As social distancing measures have been lifted for the first time in almost two years, plenty of visitors have been looking for trendy places to visit in Seoul. Some of the places located in Jongno are enough to fascinate not only foreign tourists but also Korean youngsters with both traditional and exotic aspects. If you walk around the crowded “hot spots” from Seochon to Bukchon, you will see what “K-Hip” is. Seochon and Bukchon are at the center of the four main gates of Seoul, known for their unique stores and retro-sentimental streets. The distinctive exterior along with various attractions are enough to catch the eyes of the Generation MZ. Below are three of the best places worth visiting in Jongno, targeting the youth with so much to see and enjoy.

LONDON BAGEL MUSEUM

  If you are a bread person, you should visit this “Instagrammable” bakery with nice photo spots. The London Bagel Museum is a bagel specialty store that is gaining huge popularity with its London-like interior. The store was opened by a company that runs Café Layered and Café Highwest, which are famous for their scones. If you visit this place on the weekend, you need to wait outside the store before it opens. Otherwise, all bagels will be sold out in a blink. The London Bagel Museum sells various kinds of bagels, including ones topped with sesame seeds, jalapenos, chia seeds, and olives. Among them, the signature menu is Brick Lane Bagel, a bagel with cream cheese and honey. Besides the bagels, there are meal menus such as soup and bagel sandwiches as well. Enjoy a freshly baked bagel and take some foodie photos for your Instagram.

OFR SEOUL

  Welcome to OFR Seoul, a select shop that has a complete Parisian vibe. OFR Seoul is a store based on the bookshop OFR Paris located in the Marais of Paris, France. The name OFR is short for “Open, free, and ready.” Walking along the alleyway of Seochon, you will be able to find a two-story western house without a distinctive signboard. On the first floor, its signature items including clothes and eco-bags in different colors stand out. The largest space on the first floor is the bookstore, where foreign books and magazines from Paris are for sale. The goods are sold with the same price as the local price in Paris. OFR Seoul operates a select shop Mirabelle on the second floor. You will find some vintage and unique fashion items, accessories, and fabrics that suit your taste. Spend precious time browsing unique items that can express your uniqueness.

SEOUL MUSEUM OF CRAFT ART

  A colorful structure with a distinctive exterior near Anguk Station is enough to stimulate visitors’ curiosity. If you have time, pay a visit to the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCa), which has aesthetic architecture along with large areas of lawn. SeMoCa, which opened on July 2021, was the first public craft museum in Korea to be built by remodeling five Poongmoon Girls’ High School buildings. SeMoCa collects and holds 20,000 crafts and craft materials covering the times and fields from tradition to modern times. It also prepares various exhibitions and programs as well. There is no entrance fee to the museum, but the “Archive Room Special Exhibition” is only available on weekdays. In the permanent exhibition, you can see crafts, embroideries, and clothes made by Korean artisans of past and present. This craft hub, which connects Seoul and the world through crafts, is definitely worth a visit.