Unique cafes in Seoul, South Korea
It’s common knowledge that when it comes to aesthetics, Seoul is practically the motherland. Naturally, one can also expect their cafe culture to follow that same ethos.
If you’re jetting to Seoul sometime soon, we’ve got you covered. From speakeasy-esque cafes in Gwanghui-dong to indie mum-and-pop ones at Mapo District, here are 10 unique cafes in South Korea to punctuate your itinerary with:
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What you need to know before visiting cafes in Seoul
Most cafes accept credit card payment methods. Think Visa, Mastercard, and Amex, but it is always a good idea to bring cash to be safe. Tipping is not commonplace in South Korea and can even be considered rude. If you do want to tip, do so at fine-dining restaurants, where it’s more accepted, and do so directly to your server.
The best time to visit a cafe will be during early morning on a weekday. But even then, expect long queues for the really popular ones. Few cafes in South Korea accept reservations in advance, but you can check the Catch Table app to book a table.
If not, most cafes will have a waiting list where you’ll have to put down your name and Korean mobile number. No number, no problem – sign up for KakaoTalk and leave your KakaoTalk ID with the wait staff. They’ll send a text message when your table is ready. Otherwise, just stand in line – you’ll get a table eventually.
Breakdown of cafes by their themes
Here’s the list of cafes in Seoul and what unique themes they have:
| Cafe name | Location | Theme |
| Jean Frigo | Toegye-ro 62-gil, Gwanghui Dong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Underground cafe hidden behind a fridge |
| Coffee Nap Roasters | 453-32 Yeonnam-ro, Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Glasshouse cafe with 7,000 bricks |
| Cafe Onion Anguk | Gyedong-gil 5, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Traditional hanok cafe with modern hipster vibes |
| Anthracite Coffee Roasted | 240 Itaewon-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Industrial chic cafe in an abandoned-looking building |
| Cafe Tape | 21 Itaewon-ro 14-gil, Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Galaxy cakes and craft beers |
| Daelim Changgo | 78 Seongsui-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Industrial warehouse with art |
| Soha Salt Pond | 21-5 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea | Salt-flavoured pastries |
| Rain Report | 258-63 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea | Walk in the rain anytime of the day |
| House of Vinyl | 405-17 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Listening cafe with cosy atmosphere |
| Foreplan Cafe | 30-11 Wangsimni-ro 14-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea | Designed to look like an architect’s office |
1. Jean Frigo
Underground cafe hidden behind a fridge
10 out of 10 passersby were witnessed giving Jean Frigo a weird look before walking on. At first glance, the entrance of this speakeasy cafe tricks you into thinking it’s just a storage space for fruits and vegetables.
Experience Narnia first-hand when you go through a fridge door to watch a whole new scene reveal itself. The unassuming storefront is actually a secret portal to a whopping 2-level cafe, with themed rooms on each level.
You will find a one-of-a-kind futuristic dining room, with romantic sunken seating areas and lights that reflect all the colours of the rainbow. The quietly glitzy room makes it a good place to bring a significant other or small posse of friends for some HTHT.
From sides and Italian mains to cocktails, nothing on the menu is run-of-the-mill. Their signature Jean Frigo (KRW16,000, ~S$15.77) cocktail, for example, is made with a smorgasbord of ingredients featuring thyme and dehydrated apples mixed with cinnamon whisky, then garnished with a flaming cinnamon stick.
Ordering involves using a payphone to ring up the cashier on the lower floor
And in true speakeasy fashion, this part-cafe-part bar opens till 3AM!
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2. Coffee Nap Roasters
Glasshouse cafe with a hill of bricks
Coffee Nap Roasters might be located within a secluded corner of Mapo District, but don’t let its humble exterior fool you. It actually houses a hill of 7,000 bricks in its cosy space.
English indie music with the likes of Honne and Cigarettes After Sex plays softly in the background as customers lounge on a rusty-red mountain of bricks, which takes up most of the space in the cafe. Feel free to plant your butt down or even lie down at any spot.
From left to right: House baked cookies, cream.B and Blangco.
Other than the usual coffee suspects, there are also unique coffee drinks such as the Blangco (KRW7,000, ~S$6.91 ). Blangco is great for those looking for a sugary midday pick-me-up. It features a shot of espresso, a thick layer of sweet milk foam, cookie crumbles, and a scoop of chocolate chip ice-cream hidden in the dark brown abyss.
Also on the menu are freshly-baked cookies at KRW3,200 (~S$3.16) a pop. Zoom straight in for the bacon cookie – something we unanimously voted as a favourite with its smokey and savoury undertones.
