A Gap in Time at the End of an Insadong Alley, a Record of an Old Tea House Filled with Warmth

Pieces of Old Memories Found Wherever You Wander

33-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the end of that alleyway, where the noise of the complex city center somehow feels distant, sits 'Yet-chatjip' (Old Tea House). As you push open the old door, the subtle fragrance of tea leaves and the tranquility provided by the wooden floor welcome you first. Although this place is famous as a filming location for movies, I think I will remember it as something much more affectionate than that.

The air you feel as soon as you open the door is distinctly different from the bleak wind outside. The warmth that fills the tea house is enough to melt your chilled fingertips. Most importantly, the place is floored with Ondol (underfloor heating), so when you take off your shoes and sit down, the tension in your body melts away as if you have entered the warm inner room (araetmok) of your grandmother's house. It is a place where the view of Insadong visible through the window feels like a piece of folk art.

The Taste of the Season Filled with Care

The menu here is far from flashy trends. Instead, a rustic but honest taste fills that space. The shaved ice (bingsu), which is the first thing that comes to mind in summer, is the pride of this place. A bowl of shaved ice topped with red beans that are boiled by hand, not brought in from a factory. Taking the first bite, the sweetness combined with the texture of the neat red bean grains gives you a strange sense of relief. With a spoonful of bingsu, the heat fades away, and a taste that reflects genuine care spreads through your mouth.

Besides bingsu, the menu is diverse. Whether it's the refreshing Bokbunja (black raspberry) ade or the nutty, high-quality soybean powder ice cream, these are flavors anyone can enjoy regardless of generation. If you order a cup of warm tea and listen blankly to the sounds inside the tea house, the sound of tea cups clinking and soft conversations blend into a single, relaxing melody. The fragrance inherent in Korea's unique traditional teas has the power to soothe the mind.

My Own Little Tip for Properly Traveling Insadong

If you want to enjoy Yet-chatjip more fully, it is best to choose your visit time wisely. Insadong on a weekend afternoon is very crowded, but if you stop by on a weekday during the day or when the sun begins to set, you can enjoy a much quieter atmosphere. The time spent feeling the warmth of the Ondol inside the tea house while admiring the alley scenery outside the window will be the most peaceful moment of your trip.

When you leave the tea house, there are rows of galleries and craft shops in the immediate vicinity of Insadong. After drinking tea, I hope you take a light stroll through the alleys to look at the cute trinkets or add a course of walking along the nearby ancient palace walls. When the unique color of Insadong as a whole is added to the atmosphere of Yet-chatjip, the city of Seoul will feel a little more profound. Flashy cafes are nice, but I think taking a break in a place like this is the true charm of traveling.