Factories turned into art studios. Feels like we're the only ones who know about it.
Why MULLAE, why now
July 2026 Korean media named Mullae-dong the leading candidate for Seoul's next Seongsu, a former ironworks district now mixing metal workshops with galleries, bars, and cafes. Its sprawling alley network keeps surfacing fresh unfeatured spots.
1. Cafe 1953 with Audrey
- 12 Gyeongin-ro 77ga-gil, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul
- 4.3 · 479 reviews · 갤러리
Cafe 1953 with Audrey opens the course in the afternoon when the workshop light is still good. It's a gallery cafe in a refurbished warehouse, the kind of first stop that sets the tempo for the rest of the walk. You're here before the alleys start to empty, while the neighborhood still feels like it's working.
Crew's note
I ordered before you got here. You always skip lunch.
What visitors say
What an incredible experience, a must see if you visit Seoul and want to see one of its coolest cafes! The entire place is beautiful, with m…
Decided to check out after map search, and it did not disappoint at all. There are a lot of Audrey collections, and from what I've gathered…
2. Vivarium
- 13-1 Dorim-ro 131-gil, 문래동 Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul
- 4.0 · 35 reviews · 와인바
Vivarium closes the course after the metal shops have shut their doors and the strip goes quiet. It's a wine bar, which means you're not rushing anywhere after. The crew timed this one for when Mullae stops being an industrial district and becomes something else for a few hours.
Crew's note
You won't find this on Instagram maps. That's why I like it.
What visitors say
@simpleandhonestreviews I'm gonna start the review with a negative as I don't feel that large water turtles should be kept in very small tan…
I stumbled into this store by chance. It's called "Vivarium" because there are turtles there. Looking at the turtles brings me peace. If you…
The walk between
The strip between them runs through the working alleys the scout research mentioned, past metal workshops that haven't turned into anything yet. You'll know you're in the right part of Seoul when the storefronts look like they're still deciding what they want to be.
- Start the course in the mid-afternoon so the first stop doesn't feel rushed and the second one lands after dark.
- The wine bar works better later in the week when you're not trying to make it somewhere else by nine.
FAQ
- Does the cafe get crowded on weekends?
- Visitor reviews mention it's popular enough to show up on map searches and Instagram, so weekend afternoons will likely have a wait. Weekday mid-afternoons give you more room to settle in without hovering.
- What's the price range at the wine bar?
- Multiple visitor reviews describe the prices as affordable and mention good value for the quality. One review notes that ordering a bottle gets you a second bottle free for the week, so it skews budget-friendly if you're planning to come back.
Ask Jake
Seoul
