Jongno 3-ga, Seoul

Step away from the main road and you enter a maze of narrow lanes lined with traditional Korean hanok houses.

Many have been transformed into cafés, restaurants, boutiques and small shops while retaining their traditional architecture.

It is one of the easiest places in central Seoul to experience traditional Korean streets without leaving the modern city. Seoul's official tourism guide describes Ikseon-dong as a place where Korea's past and present coexist.

After sunset, Jongno 3-ga changes completely.

Pojangmacha are Korea's casual street-food tents, traditionally places where workers stopped for inexpensive food and drinks after work.

Today, the Jongno 3-ga pocha streets attract a much broader mix of locals, including younger Seoulites.

Expect simple Korean dishes such as pajeon, grilled seafood, ramyeon and other late-night food, usually accompanied by soju or beer.

Time Out specifically highlighted the revival of these late-night food stalls as one of the reasons Jongno 3-ga stands out in 2026.

Beside the stone walls of Jongmyo Shrine lies a quieter side of Jongno.

Seosulla-gil combines historic surroundings with jewellery studios, craft workshops, cafés, restaurants and bars.

The official Seoul tourism guide places the street within walking distance of Jongno 3-ga Station and highlights its hanok restaurants and cafés as well as easy access to Ikseon-dong and other historic neighborhoods.

Nearby Nagwon Musical Instrument Arcade adds another completely different layer to the neighbourhood.

The large music complex is packed with instrument shops, while the streets around it preserve the area's older drinking and dining culture.

It is this mixture—hanok, music, jewellery, street food and nightlife—that makes Jongno 3-ga difficult to compare with Seoul's newer trend districts.