Tongui-dong Boan Inn
Cafes & bakeries · Seochon
An aged wooden inn turned art space sits beside a cafe and independent bookshop near Gyeongbokgung’s western wall. Come for weathered exhibition rooms and artist publications as well as a coffee-and-madeleine pause; browsing the adjoining spaces is much of the appeal.
What vloggers filmed
Good to know
Why visit
- Boan1942 pairs an old wooden inn turned art space with a neighbouring café and independent bookshop beside Gyeongbokgung’s western wall. Come for the contrast between weathered rooms and a slower book-and-coffee stop, especially if small exhibitions interest you as much as polished café interiors.Tistory+1
Choose the experience
- Begin in the former inn if you enjoy art displayed in a visibly aged setting, then explore the adjoining building’s second-floor Boan Books. In December 2024, blogger onionstar found the old rooms unsettling enough to distract from the exhibition, yet stayed all afternoon reading by the bookshop window facing the palace wall. That split reaction is useful: the building’s texture is part of the experience, while the bookshop offers a different mood.Tistory
Choose something to drink
- For a straightforward break, onionstar ordered an Americano and a Lemon Honey Madeleine, describing the cake as soft, nutty and gently lemon-scented. A May 2025 visitor recorded more distinctive spring options: Geomundo mugwort soy latte, mugwort Basque cheesecake, and Hadong mugwort-and-balloon-flower-root tea. Mugwort is an aromatic herb used in Korean sweets and drinks. Treat those as seasonal examples to look for, rather than a guaranteed permanent menu.Tistory+1
Know the atmosphere
- The bookshop focuses on publications by contemporary artists and smaller creators, making it a browsing stop even if you are not planning to buy a novel. Do not assume the café will be empty: the May 2025 visitor found both indoor and outdoor tables occupied. The old inn, bookshop and café can therefore feel quite different within the same visit.Tistory+1
Practical tip
- Check the current exhibition and each space’s opening times before making a special trip. The May 2025 report listed Monday closures and different hours for the gallery, bookshop and café. Allow time for the bookshop as well as a drink; a café visit alone misses much of this place’s appeal.Tistory
