On our last Sunday in Seoul, we almost didn’t go to Mullae-dong, a neighborhood that wasn’t high on our list. What a relief that we ended up going! It became one of my favorite spots in the city. We got there taking the Line 2 of the subway to the Mullae Station.
Granted, if we’d planned better, we would have gone on a weekday — the area is full of steel workshops you can see in action, which we missed since it was the weekend. Nevertheless, I loved the experience and was happy we went.
There are so many cafés here, it would take months or years to see every single one. We ended up visiting two on the same afternoon, but just walking around and seeing all the storefronts made me want to walk into every single one of them.
Where to Get Your Coffee Fix
The first one we went to, Mullae Banggu, is not only a café but also a creative studio where people were taking painting classes. They also sell posters and merchandise like bags, T-shirts, and hats, and have a really cool workshop vibe. I got a hot filtered coffee and tiramisu, and my boyfriend got an iced filtered coffee and espresso pudding. The tiramisu was one of the best I’ve ever had — super light with no alcohol taste, just how I like it. My boyfriend said it was the fastest he’d ever seen me finish a dessert. His espresso pudding tasted like a very pure coffee jelly, which was delicious. The filtered coffee had a light-roast flavor. I would definitely come back here on my next trip to Seoul.
We then walked around the neighborhood to our next spot. I must say I was tempted to go into every other café we walked past — each one had a different design and looked so cool. One of the places we passed, called Coffee Before Work, had a really cool concept and branding, including some highball-themed posters.
At Rust Bakery, there were many pastry options you could pick up on a tray, or different types of pudding to order. I got a sourdough chocolate bread with chocolate and butter filling, and Matt got a vanilla pudding. I got a hot americano, and he got an iced one again.
Shopping in Mullae-dong
Walking a little more, we saw a shop from a distance that had some cute items, and when I got in, I found out they had pieces made in Seoul but with Okinawa inspiration. I was happy to find these cute oversized shirts, and I ended up getting two colors of the same one. From what I’ve seen of Korean street style, I absolutely adore the way girls wear oversized, baggy outfits — though my body shape hasn’t made it easy to replicate that look. The shop is called MNC Store (Monday Next Chill) and was full of Okinawa, Hello Kitty, and kawaii decor and trinkets in general, and the people who worked there were super nice.
On the same street, a block away, we found a store called Conscious Clothing & Co. It caught my attention for the number of printed T-shirts and Snoopy accessories. Inside, there were more vintage pieces, toys, pins, and accessories in general. They had a lot of rock band T-shirts and polo sweaters, and I found a white Sailor Moon T-shirt I had to take home.
Mullae-dong is also within walking distance of Times Square Mall, so we went there for some last-minute shopping. One thing I learned about Korean malls is that they’re packed on weekends. I went to Kyobo Bookstore to get two picture books — one I was already looking for, called “My Mom is a Haenyeo,” which is in Korean but includes English translations at the end, and another I hadn’t heard of but that caught my attention, with beautiful watermelon illustrations (I’ll need to use a translator to read the story).
I recommend going to this neighborhood — the number of café options is overwhelming, so you might want to research which ones you want to visit first, or just get there and choose if you’re in a more adventurous mood. There’s no shortage of options. If you need to do some shopping, Times Square Mall is at a convenient distance.
If you’re heading to Korea for the first time, start here: How to Get from Incheon Airport to Seoul — my full guide to the limousine bus and my Air Premia flight review.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Mullae-dong
Yes, especially if you love discovering neighborhoods that feel real rather than touristy. The mix of working metal workshops, street art, and specialty cafés makes it one of the more unique areas in Seoul.
It’s known for being a former industrial district (full of metalworking factories) that’s been reinvented into an arts and café district, while many of the original workshops are still active side by side with the new cafés.
Take the subway to Mullae Station (Line 2), exit near Mullae Park, and the café/art district is a short walk from there.
Not really — it’s still mostly visited by locals and in-the-know travelers, so it feels much less crowded than areas like Hongdae or Myeongdong.
Two to three hours is enough to explore the cafés, street art, and a shop or two, making it an easy half-day addition to a Seoul itinerary.
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