Curious about unique bread cafes in South Korea? Ikseon-dong, Seoul’s hipster hanok village, is where you need to head to
Soft, fluffy, and delectable, bread has been enjoyed by many generations. Its popularity as a light snack has inspired many unique bread cafes in Seoul, which is famous for its trendy and Instagrammable cafes. The hanok village of Ikseon-dong is a stone’s throw away from Gyeongbokgung palace, making it a great area for tourists and locals alike to visit after a morning exploring the palaces.
Locals recognise this hanok labyrinth as home to some of Seoul’s most beloved bread cafes. Artfully different from the rest, these cafes serve up bountiful fresh bakes daily to customers in hanok-themed interiors.
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1. Mil Toasthouse
This popular bread stop sits among the quaint exterior of Ikseon-dong. Take a walk through the twists and turns of the small neighbourhood and you’ll spot a wooden archway with noren curtains (Japanese doorway curtains, ironically). The cafe’s namesake is inspired by what it sells–Mil translates into wheat. With its focus solely on producing bread, you can bet on high quality bread here.
Its open kitchen concept allows customers to peer into the process of bread making whilst waiting eagerly for the cafe’s signature product, the steamed bread, available in plain, red bean, chestnut, and corn fillings. Served up in an adorable bamboo basket reminiscent of dim sum, tuck in to fluffy and savoury bread. The cafe is also famous for its soufflé French toast which comes in many variations including blueberry cream cheese and vanilla ice cream.
30-3 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea