CATCHTABLE Pick: Relaxing Travel Spots in Hongdae, Seoul

Loved by locals and curious travelers alike, this modern Chinese course unfolds like a film: the room quiets, aromas of seared octopus and spice rise, and plates arrive in rhythmic scenes. The narrative changes every two months, which means returning feels less like a repeat and more like a new chapter.

• Order this!: The seasonal course with drink pairing; check Instagram @mong.js for the current theme before you go.

A calm, fragrant pause from Hongdae’s buzz: house-roasted beans bloom with notes of cocoa and citrus while handmade desserts arrive with gallery-like care. The pairing set—think “coffee omakase”—guides your senses from light to deep roasts, a shared favorite among locals and visiting coffee lovers.

• Order this: The Pairing Set (Coffee Omakase) plus a signature dessert; ask the barista for a single-origin side-by-side taste.

If Perlen was a whisper, The Dameum is low jazz: warm wood, soft light, and plates that modernize Korean flavors for wine and sool. The chef’s beef tartare is silky and seasoned to a tee, while the sous-vide octopus—glossed with a touch of Gamheungro—lands tender with a gentle chew.

• Order this: Chef’s beef tartare and sous-vide octopus; pair with a bottle recommended by the team.

A memory-making bistro where pastry layers shatter gently and rosy beef exhales butter and thyme. When Hongdae feels loud, Souvenir’s measured warmth and European comfort is the reset—ideal for anniversaries or a slow, celebratory evening.

• Order this: Beef Wellington; arrive early in the evening as it can sell out during peak hours.

A breezy Mediterranean mood with generous plates—the famed Salmon Steak Butter Pasta arrives glistening, its aroma of browned butter and herbs drifting toward the park. Run by chefs with Le Cordon Bleu pedigree, it’s a date-and-family favorite for both locals and visiting food lovers.

• Order this: Salmon Steak Butter Pasta; share a risotto; finish with crème brûlée.

A lively, modern-Korean dining bar helmed by chefs with New York Michelin backgrounds. Highlights include a finely diced beef tartare and sous-vide octopus paired with a gently sweet, sesame-and-garlic-noted Gamheungro sauce—great with a highball built on traditional liquor.

• Order this: Chef’s tartare and sous-vide octopus; add the house-favorite fries and a Gamheungro-based cocktail.

A tiny sanctuary where dough is kneaded by hand and shapes change with the season. The basil gnocchi lands chewy then melts; the clam pasta hums with briny depth—easy-going plates for a quiet chat after a walk on the Gyeongui Line.

• Order this: Basil gnocchi and clam pasta; add ciabatta to sweep up the sauce.

Start soft: thick, tangy Greek yogurt crowned with seasonal fruit and toasted granola, in a sunlit nook made for unhurried mornings. A sweet, healthy pit stop before drifting through Hongdae’s indie shops.

• Order this: Classic Greek yogurt bowl; add nut butter or seasonal toppings for extra richness.

Wind down under soft light with a list that ranges from classic to natty, plus food tuned to what’s good right now. It’s the kind of place where you can share a bottle on a date—or sit solo with a glass and something warm from the kitchen.

• Order this: Ask for a budget-friendly flight or a staff-pick bottle; pair with a seasonal hot dish.