Jongno-gu is the historic heart of Seoul, containing Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Insadong's antique street. The area balances ancient and modern — traditional Korean restaurants, teahouses, and street food vendors operate alongside contemporary galleries and specialty coffee shops. Eating here feels like a connection to centuries of Seoul food culture.
I have a newfound love for mugwort, but it is not a common ingredient. Here, I was able to try both an Iced Mugwort Latte (₩7000) and a Fig Mugwort Cream Dessert (₩19000). The Iced Mugwort Latte was delicious. It was creamy and nutty. The Fig Mugwort Cream Dessert was interesting but too sweet for me to be able to finish. I liked the crunchy bits the most. It would be better if they offered a smaller version. I appreciate the kind worker who brought out my food and explained how to enjoy the mugwort.
Naeja&Co is a very interesting cafe with magnificent interior design. They have a unique selection of dessert and drinks made from mugwort (쑥), which tastes unexplainable. Either you like the taste or don't. So if you're near Gyeongbokgung station (Line 3), I recommend you give it a try
