With a name like Daelim Changgo you would expect it to be near Daerim Station, but it is actually close to Seongsu Station on subway line 2. It is a fair way from my habitat, but the word of mouth was good enough that I set aside a day and made the trip. I had once dropped by the Seoul Forest area to buy bread at Mildo, and the atmosphere there was lovely, so I took the chance to visit that neighborhood as well.

Inside

I had no idea a retro-modern space like this existed in Seoul. It was also curious to see so many hipsters gathered in Seongsu. It feels like all of Seoul is turning into Hongdae.

The tree

Photos do not quite capture the impact, but of all the cafe spaces I have been to recently, this was the most stunning.

The kitchen

The system here is interesting: the 10,000 won admission fee includes one drink. Order an Americano and a slice of cake gets added on. I suppose that shows how confident they are in the gallery space. The food seems decent enough too, and it looked ideal for a quiet weekend with friends.

The gallery

The paintings have a really nice feel to them. Their curation is seriously on point!

Mikkeller Daedonggang Pale Ale

On its own it is 9,000 won, so one glass of this and you have already got your money’s worth. Drinking it in the summer heat, the alcohol went straight to my head.

Crepe

I did not expect much, but it was perfectly edible. The standard of cafes these days is levelling up across the board, you could say.

A painting

I had seen this painting on Instagram and wanted to see it in person, and sure enough it has a wonderful feel.

Buckets

The small details are staged really well.

The exhibit

It suits the space so well; their sense of style is no joke. No wonder the hipsters flock here. I only stayed an hour or two, but I came away deeply impressed. Seoul has gained one more must-visit place.

After a good look around Daelim Changgo I had some time left, so I headed toward Seoul Forest, but walking there turned out to be quite a distance. (Partly because I picked the wrong direction, admittedly.) Next time I resolved to take a taxi, or ride the subway one more stop and get off at Ttukseom.

Under Stand Avenue

A space has sprung up that made me wonder if this had always been here, and the design of the container boxes is so hip. What on earth is going on in Seongsu?

The sculpture park

Seoul Forest itself is well kept, with a nice atmosphere for people to relax in.

Sunset over the park

An oasis in the middle of the city, you could say. It felt a bit like being at Shinjuku Gyoen.

A sculpture

The quality of the sculptures was impressive too. Korea must have a lot of talented artists.

The view at dusk

It made me think that living in this neighborhood would not be bad at all. The atmosphere is just wonderful.

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