Seoul Trip in March: Seeking Recommendations

March in Seoul is a nice time, the cherry blossoms should be starting around your dates. For historical sites, skip Gyeongbokgung on a Monday since it's closed, and instead do Changdeokgung's Secret Garden tour which you need to book ahead online. For shopping, the area around Euljiro and Ikseon-dong has smaller boutique shops and hanok cafes that are more interesting than Myeongdong's chain stores. For beauty treatments, I'd try Sulwhasoo's flagship spa in Gangnam for facials using their ginseng products, it's pricey but worth it. For a cocktail bar, Bar Cham in Jongno is intimate and does creative Korean-inspired drinks, make a reservation. For a nice dinner, Mingles in Gangnam does a fantastic tasting menu that showcases Korean flavors without being too stuffy for a mother-daughter trip.

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Cherry blossom timing can be a gamble that week, but even if they're late, the magnolias in the palace gardens are usually out. For a different historical angle than the big palaces, walk the old city wall from Naksan Park down to Dongdaemun, it's a proper hike with views and you end near the food stalls at Gwangjang Market, where the bindae-tteok and yukhoe are worth the crowd.

For shopping with a mother-daughter dynamic, skip Hongdae's teen chaos and head to Seongsu-dong instead, it's got converted factories with indie brands and good cafes, but go before noon on a weekday to avoid the influencer crowds. On beauty, I'd book a Sulwhasoo or O Hui facial, but also consider a Korean-style makeup lesson at a place like Son & Park in Gangnam, they're patient with beginners and the photos afterward are a nice souvenir.

Cocktail-wise, Le Chamber in Jongno is a bit hidden but the bartenders do a proper job with soju-based twists, and it's close enough to walk to a late dinner at Jungsik if you want a splurge, though honestly the tasting menu at Onjium in Goyang is more memorable for showing royal court cuisine with a modern hand, just book far ahead. For a casual but excellent meal, try the grilled eel at Eoulrim in Euljiro, it's a tiny

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Reserve the 2pm seating, gets packed after 3.

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the set, not a la carte

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Coming from Haebangchon, take line 6 to Itaewon then walk up, taxi is only like 6,000 won though. Skip the scones honestly, they're dry. Order the first flush darjeeling a la carte and a slice of their matcha roll.

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