The Other Hongdae
I love surprises. This is especially true when the surprise is unexpected. I had thought that I knew Hongdae, but I just recently discovered that what I thought I knew only amounted to the tip of the iceberg. Hongdae, it turns out, has so much more going on.
You see, when I go to Hongdae I always end up in the same places. Typically a night out there means the area around GoGo’s, FF Club, a brief stop at Oi and Club Zen by passing Tin Pan and Tin Pan2, popping into DD, maybe a swing around to M2 or a night in NB2 or Harlem. Of course this includes all the street vendors and stalls around the little park near Honik University and heading back toward the subway station.
That was then. Now, after last weekend, I’ve discovered the other Hongdae. It was a simple matter really. Instead of taking my usual route from the subway and turning right I went left. The throngs of people thinned into an acceptable few window shoppers and the streets offered unique boutiques and cafes not boasting franchise names, but instead seemingly operated by entrepreneurs with a bit of spunk and wit.
The other Hongdae distills the kinetic energy of the area into a simmer that bubbles with delights without the chaos. It’s here that I found the long searched for Cacaoboom. In the streets I came across cafes like Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Noi, Homeo, Angel Milk, Mamie and Joey’s Cafe, vintage boutiques like Romiwa and Ringer, and bakeries like Paul and Paulina and Cloud 9 Cupcake. The entire neighborhood around Seokyo Elementary school boasts so many interesting spots to patron that you’ll be kept busy for weeks to come.
The pace may be a bit slower, but the vibe remains the same. Who knew that a simple left turn could open up a whole new outlook on a place I’d been dozens and dozens of times. Next time you’re in Hongdae, take exit 6 from Honik Station, make a right and then just walk straight into the many side streets.
