by On our second day in Seoul, we visited one of the city’s most important cultural destinations — the neighborhood of Insadong. Insadong is about as traditionally Korean as it could get. The area is home to some of the most famous tea shops, art galleries, restaurants, and antique shops in South Korea. In fact, it is often referred to as the cultural center of Seoul.
During our visit, we explored the beautiful streets (and side streets) of this community. We ended our walking tour with a delightful meal of traditional Korean dishes at the famous Sanchon Restaurant.
Check out my photos of this visit:
Insadong
The streets of Insa-dong are small and usually crowded. But they are clean, well-organized, and perfectly safe.
Delicious ice cream sold at a corner store in Insadong.
Sanchon Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in the area. It is frequented both by locals and well-read tourists as it is one of the remaining restaurants that serve authentic traditional Korean cooking. Sanchon is also famous for serving vegan Buddhist temple dishes.
The small restaurant is adorned with hundreds of different cultural and historical pieces from different eras. At the very center is a courtyard which gives the place a truly exciting vibe.
While the restaurant has regular-sized tables, some dining tables are low to make the experience as authentic as possible.
Beautiful paper flower lanterns light the restaurant interiors.
Wooden sculptures, paintings, and calligraphy can be found in various parts of the restaurant.
Check out some of the traditional vegan Buddhist temple dishes that the restaurant served our group during our visit.
Overall, our spot at Insadong was nothing short of amazing. If you are thinking of visiting Seoul, don’t forget to make a stop at Insadong. It’s worth it!
INSADONG
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
SEPTEMBER 2017
– ley
