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Seoul Cafe Guide: Villa Coffee Bar, a Rooftop Spot with Stunning City Views

I’ve been posting a lot about Haebangchon lately, and as I mentioned in another article, one of the area’s biggest charms is its high elevation, which offers great views of Seoul. So today, I’d like to introduce a café where you can enjoy that beautiful cityscape. I visited this café in the spring with a friend and was able to enjoy the fresh, green scenery under clear skies. The café I visited is called Villa Coffee Bar. It’s a renovated old house turned into a cozy café. The space isn’t large, but its charm lies in its small, homey atmosphere paired with an open, panoramic view of Seoul. As soon as you walk in, the “ta-da” moment of the view catches your eyes immediately.  The music album covers displayed on the walls also add a hip vibe to the space. The Basque cheesecake is said to be the café’s signature menu item. What makes this place even better is that you can go up to the rooftop. The interior is stylish and pleasant, but the rooftop offers truly stunning views. From up t...

Enjoy Hangang-Style Ramen Indoors at Hyundai City Outlet in Seoul

🍜 Experience “Hangang Ramen” 
— Even Indoors in Seoul!

ramen-machine-inseoul

If you’ve ever watched travel videos about Korea, you’ve probably seen people eating ramen by the Han River (Hangang). It’s one of those must-try experiences for many visitors — enjoying a simple bowl of hot ramen while overlooking the river. I often do it myself with friends, and somehow, ramen just tastes better there.

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One of the secrets behind this magic?
👉 The ramen machine!

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Unlike instant cup noodles, Hangang ramen is cooked fresh and bubbling right in front of you using a special ramen machine. Originally, these machines were only found at convenience stores near the Han River, but recently they’ve started appearing all over Seoul — a sign of just how popular the trend has become!

hanrinver-ramen-seoul

🍲 A New Indoor Ramen Spot in Dongdaemun

If you’d like to try Hangang-style ramen even before heading to the river, there’s a great place to do it — at Hyundai City Outlet in Dongdaemun.

nongshim-ramen-corner

When you go up to the 2nd floor, you’ll find lots of K-pop and Korean souvenir shops. Walk a little further inside, and you’ll spot a cute raccoon mascot — that’s where the ramen corner is!

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<This is the self-cook area. Just follow the instructions and you’ll do fine!>

You’ll see shelves lined with various ramen flavors on one side, and shiny ramen machines on the other. There are tables nearby, so you can sit down and enjoy your freshly cooked noodles right there.

self-ramen-cook-seoul-nongsim

A fun surprise: there’s even a machine just for Jjapagetti — a Korean-style black bean ramen. It’s cooked with very little water, and the machine does all the work for you. Just add the ramen and press the button, and soon you’ll have a delicious bowl of Korean noodles ready to enjoy.

ramen-machine-dongdeamun

🍜 A Taste of Korean Ramen Culture

This ramen corner was created by Nongshim, one of Korea’s most famous ramen brands. So, while you won’t find every ramen brand here, you can still enjoy many of Korea’s most popular ones.

If you’re a true ramen lover, you might also want to explore spots in Hongdae or Myeongdong, where different ramen brands and creative flavors are gathered in one place — and yes, they all use the ramen machine too!

nongshim-ramen-self-cook

  • Location : 2nd floor at Hyundai City Outlet in Dongdaemun
  • Address : 20 Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Cost : 5,000 KRW

🌉 For the Full Experience…

Of course, nothing beats eating ramen outdoors by the Han River with the breeze and night lights all around you. But if you’re short on time or visiting Seoul in winter, this indoor ramen machine spot is the perfect alternative.

So next time you’re in Dongdaemun, stop by the 2nd floor of Hyundai City Outlet and experience the fun of cooking and eating ramen — Korean style!

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