The ambience at Coffee Nap Roasters easily tops my list of cafe-hopping expeditions around the globe thus far. However, I made the mistake of being too engrossed with snapping pictures instead of basking in the cool atmosphere. Don’t make the same mistakes I made.
3. Cafe Onion Anguk
Traditional hanok cafe with modern hipster vibes
For a cafe experience that’s unique to Korea, you’ll need to pop by Cafe Onion Anguk. With a facade that looks straight out of the Joseon dynasty and a minimalistic interior that shouts hipster, the cafe is a perfect representation of Korea’s rich history and fast-paced modernism.
Their delicate pastries and fresh brews also command a perpetual queue. Prices range start at KRW4,00 (~S$3.93) for pastries that include Korean-inspired Injeolmi Scones, Chilli Sausage Pastries, and Chocolat Classic Cakes.
We found ourselves gravitating toward to Scone Ahng Butter (KRW4,000, ~S$3.93), which stood out amongst the rest with its thick slab of butter and thick red bean “patty”.
It’s not all sugar and coffee at Cafe Onion. Order the Mushroom Focaccia (KRW4,500, ~S$4.44) if you’re hankering for something savoury. The bread is pillowy soft and given extra complexity thanks to the addition of pesto and truffle oil.
4. Anthracite Coffee Roasters
Industrial chic cafe in abandoned-looking building
Anthracite Coffee Roasters owns a series of cafes around Seoul, but here’s where things get interesting: Every branch boasts a unique theme, with the one at Itaewon proving to be the most outstanding.
Anthracite Coffee Roasters is a good case in point to not judge a book by its cover. With the appearance of an abandoned factory, the three-storey building looks almost abandoned if not for the crowd of people streaming in and out of the entrance on the ground floor. But take a closer look through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and you’ll be impressed.
The cafe is straight-up industrial chic with its exposed concrete walls and rugged upcycled furniture. The strikingly beautiful garden centrepiece also has an uncanny resemblance to the one at Five Oars Roasters in Singapore.
You might not find anything savoury here, but definitely come for their smooth coffee and undeniably good lemon madeleines (KRW3,500). The billowy sponge cake was tactfully sour and encased in a thin layer of crumbly sugar glaze.
5. Cafe Tape
Galaxy cakes and craft beers
The galaxy cake trend is nothing new, but the too-pretty-to-eat confections at Cafe Tape will still wow you over like it’s 2016. The cafe’s simple and spacious interior acts as a blank canvas for the three visually impressive cakes on their menu: Strawberry Cream Cheese Cake (KRW6,500, ~S$6.41), Yuzu Cream Cheese Slice (KRW9,000, ~S$8.87), and Hazelnut Chocolate Cake (KRW9,000, ~S$8.87).
Each slice is huge, but that doesn’t mean you will be willing to share.
The beverage menu is more extensive with over 20 drink options and with a small selection of craft beers such as Punk IPA (KRW8,000, ~S$7.89) and Bigwave (KRW8,000, ~S$7.89). If you’re having out and about in Itaewon, you can always count on Cafe Tape to be a place of refuge for some late night dessert.
6. Daelim Changgo
Industrial warehouse with art
Image credit: @chosteofm via Instagram
Walk pass and you’ll miss it; Daelim Changgo is located in a low-key corner of an industrial estate. Changgo translates to “warehouse”, which is what the building was previously used for. While the warehouse has been hollowed out, you’ll see that the cafe has kept consistent with its previous theme, with the faded red bricks on the cafe’s outside to the concrete flooring on the inside.
Image credit: 망초 via Google Maps
The cafe also doubles as an art gallery for you to marvel at paintings and sculptures while sipping on lattes. They’ve occasionally held exhibitions for renowned Korean artists like Nam June Paik and UNESCO award winner Lee Ufan.
They have an array of lattes for you to choose from, such as Caffe Latte (KRW7,000, ~S$6.91) and Einspanner (KRW7,500, ~S$7.40). If you want something to munch on, check out the array of artisanal pizzas, buns, and sandwiches.
7. Soha Salt Pond
Salt-flavoured pastries
Image credit: @sohasaltpond via Instagram
The exterior of Soha Salt Pond is certainly eye-catching. There are countless cafes in hanoks, or traditional Korean houses, in the alleyways of Ikseon-dong. But only Soha Salt Pond has salt-harvesting pools decorating the cafe’s exterior.
Image adapted from: @sohasaltpond via Instagram
But the salt isn’t just for show. It plays an important role in amplifying simple flavours in the pastries that are sold here. They’re known for their Salt Bread (from KRW3,000, ~S$2.94), which is a soft bread roll that has been baked with salted butter. It’s good on its own, but their other iterations, such as the Corn Salt Bread and Truffle Salt Bread come with savoury toppings and filling that’re just as delicious.
8. Rain Report
Walk in the rain any time of the day
It may be summer outside but at Rain Report, there’s a perpetual rain cloud that follows you around. This rain-themed cafe sends showers down on select areas every 15 minutes, but don’t worry, you won’t get wet if you’re just here to get a bite.
Image credit: @petrinahuang via Instagram
If you do want a new profile pic for your social media, you can borrow one of the cafe’s transparent umbrellas and take a stroll in the rain.
Cloud Deep Black.
Image credit: @rainreport_official via Instagram
The cafe doesn’t just set a moody ambience with their thunderstorms, their menu also features weather-themed food. Cloudy Day (KRW7,500, ~S$7.35), which is a charcoal lemonade, and Cloud Deep Black (KRW15,000, ~S$14.71), a black cheesecake taste even better than they look.
9. House of Vinyl
Listen to vinyl records in a cosy cafe
Image credit: @houseofvinyl_mangwon
If you’ve ever been to the Embrace Hall Cafe in JB or Swee Lee Clarke Quay, you’d know how relaxing it can be to immerse yourself in good music, food,and company.
Image credit: @cafe9gyeong via Instagram
House of Vinyl offers all that in their vinyl-listening cafe. Enter their cosy living area, which has a vinyl player and speakers playing a selected playlist. All you have to do is just soak up the ambience and have a bite if you wish.
Kick back to the many tracks available and satisfy your sweet tooth with their selection of pound cakes. Their Green Tea Pound Cake (KRW7,000, ~S$6.91) is one of their top sellers and appeals especially to those who prefer their desserts “not too sweet”.
10. Foreplan cafe
Designed to look like an architect’s office
Image credit: @minimiday_s via Instagram
Most cafes tend to go for the industrial chic look. Think brick walls, exposed wiring, and bare concrete floors. But Foreplan Cafe upgrades that unfinished look for something more polished by designing their space to look like an industrial architect’s office.
That’s because it’s been designed by legit architects, who wanted to give diners a glimpse into their lives. Expect to see boxes, files, scrapbooks, floor plans and floor panels strewn about to set the scene.
Image credit: minnim via Google Maps
One nifty feature that’s sure to earn likes on IG is the foldable wood panel wall at the entrance. Feel free to play around with the panels to create words and patterns as you wait for your food.
Image adapted from: @foreplan_official via Instagram and Helen Tran via Google Maps
If you’re feeling peckish, munch on their Basil Chicken Sandwich (KRW7,500, ~S$7.40) with a side of Americano (KRW5,000, ~S$4.94).
Bonus: Snoopy Garden
Image credit: @klooksg via Instagram
While not situated in Seoul, we couldn’t possibly leave out Snoopy Garden that’s found in Jeju. It’s a cafe with an indoor museum, outdoor park with life-sized figurines, and a merch shop for fans of the smiley beagle. Some souvenirs you can pick up are magnets, mugs, and even bags that all come imprinted with beloved characters from the Peanuts comic.
Spike Pancake.
Image credit: @princess760721 via Instagram
As for the grub at the cafe, it’s a mish-mash of common brunch fare such as Spike Pancake (KRW15,000, ~S$14.87) and Cappuccino (KRW6,500, ~S$6.44), which are decorated with Snoopy motifs.
You’ll need a ticket to enter the garden and subsequently the museum and cafe. Tickets are bKRW19,000/adult (~S$19.18), KRW16,000/teen (~S$16.15), and KRW13,000/child (~S$13.12).
(Closed) Butter Book
Fittingly named Butter Book, the cafe looks just like a block of butter out of its aluminium wrapper. The walls on the outside are painted a pale yellow and every tile in the cafe is in a calming shade of canary yellow. This cafe is a small 10-odd-seater where most people do quick grab-and-gos.
(Closed) Zapangi
A bright pink vending machine conceals the entrance to Zapangi – a secret cafe that lies in the Mapo district. Don’t forget to ready your cameras to capture that golden “disappearing act” behind the heavy door.
Cafe hopping in Seoul, South Korea
When caffeine runs are just part and parcel of daily life, there’s no reason not hit up a themed cafe and make it a novel experience while you’re at it. The shopping at Myeong-dong can wait. I’ve cast the net wide and eaten at as many cafes as I could to whittle down to these 10 best cafes in Seoul, South Korea to visit.
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Photography by Sharlene Lau and Lim Seng Jueh.
Originally published on 10th September 2019. Last updated by Syahiran Sean on 31st May 2024.
