7 Best Restaurants in Seoul, South Korea

A neighborhood institution better known for its friendly staff and welcoming space than its coffee per se, Berkeley Coffee Social offers Americanos, lattes, and a few non-caffeinated options. There is a wide communal table for remote workers looking to get some work done and couch seats for getting in some leisure time. The space is dog-friendly, so you’ll often see local residents stopping by with their pups on their afternoon walk.

Both a flower shop and cafe, Ver’s Garden is a green oasis owned and operated by plant-lover Kim Sung-soo. While floral design changes with the seasons, the two-story space is a constantly growing home to monsteras, ivies, and pilea that offers coffee, herbal teas, and desserts. The cafe’s quiet corners are ideal for studying or remote working, but if you’re coming on a warm day just to relax make sure to grab a seat outdoors. Shaded by overhanging white sheets billowing in the wind, the cafe has tables on the second floor terrace looking out onto the Gyeongui Line Railroad Park as well as seats in the garden on the first floor. Don’t forget to wave hello to resident dog, Bandal: the cafe is pet-friendly and you’ll often see one or two furry friends running around.

Though Yri Cafe offers little of the minimalist design and photogenic, colorful drinks that hip, new cafes in the area have begun to specialize in, the venue is one of the few places to encapsulate the independent, down-to-earth spirit of the neighborhood. Offering a simple selection of coffees and teas, the cafe is strewn with hundreds of books and local zines and decorated with portraits of Korean activists and intellectuals. Film directors, novelists, and painters still come here to meet in groups and on weekdays, you can see writers hunched over their laptops until the wee hours of the night. The cafe hosts a wide array of events such as book talks, art exhibitions, and film screenings.

Often at the top of lists ranking the best foreign food in Seoul, Casablanca is a Moroccan sandwicherie that serves ​​shakshuka, salads, and soups in addition to sandwiches. Although all of their sandwiches are delicious, the lamb chili with spiced lamb, tomato, and lettuce served on a baguette is a neighborhood favorite. Across the street, Casablanca has a second location better for longer stays called Cafe Morococo. The latter serves tangines, lemon chicken, and perfect-for-everyone chicken over rice. Wahid Naciri, who owns both of these establishments, was a professional chef in Rabat before his life in Korea and is simply the nicest person.

One of the first well-known Western-style vegan restaurants in Seoul, Plant opened in 2013 as the brainchild of former designer and blogger Mipa Lee. Although Plant was first a small cafe for baked goods, its popularity from vegans and non-vegans alike has helped grow the menu and the space. Still operating as a 100% plant-based restaurant, the beloved menu includes a hummus and roasted squash salad, lentil veggie bowl, and mushroom burger in addition to its wide range of desserts. Today, Plant has two locations: this one near Itaewon Station and another in Yeonnam-dong, Hongdae.

While a delicious and hearty salad can be difficult to come by, one place that does it right is Root Everyday, a salad cafe that also makes sandwiches, soups, and rolls. Their salads center proteins like chicken, salmon, and tofu with two favorites being the shrimp poke bowl and the Thai steak bowl. Their root avocado roll made with avocado, brown rice, red peppers, and cabbage is a fresh, light meal for anyone needing a break from heavy holiday eating.

Housed in a large, red-brick building, this sunny coffee shop located in Seochon serves coffee and quick bites. While their menu includes a decent array of pound cakes, seasonal brunch items, teas, lattes, and Americanos, Staff Picks fans are more likely to point you to its merchandise for sale at the cafe’s entrance. Knick knacks like high-end pencils, vintage china, and other decorative items are popular picks. Outside, seats are arranged around a tall gingko tree. Because the cafe is dog friendly, you’ll often come across pet owners with their furry friends.