The back story
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Neighbourhood guide
Hongdae, Yeonnam and Mapo
The university quarter of live music and street performers, Yeonnam’s park cafés and Mapo’s soup and barbecue houses.
Neighbourhood guide · Seoul
Hongdae and Mapo, after dark
The university quarter of live music, Yeonnam’s park cafés and Mapo’s Bib Gourmand soup and barbecue houses.
What's onThis week in Seoul
What to see and do
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Silver grass in autumn
Haneul Park
A hilltop park of grasses in World Cup Park, famous for its silver grass in autumn.
Where to eat
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Bib Gourmand
Mapo Ok
Seolleongtang, the milky ox-bone soup in Mapo & Hongdae. Bib Gourmand in the 2026 guide.
312 Tojeong-ro, Mapo-gu, SeoulExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand
Okdongsik
Dwaeji-gukbap, pork and rice soup in Mapo & Hongdae. Bib Gourmand in the 2026 guide.
44-10 Yanghwa-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, SeoulExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand
Yukjeon Hoekwan
Bulgogi in Mapo & Hongdae. Bib Gourmand in the 2026 guide.
47 Tojeong-ro 37-gil, Mapo-gu, SeoulExplore View on map
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Seoul’s roaster with the seal
Fritz Coffee Company
A Seoul roaster and bakery, its seal logo on every cup, with coffee and bread made in the city.
Where to stay
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The hotel of Hongdae
RYSE, Autograph Collection
A design hotel on Yanghwa-ro, in the heart of the university district of Hongdae.
130 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, SeoulExplore View on map
Share your Hongdae & Mapo tips
Heard live music in Hongdae, or eaten in Mapo? Tell the next visitor where.
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