or can have great coffee in their neighborhood,” said a Wicker Park barista. This friendly neighborly culture is exactly why Wicker Park is the place to grab a coffee after a walk around Seokchon Lake before heading out on your Songnidan-gil food adventure. We recommend visiting the cafe at 11 a.m., as this is the least busy time. 
Address Seokchonhosu-ro, 298, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-10-2942-0447
Instagram www.instagram.com/wickerpark_seoul

February Roasters, great all-year round
First got to see is the interior of February Roasters through its striking glass wall. Even before going inside, you can feel a sense of warm from the cafe. “I like the 1970s movie called “Road to Sampo,” said Kim Jae-hyeop, the CEO of February Roasters. “In the movie, there’s a scene in a train waiting room. People that are heading back home gather [wait for their train] by sitting at a wooden bench, around the heater. It’s really cold out but it’s warm in there. That’s the kind of image I wanted to create.” This is how the warmth at February Roasters was created. Once you look at the people chatting as they sit at a long wooden table, you eventually forget about the cold outside.
February Roasters name has more meaning than your regular cafe. It really did start as a roaster, preparing and delivering beans to other cafes, and it really did open in February 2014. Its other branch in Songpa-dong also opened in February. Its drinks all take the names of the months they were created in. Their most popular items include “December’s latte,” which contains skimmed milk and almond syrup, and “June’s ade,” a tea made by mixing lime and peppermint teas. At the cafe, they use February Roasters’ signature blend, “Manwon blend.” However, they also introduce new coffee beans through their brewing coffee menu called “Coffee of the month.” If you want to try a different kind of coffee, we recommend the “espresso green tea latte,” which combines espresso and green tea, but isn’t named after a month.
Address 14 Baekjegobun-ro 45-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-70-8839-1004
Website www.febroasters.com

Lawns, a cafe in front of a playground
Lawns is located across the street from the Arang Children’s Park and was founded by two baristas, who spent six months exploring Seoul before they found the perfect spot. “When we first tried to find a spot for [our] cafe, we had to consider two requirements,” said one of the founders. “One was to be located on a corner and the other was to have either a park or a school in front of it. This was the spot that perfectly suited our requirements.” The first impression of Lawns is of a grand cafe in a peaceful and a quiet neighborhood. Lawns’ founders originally worked together at another cafe, and the name came from the name of Jazz music both like. Once they got the name, they tried to blend the song and the mood with coffee and the space. The highlight of Lawns is its exterior. The unique exterior, which is designed to avoid having sunlight penetrate all the way into the cafe, catches the eye. Within the cafe, they created a comfortable atmosphere with tables, wooden benches and small portable dining tables. Inside there’s just the right amount of light for a calm afternoon, and, if you’re lucky, you may get to see the rainbow on the floor.
To really relax we recommend “Einspänner,” which adds just the right amount of cream to really highlight the taste and scent of the coffee. Once you take a sip, the sweetness of the cream and the bitterness of the espresso will definitely improve your mood. The sugar latte, the only item with syrup, is another popular option. As the two baristas don’t like the artificial sweetness and scent, they make their own coconut sugar to use as syrup. Even if you think you don’t like coconut, we recommend still giving this a try. 
Address 8 Baekjegobun-ro, 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-2-6402-5704
Instagram www.instagram.com/5_lawns_7_04

Conme, come for the pasta, stay for the bread
There’s a restaurant in Seokchon called Osteria Secondi, which only accepts two tables of guests at once. Here’s the secret — if you can’t get into Osteria, head to Conme. This Italian restaurant is run by the exact same chef, Choi Byung-joon. Conme is the more casual of the two. Rather than luxury, it provides a comfortable and cozy atmosphere. This automatically reminds customers of the sort of local restaurant you might actually expect to find while traveling in Italy. The time and effort chef Choi puts into the food is never lacking. Using organic flour, semolina and eggs, Conme makes its own pasta every day. To make seven kinds of pasta, the staff makes seven kinds of dough and each of the raw noodles is different based on the concentration and texture of the dough. As chef Choi believes that the bread before the meal should also taste good, the restaurant bakes its own bread, using only organic rye.  
“We try not to move too far away from the basics,” Choi said. “It does require more work to follow tradition. But if things are replaced by other ingredients or easier methods, the taste changes. Even if we follow the tough road, we have to do it right.” From the smallest bit of sauce to salad dressing, nothing gets served without the chef’s involvement. At Conme, they make Ragu pasta with meat or octopus. On top of the squid-ink pasta, they make octopus Ragu sauce, boiled for a very long time. Not only does the octopus taste great, but any customers who try the food will also realize the effort of the chef, who tries to keep the natural taste of the ingredient, as well as keeping it nutritious.
Address 6-30 Baekjegobun-ro, 42-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-10-5382-3419
Instagram www.instagram.com/con_me___

Lala Bread, a famous restaurant that started in Songnidan-gil
If you love bread, you’ll be able to walk past this place. Lala Bread has now expanded its branches around Seoul as well as other regions, but Songnidan-gil is where it all began. Since the day it opened, the bakery has been filled with customers. Lala Bread’s logo, which reminds people of a smiley face, is three stories high as it stretches from underground to the second floor. Lala Bread is famous for its plain bread and jam. If you go down to the basement of the bakery, a number of toasters from different brands are placed in the middle of the room. Customers can buy bread, cut it up themselves and toast it in the toaster of their choice. The jam has a healthy taste as it is free from added sugar and coloring. 
The bakery also sells open sandwiches. You can choose whichever topping you want, but we recommend “avocado: counterattack of shrimp.” The name comes from a movie title. A slice of bread is covered with a spread made with basil and ricotta cheese, avocado and shrimp. The sandwich comes with a salad. Despite being intended for brunch, the sandwich is big enough for any meal if you eat it with coffee. If it doesn’t fill you up, you can also order a cobb salad or sweet pumpkin soup. Aside from the sandwich, Lala Bread has different brunch options made with fresh vegetables and seasonal fruit. On the main floor, the smell of various pastries and desserts will pull you into the store. 
Address 4 Ogeum-ro, 16-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-1800-1990
Website lala-bread.com

