Want to dip your toe into the wonderful world of trendy and unique cafes in Seoul? Considering I both live for cafe culture and Seoul is one of my favorite major cities in the world, I like to think I’ve compiled a pretty good list of recommendations!
In the original version of this post, I said I’d never encountered a country with such an incredible cafe scene. I do have to say Vietnam gives Korea a run for its money,
I mean, even Korea’s budget, franchise options are fun! You can find a Paris Baguette in even the most rural of destinations, not to mention Tous le Jours, the “fancier” Paris Croissant, Cafe Benne, Ediya… I really should do a whole separate post on Korean franchise coffee shops because they are extensive.
Enchanting Cafés To Visit In Seoul This Winter
Of course, Seoul, which sits at the very center of Korean culture, is the ultimate mecca for coffee addicts and Instagrammers alike. I’ve visited this city more times than I can count, and on every trip I’ve visited at least
So if you’ve found this post before April 2022, boy, do I have some big updates for you! Seoul is always changing even in normal times, so there’s a lot of new things to be aware of.
Not all but now when I go to a cafe, I can ask for soy, oat, or sometimes almond milk and… they might actually say yes. You have no idea what a revelation this is! It used to
Unique Cafes In Seoul
Going through this list, I discovered a lot of cafes that simply no longer exist anymore. When I clicked through to KakaoMap, I kept getting an error. If you’re wondering about specific ones you’ve seen here, I have a little RIP Cafe list down below.
. I’d say they’re more on the quirky side (i.e. the poop cafe), but they’re more something a tourist would visit for fun, not really a cafe you’d find local Seoulites frequenting or starring on their KakaoMap app. I’ll also note them below just so you know you were hallucinating when you originally saw them on this list.
Now for my favorite trendy cafes in Seoul! I’ve listed them alphabetically so they’re easy to find. Below each description is also a link to KakaoMap (which is what you should use instead of Google Maps for accurate navigation) and a link to their Instagram if it exists. If you’re like me and my friends, we save things in Instagram and star spots on KakaoMaps to remember them for later.
Best Cafes In Seoul — Specialty Coffee In South Korea
My friend, Hallie, and I stopped here after we went up to the Bugak Skyway. It’s such a charming spot that’s quite tucked away. I mean the rustic bread decor alone… Instead of a typical tray to put all your desserts on, you can use cute baskets! This is also one of the few cafes on this list that has normal food instead of just sweets.
Located in a pretty brick building in the every trendy Yeonnam-dong (연남동), Cafe Layered is pretty much everything sweet and girly! I stopped in quickly with my friend, Angie, on my way to the metro and was delighted by all the wonderfully fancy desserts! I picked up a salted caramel scone, which was delicious.
My friend, Raquel, introduced me to this cafe! We went here after getting cheesesteaks in Garosu-gil. They have some really cool drinks, including this matcha cream drink we both got. The best thing about this cafe, though, is the very cool design. I don’t really know how to describe it! It feels like it’s got a bit of Japanese nature inspiration with some cool, earthy interior decor that incorporates elements like sand and rock.
The Best Cafes To Visit In Seoul, South Korea
Fun fact, I think this is actually where I first met Hallie! She sent me this spot to meet because the design was pretty intriguing. Basically it’s a cafe built around a mound that as then covered with brick. Very random but very funky.
I had add Cong Caphe! If you traveled or lived in Vietnam, you know Cong Caphe is a mini-franchise there, so this isn’t anything
Special. However, if you’ve never been or have experienced a long absence from the country, you’ll be as delighted as I was when I saw those familiar army green colors. This is where I was introduced to the beautifully delicious
Heart And Seoul: South Korean Couple Whip Up Sweet Treats At Fredericton Café
Plus, all Cong Caphes have a cool design, and the one in Seoul is no exception. They basically have all these Vietnamese-inspired military decor and each cafe is different from the other. Definitely grab a table outside for the full effect.
Home to the rainbow cake! It has a few locations, including the airport now, but my favorite is the one in Sinsa-dong that looks like it belongs in an episode of “Saved by the Bell.” At various points I’ve been able to share a slice between four people happily and gobble up one on my own…
Angie took me to their old location a while ago and I always remembered it for the good food and cute setting! You basically create your own tray and pick from a nice selection of breakfast and brunch options. This is a good spot if you want something with substances and not just sweet treats. I even requested we meet up at their new location on my most recent trip because I remember loving it so much!
Good Brews At Downtown Seoul: Coffee Hanyak Bang
In 2019! The design is meant to look 2D, which gives it quite a quirky vibe, and I really liked how creative they got with our drinks. If you’re confused – this cafe took a few years to figure out its permanent name and location (and it looks like it’s expanded to other places around Korea). The current iteration is Greem Cafe (which is a weird Anglicization of “그림”, Korean for picture. Really should’ve just gone with the 2D Cafe or Picture Cafe, because “Greem” sounds funky!). It’s still in Yeonnam-dong and from Instagram has similar interiors as when I went.
Green Mile Coffee is very pretty looking cafe in one of the loveliest areas of Seoul – Bukchon Hanok Village. The real selling point is its rooftop which gives you a nice view of the tiled hanok roofs and even out to Namsan Tower on a clear day. I also really liked the drink, and the interior has some warm, traditional elements that make it a pretty cafe to visit even if you don’t make it up to the roof.
Only go here if you’ve got a giant sweet tooth! It’s supposed to be a Hong Kong dessert cafe, so we got these cream-filled waffles to share as well as some milk tea. Not my first pick for dessert in Seoul but I enjoyed the sugary treats I got. There are some cool neon signs on the outside which is a fun photo op!
Cutest Hello Kitty Cafe In Seoul
Angie took me here after we ate at Grain to do a little work. It’s so nice and cozy, and she said she used to come here often to study for her exams. They also have some vintage things for sale while you wait for your coffee!
So Papago tells me the name of this cafe comes from a verb, “온고신하다” which basically means looking to the past as a guide for the future. I’m pretty sure there’s some sort of Japanese influence as well.
The cafe has a more rustic feel and when we went one of the baristas spokke English! Of course, the main feature is this big, circular window. We got some milk teas here if memory serves and is just a nice vibe all around. It does fill up on the weekend, just a warning.
Coffee In Seoul
Hallie sent me this fun cafe to meet her at when I landed in Seoul one visit. I literally got off my plane, soaked in a sauna, and ditched my suitcase in a subway locker before headed over! This cafe is just a super, quiet space tucked away in Hapjeong where we got to catch up. The ceiling is the main focal point of design!
A funky a little cafe! Hallie took my friend and I here, and when we first walked in, it was like stepping into an Instagram Twilight Zone. There was a rose wall, a bed, trendy seating, a giant pink unicorn… I could have easily shared like ten more photos from the different angles! I recommend the rose lemonade.
So Space Shinseon is also kind of a mini museum or art gallery with a cafe on the first floor. It has such a nice, clean design with interesting sculptures, including the spiral staircase with doves. Hallie, Angie, and I relaxed here after we walked around the museum.
Aesthetic Cafes In Seoul To Visit In 2023
I wrote about both cafes here, but I’ll say it again — there are two locations and when I was researching them they just kept coming up as
Place. However, one is more of a hotel theme and the other is a restaurant/pool theme! The hotel one is in Myeongdong, and it’s also the one with the rooftop area. The Hongdae one is the one with the mini pool (that you don’t swim in) and the
0 komentar
Posting Komentar