Seoul
Itaewon & Hanam
Sava Bobov / Unsplash
Seoul's international neighbourhood — the best bar scene, global food, and the most diverse crowd in the city.
Itaewon developed as the neighbourhood serving the US military base and has become Seoul's most internationally diverse district. The restaurant scene covers more cuisines than anywhere else in Korea; the bar strip on the main drag and the hills above it (Gyeongnidan-gil, Hanam-dong) has the city's best craft cocktail and craft beer culture. It's a slightly different Seoul from Hongdae or Gangnam — more global, less K-pop.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Gyeongnidan-gil: the best independent bar and restaurant street in Seoul; craft cocktail bars, natural wine, global food
- ↑Antique shops on Itaewon-ro: the best place in Seoul to buy vintage Korean furniture and ceramics
- ↑Leeum Samsung Museum of Art adjacent — one of Korea's best private collections in a Rem Koolhaas building
What you sacrifice
- ↓The main Itaewon strip is loud and aggressive on weekend nights — this is a feature and a bug
- ↓Dominated by nightlife infrastructure; daytime offer is less interesting than Hongdae or Insadong
- ↓The 2022 Itaewon tragedy has changed the atmosphere of Halloween and major crowd events — check current conditions
Best for
Avoid if
Other Seoul neighbourhoods
Seoul's university and arts district — the K-pop buskers, the club scene, and the most energetic neighbourhood in the city.
Seoul's commercial and tourist centre — K-beauty, street food, and the easiest base for first-timers.
Traditional Seoul — hanok villages, tea houses, and the finest Korean craft shops.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
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