Seoul feels smaller when you're here.
Why BUAM, why now
Buam-dong is rising as a quieter alternative to the Seongsu and Hongdae circuits, with hillside cafes along Jahamun-ro and the kind of old Seoul atmosphere that local lifestyle coverage is starting to pick up on.
1. Lumberjack
- 151 Changuimun-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
- 4.4 · 187 reviews · 데이트 장소
Lumberjack opens the course because morning here works best with a drink you can hold while you walk. The window seats look out onto the street and the mountains behind it, and the atmosphere is relaxed enough that you can stay or leave without feeling like you've mistimed anything. It's the kind of stop that sets the pace for the rest of the route.
Crew's note
Places like this don't show up on maps. That's why I keep coming back.
What visitors say
Cool little place to get couple of cool drinks for the hot summer if walking around the place.
Pretty decent coffee, friendly staff and the café has a great atmosphere with a kitschy decor with British parafernalia. Grab a seat by the…
2. Buam-dong
- Seoul, Jongno District, Changuimun-ro, 149 1층
- 4.3 · 624 reviews · 카페
Buam-dong closes the course because by the time you arrive, you'll want something to take with you or sit down with for a while. The variety of baked goods means you can pick based on what you're actually hungry for, not what's left. It's a natural end point before you leave the neighborhood or decide to stay longer.
Crew's note
Before the crowd comes. Just us and all this bread.
What visitors say
"부암동스코프" is like a place where you can experience a slice of London in Buam-dong. They have a wide variety of British-style bread like scone…
I visited each of the three days I stayed in Buam-dong. There is such variety of baked goods that it is so mouth dropping once you enter the…
The walk between
The stretch between them follows the hillside character that makes this neighborhood worth planning a route around. You'll pass the kind of low-rise streetscape and art-world quiet that the scout research flags as Buam-dong's appeal.
- Start at Lumberjack early enough that you're not deciding between a seat and the walk itself.
- Save room at the bakery. The range is wide enough that you'll want to choose once you see everything, and visitors report coming back multiple days in a row.
FAQ
- Does this course work if I'm coming on a weekend?
- The neighborhood draws fewer crowds than Seongsu or Hongdae on Saturdays and Sundays, so you won't be fighting for space. Both stops have strong repeat-visitor patterns, which usually means weekend waits are shorter than in more saturated areas.
- Can I do this course in reverse order?
- You can, but the route is built so you're carrying less at the start and have more options to sit or take out at the end. Reversing it means starting with the bakery's full selection when you're not yet sure how much you'll want to carry.
Ask Jiny
Seoul