Hyowol, points for tastes and plating
If you want to let people know that you’re in Songnidan-gil, Hyowol is the place to take a photo. The interior of the restaurant, which stands out with its green and red design, provides a retro mood. A photo at this place will quickly make it onto your social media. Themed around the idea of a Chinese homemade meal, Hyowol recreated its own menu and grabbed the attention of the younger generation. To allow customers to try a range of Chinese dishes at reasonable prices, the restaurant came up with a menu that comes in a bowl of rice served with toppings. On a small wooden tray, it comes with a bowl of rice served with toppings, miso soup and four side dishes. But more than the food, the way they are placed on plates will once again grab your attention. 
Regardless of the time or day of the week, Hyowol always has a long queue during meal time. Their homemade fried pork belly in soy sauce and homemade octopus jjampong are two of the most popular dishes. As the pork belly has been boiled for a long time in their special soy sauce, it has a soft texture. When it comes to jjampong, they use pho noodles instead of flour noodles. Avocado cream shrimp is another popular item at Hyowol. Fried shrimps covered with avocado cream sauce are served with Chinese flower buns and condensed milk. Not only are the Chinese flower buns and condensed milk a great combination, they are also a great way to balance the spice of the jjampong.
Address 6 Ogeum-ro, 18-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-2-424-5044
Instagram www.instagram.com/hyowol_chinese_food

Lion Heart, the beginner’s bar
For those who are unfamiliar with bars, Lion Heart is a good start. “Just as the scared lion starts his adventure to find his courage in the “The Wizard of Oz,” if you walk inside with a little courage, it’ll give you greater courage,” explained the CEO of Lion Heart. As the CEO of Lion Heart hoped for this place to be a spot that customers can walk into without hesitation, he’s also added food to the menu. This is the reason why Lion Heart serves pasta and steak. Since the bar has a chef who takes care of the food, there is no need to worry about getting a proper meal before you come here. We highly recommend a whiskey cocktail with steak.
For those who are confused by a menu of unfamiliar names, this bar is also a good choice. Lion Heart advertises itself as a “Whiskey library.” At this bar, bartenders recommend whiskey or cocktails that suit customers’ tastes and serve them with detailed explanations. They also provide pairing snacks with the drinks, like nuts, jerky, cheese and fruit. The bar has started introducing wine and brandy, but they truly are a whiskey library. Here you can drink and learn about the whiskey. 
The interior of the bar reminds customers of a luxurious tailor’s shop, as it was created based on a cozy mansion at Avenue St. in Manhattan. From the construction materials to the interior finishes, the CEO chose each and every one of them. “I bought the materials, carried them over and made them,” said the CEO. “If I didn’t like them, then I destroyed them and made it again. That took about four months. I ripped out the entrance door from a 100-year-old barn in the United States.” The bartenders at Lion Heart say that customers always ask for a strawberry cocktail in the hot summer months. Rather than using juice, the cocktail is made with the seasonal fruit so it provides a natural sweetness. If you visit Lion Heart, make sure to try their strawberry daiquiri. For your last drink we recommend ‘B&B,’ which is served after a flame show and brings a biting and hot taste that gets sweeter and smoother. With its high alcohol content, it will get your body warm before you head back out on to the street.
Address Hyundai Lakeville shopping district B104, 284 Seokchonhosu-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-2-6413-9080
Instagram www.instagram.com/bar_lionheart

Seoulism, where you can see all of Songnidan-gil
If you want to see the city of Seoul, you have to visit LOTTE World Tower, but if you want to see the LOTTE World Tower and the surrounding area, head to Seoulism. Seoulism is a rooftop café and cocktail bar located on Songnidan-gil. Once you take the elevator up to the 6th floor, you’ll have to place your order before walking inside. When you get in, head right out to the terrace, where a great view awaits. Just watching the sunset here will wash away your stress for the day. If you walk up the stairs to the terrace, you’ll see a big sign that says “SEOUL.” The Lotte World Tower is visible right behind the sign, and this is the place to take the best photo. 
The interior of Seoulism is decorated with antique furniture and plants. But more than anything, you can spend time with friends for as long as you want as it has a large space with lots of tables. From coffee, cocktails, beer and wine, it also has mild options like light brunch, cheese plate and gambas.
Address 435 Baekjegobun-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-2-412-0812
Instagram www.instagram.com/seoulism_official

Café Louis, a bar loved by the locals
Once you open the blue wooden door, the small props and dolls will immediately catch your attention. Unlike the sounds of its interior and the atmosphere, Café Louis isn’t a café. This small cocktail bar is a place where you can comfortably enjoy a drink. Located in a quieter part of the neighborhood, Café Louis opened in 2011. As it’s almost reaching its 10th year, some customers who met here now visit as married couples.
If you like something familiar and old, this is a place to be. Recommended cocktail at Café Louis is “Strawberry cake.” It reminds customers of parfait, as it has strawberries, wafer and chocolate cookie. It’s a signature cocktail at Café Louis as it can only be tasted here. Aside from cocktails, you can also enjoy single malt whiskey, wine and non-alcoholic beverages at a reasonable price. 
Address 7 Songpa-daero, 48-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Phone +82-2-420-7146
Instagram www.instagram.com/cafe_louisbar