Why Insadong Belongs on Your Seoul Itinerary
Insadong is the cultural heart of old Seoul — a walkable maze of hanok alleys, tea houses, galleries, craft shops, and restaurants, all a short stroll from the grand palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. By day it is antique shops and calligraphy; by night it glows with lanterns and fills with the smell of grilling and frying.
It is one of the few places in the city where traditional architecture and everyday life still share the same narrow lanes.
What to See, Eat and Drink
Start along the main Insadong-gil for souvenirs, hanji paper, and street snacks, then duck into the side alleys where the real character lives. Visit a traditional tea house, browse a gallery, and pick up handmade crafts.
When evening comes, the neighborhood is made for eating and drinking. Sit down to sizzling jeon, share a bowl of makgeolli, and — weather permitting — grab an outdoor yajang table to watch the alley come alive.
End the Night at Dalmakdalmak
After a day of walking, Dalmakdalmak is the perfect place to land. We are a Korean bar right by Anguk Station Exit 6, serving handmade jeon, bulgogi, and over twenty makgeolli — with famous yajang seating in the alley.
Open every day from 3 PM to midnight, it is an easy, authentic way to end an Insadong day.
