Head to this affluent part of the popular Gangnam District to position yourself comfortably in Seoul’s lap of luxury, if only for a day.
If Gangnam is nicknamed “Seoul’s Beverly Hills,” then Cheongdam would be Beverly Park Circle. This is where the super-rich come to find the best of fashion shopping, dining, clubbing and pampering. Come here to window shop or bring your credit card and mingle with the rich and famous.
The former pear orchard district of Cheongdam is officially a ward of popular Gangnam. The Maseratis, Teslas and Mercedeses parked outside the cosmetic surgery clinics and fashion shops are your first hint that money is no issue here.
As you walk around, you may notice that Cheongdam is not just a flash residential and shopping area. It’s also an economic hub for powerful global companies, especially those in the entertainment, information technology and car industries.
Wealthy business people and the latest Korean pop and TV stars come here often to visit beauty salons, department stores, hidden clubs and eye-catching restaurants.
You can’t miss Cheongdam Fashion Street, one of South Korea’s most famous shopping hubs with storefronts for luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Cartier.
If you are keen to hit the nightlife of Cheongdam, your options are endless. Visit some real local icons first. How about dinner at The Class, where all the celebrities eat? Follow it up with sweet French crêpes under the artistic ceiling of Ciel de Monet, which means “Monet’s Heaven.” For evening cocktails, all you have to do is press the right book in the library-style ante-room of Le Chamber and the underground speakeasy bar will open its doors like magic.
Find Cheongdam-dong, which means “Cheongdam District,” south of the Han River, in the heart of Gangnam. This Gangnam district has its own subway station along line 7 and you can easily get around on foot once there. Rent a cab if you’re planning on clubbing until late at night.
Remember that this is a place to see and be seen. Be sure to really dress up and don’t hesitate to select your most daring outfit, because new styles spotted in Cheongdam tend to spread across Asia like wildfire.
