Trick Eye Museum

Category: Attraction - Museum
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 346 meters (Exit 9)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.553551,126.921689 ↗
Description:

If museums are not your thing, this one might change your mind yet. Instead of showing old artifacts, this museum has pictures and props designed to "trick" the brain. You can take pictures and have a fun day overall here. It is a good place to bring children to and worth a visit if you are already around Hongdae area. (source).

NOTE: Until 31st December 2013 you can use this coupon for a discounted entry ticket.

Location in Google Map:

Istanbul Kebab

Category: Restaurant - Halal Restaurant
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 196 meters (Exit 8)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.555784,126.924297 ↗
Description:

Here is a kebab restaurant in Hongdae. Istanbul Kebab is located just a few steps away from Hongik University Station's Exit 8. You can have a choice of Chicken Kebab (4,000 KRW), Lamb Kebab (5,000 KRW) or have a mix of both (5,000 KRW). If you are in the neighbourhood and craving for some affordable halal meat, drop by here. (source)

Location in Google Map:

Mapo Gui Gui Grilled Fish Restaurant

Category: Restaurant - Seafood Restaurant
Nearest Subway Station:  Mapo Station (Line 5)
Distance from Subway Station:  141 meters (Exit 4)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.538463,126.946412 ↗
Description:

Dongdaemun is not the only place to dine on grilled fish. Grilled fish is a popular dish in Korea so there are a lot of grilled fish restaurants scattered around. This grilled fish restaurant has a very cute name "Mapo Gui Gui" (Mapo Grilled Grilled). Located in Mapo-gu district, this restaurant has received good reviews on its Mackerel grilled (Godeungo Gui/고등어구이), cooked over coal fire.

The grilled fish meal comes with "baekban"; defined by Naver dictionary as: 백반 - meal with a bowl of rice, soup, and side dishes. So you can have a very filling meal. Mackerel grilled with baekban in Mapo Gui Gui costs only 6,000 KRW. The restaurant opening hours is 10 AM - 10 PM and it is closed every Sunday (source 1, source 2)

Location in Google Map:

Yeti Restaurant

Category: Restaurant - Halal Restaurant
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 573 meters (Exit 9)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.552509,126.92338 ↗  
Description:

This restaurant is a bit out of the way from the nearest subway station. However it is located near the park where the Hope and Free Market are hosted every Saturday and Sunday. This restaurant is also very near a cat cafe. So if you are already around the area and find yourself hungry for sustenance why not visit this restaurant? Yeti Restaurant buys their meat from halal butchers in Itaewon so if you're craving for meat, try this restaurant and let us know how they fare :)

Yeti Restaurant is open everyday from 11.00 AM until 2.00 AM. A set lunch for two costs around 24,000 KRW. (source 1, source 2, source 3)

Location in Google Map:

Hongdae Free and Hope Market

Category: Attraction - Shopping
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 546 meters (Exit 9)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.552378,126.923352 ↗
Description:

If you will be in Seoul anytime from March to November and you are a fan of handmade and unique crafts, don't forget to visit these unique flea markets open only on Saturday and Sunday. These markets don't sell second hand items, but handcrafted accessories, clothes, caps, paintings, photographs and many other more. Most of the vendors are students of the nearby Hongik University. Saturday is the day for "Free Market" while "Hope Market" is on every Sunday. Both are open from 1PM to 6PM at the same location. (source 1, source 2)

Hongdae Free Market caught by Daum Road View.

Location in Google Map:

Cheongchun Cat Cafe

Category: Attraction - Other
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 616 meters (Exit 9)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.552998,126.923114 ↗
Description:

One of the most ubiquitous sights in Seoul is the many coffee houses making business in this town. You have the major franchises like Starbucks and also many independent and unique coffee houses. Coffee houses that have unique theme are also numerous in Seoul like the Hello Kitty Coffee House featured before. But this time how about something less cartoonish and more I-will-leave-my-furs-on-your-clothes variant?

Cheongchun Cat Cafe / YCat Cafe (previously also known as Gio Cat Cafe) is a coffee house where the main spotlight is not on their brews of Caramel Macchiatto or Espresso, but the many cats it houses! Pay an entrance fee and you'll get a choice of drinks and allocation of table. Then you can do your best to tempt these furry buddies to get into your lap, pet and play with them. They even have a "cat menu" that showcases the many different breeds of cats they have. Check the sources for more info (and a video) (source 1, source 2, source 3)

Location in Google Map:

Hello Kitty Cafe

Category: Attraction - Other
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 381 meters (Exit 9)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.553351,126.922324 ↗
Description:

There are many cafes in the trendy district of Hongdae and one unique cafe is Hello Kitty Cafe. Fully decorated with the famous cat characters from Japan, even the drinks and food are shaped based on the cat with ribbon on its ear. If you are a fan of the character or just want to try eating cat shaped desserts, make your way to this cafe. Open from 11am to 12pm. (source 1, source 2)

Location in Google Map:

Jyoti Restaurant

Category: Restaurant - Halal Restaurant
Nearest Subway Station: Sinchon Station (Line 2)
Distance from Subway Station: 50 meters (Exit 5)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.554899,126.937976 ↗
Description:

Jyoti Restaurant is located just a few steps away from Exit 5 of Sinchon Station. This Indian restaurant buys their meat from Foreign Food Mart in Itaewon and so all their dishes are halal. Located in the student populated area of Mapo-gu, their food are competitively priced. Set menu starts from 8,000 KRW which includes naan, rice, curry, salad and yoghurt. The restaurant is open daily from 11.30 am to 10 pm and is located on the third floor. (source)

Location in Google Map:

BaB Restaurant - Hongdae

Category: Restaurant - Vegetarian Friendly Restaurant
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 603 meters (Exit 9)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
GPS: 37.551922,126.923251 ↗
Description:

A break from all the Indian restaurants in the previous entries this one is a vegetarian friendly restaurant where we can order the vegetarian dish bibimbap (mixed rice), sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) that is made with seafood or their doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). Each selection will come with a set of side dishes. BaB is a restaurant chain and this particular branch is located in Hongdae very near to Hongik University's gate. Price starts at 7,000 KRW (source 1, source 2, source 3)

Location in Google Map:

Shanti Restaurant

Category: Restaurant - Halal Restaurant
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 244 meters (Exit 8)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
Description:

Another Indian/Nepali restaurant serving Halal food is Shanti located in Hongdae. The menus include curries, tandoori chicken and naan breads among many others. There are three branches of Shanti in Hongdae and this particular one is located near exit 8 of Hongdae station. The restaurant is on the second floor and lunch set starts from 13,000 KRW. (source 1, source 2)

Location in Google Map:

Coffee Prince Cafe

Category: Attraction - Hallyu
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX)
Distance from Subway Station: 523 meters (Exit 8)
District (gu): Mapo-gu
Description:

This cafe was the filming location of the extremely popular drama "Coffee Prince". The owner of the cafe has decided to not change the interior from the drama's filming and the cafe has now become the place to go for visitors wishing to revisit their memories of the drama. The cafe is located in Hongdae, where there are also many other unique cafes waiting for customers. Do check on their opening hours, you don't want to go there and find out it is closed like what happened with us.

 closed. credit: me

Location in Google Map: