Neighbourhood guide
Hannam and Itaewon
The hill of galleries, boutiques and restaurants between Namsan and the Han: the Leeum, Mosu and the bars of Itaewon.
Hannam-dong, on the slope between Namsan and the river, is Seoul’s most international quarter of galleries, design shops and restaurants; Itaewon, next door, has its bars and the Mondrian.
Sights
The Leeum Museum of Art.
Eating and drinking
Mosu (Two MICHELIN Stars); Soul, Zero Complex, Escondido and Soseoul Hannam (One Star); Anthracite Coffee; Privilege at the Mondrian.
Lunch in Hannam, then the Leeum.
Staying
The Grand Hyatt Seoul and the Mondrian Seoul Itaewon.
Our advice: Hannam’s side streets reward wandering.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Eating and drinking
- Staying
What’s nearby
Distances from Hannam and Itaewon are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- HangangjinLine 6350 m5 min walk
- ItaewonLine 6650 m8 min walk
Key sights
- N Seoul Tower1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 13 min
- The DDP3.2 kmWalk 41 minCycle 16 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Changdeokgung4.8 kmCycle 24 minCar or taxi 24 min
- Gyeongbokgung4.8 kmCycle 24 minCar or taxi 24 min
- Bukchon5.1 kmCycle 26 minCar or taxi 25 min
- COEX6.2 kmCycle 31 minCar or taxi 29 min
- Lotte World Tower9.7 kmCar or taxi 40 min
Main railway stations
- Seoul Station2.8 kmWalk 35 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Yongsan Station3.1 kmWalk 38 minCycle 15 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Suseo Station (SRT)11 kmCar or taxi 43 min
Location
The map comes from Google Maps, which sets its own cookies once it loads.
More in depth
The back storySeoul at the table: Mingles, the stars and the noodle housesOne three-star, ten two-stars, thirty-one one-stars and fifty-one Bib Gourmands: Seoul’s table runs from Mingles in Cheongdam to buckwheat noodles in Jongno and gomtang by the river.
The back storyKorean CuisineKimchi and the banchan that come with every meal, bibimbap, cold naengmyeon, long-simmered gomtang, barbecue at the table and dumplings by the steamer: the dishes of Korea, and where to taste them in Seoul.
The back storyWhere Seoul sleeps: the palaces, Namsan, Gangnam and the riverThe Four Seasons by Gwanghwamun, the Shilla and Banyan Tree on the slopes of Namsan, Signiel high in Lotte World Tower, Josun Palace and the Park Hyatt in Gangnam, and the Mondrian’s rooftop in Itaewon: where to stay in a city of two halves.