Our Top Cafe Recommendations in Seoul
When I was studying in Seoul, I spent as much of my free time exploring the city as I could. Somewhere along the way, café hopping became my favourite way to do it. Compared to Melbourne, where café culture is all about the coffee, Seoul feels much more focused on the whole experience. You'll find drinks made with unique ingredients, fun desserts, beautiful interiors and plenty of spots where you'll want your camera to get its first sip before you do.
Some of my favourite days in Korea started with nothing more than a coffee and a treat in a neighbourhood I'd never been to before. The cafés in this list are spread all over Seoul, each one is in an area that's worth exploring on its own. Think of it as a guide to some great cafés and some of my favourite neighbourhoods, with plenty of shopping, food and things to do nearby.
Hopefully they give you a few ideas for your own trip, whether you're after a good coffee, a fun day exploring or just an excuse to visit a part of Seoul you might not have otherwise.
My cafe recommendations in Seoul:
Cafe Tajagi – Haebangchon
Haebangchon is one of Seoul's hottest neighbourhoods right now, and it reminded me a lot of Melbourne's CBD laneways. It's packed with cafés, bars, restaurants and little independent stores, centralising on the trendy Sinheung Market. Built into the hillside, you'll also find plenty of spots with a great view over Seoul, but be prepared for a few steep staircases along the way.
Hidden at the top of one of those staircases is Cafe Tajagi. Inside, old movie posters cover the walls, typewriters sit on every table and the whole space has a cosy vintage feel. The focal point of the cafe is the large windows looking out onto Seoul. If you can time your visit for sunset, you'll be rewarded with a view across the rooftops as the city starts to glow.
Their signature drink is a chocolate einspänner, an espresso topped with a thick layer of sweetened cream. It's usually served cold and is meant to be sipped without stirring so you get the coffee and cream together. Einspänners are a popular way to have coffee in Korea when you want something a little luxurious that sits somewhere between a coffee and a dessert. I'd seen them on café menus all over Seoul, but something about Haebangchon's creative vibe finally convinced me to try one.
If you're spending a day around Haebangchon, I'd definitely add Cafe Tajagi to your list, especially if you can grab a seat for sunset.
Cafe Comfort – Namsan
If all you have on your itinerary is a trip up N Seoul Tower, I'd definitely recommend making Cafe Comfort one of your stops along the way. Part café, part gallery, this unique space regularly hosts small exhibitions. Inside, large windows frame a fantastic view across Seoul, while the rooftop terrace is a really peaceful spot to sit for a while. I ended up staying there for over an hour just relaxing.
The building itself is just as interesting as the café. It was designed to connect two roads separated by the steep hillside, giving it a really unique layout. The sharp, modern architecture makes the funky, grungy interior stand out even more once you step inside. Keep wandering along the cliffside afterwards and you'll find more interesting architecture, where modern buildings sit alongside older homes that have been part of the neighbourhood for decades. Even if you're only heading up to N Seoul Tower, it's worth setting aside a little extra time to explore the area.
I ordered their black sesame grain drink, which was almost too pretty to drink. Served cold, it had a lovely velvety texture and a sweet, nutty flavour that's a little like roasted peanuts or sesame paste, but more delicate. Black sesame is one of my favourite flavours, and if I see it on a menu, there's almost no chance I'm ordering anything else. It's a great drink alternative to coffee, You can have it in both hot and cold drinks while still getting that rich, roasted flavour. It was such a treat seeing black sesame products all over Korea. Along with roasted soybean, it's one of those flavours I rarely come across outside of Asia, and one I wish I could find more of back home.
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Soopter Grove Hub – Mangwon
Mangwon was one of my favourite neighbourhoods I visited in Seoul, I think it's seriously underrated. At its heart is Mangwon Market, a traditional market that's much more local and less touristy than some of Seoul's better known markets. With stalls overflowing with Korean side dishes, fresh produce and street food, it's definitely somewhere you want to visit hungry.
Mangwon is also full of little trinket and gacha (toy vending machines) stores that are so much fun to browse and excellent for finding unique souvenirs. You also can't go to Mangwon without stopping by Zero Space, a cute stationery and homewares shop with a whole room dedicated to my favourite rabbit, Miffy. There are plenty of well-known bakeries dotted around the neighbourhood too, and if that's still not enough, Hangang Park is just down the road, where you can grab some ramen or fried chicken and have a picnic by the Han River.
If waiting in line at a bakery isn't your thing, or you're just tired after wandering around Mangwon, you might end up like me looking for somewhere to sit down for a while. I only walked into Soopter Grove Hub because the building caught my eye from the outside. I had no idea it was hiding something completely different underneath. Downstairs is dotted with peaceful little mossy rock gardens with pools, little waterfalls and lush greenery that feels like an oasis beneath the streets above.
The greenery theme carries through to the menu too. Matcha is used not just for its flavour, but to bring the green colour into the drinks and desserts, with things like an adorable matcha tiramisu ‘terranium’, cakes and madeleines alongside a range of other treats. There are also plenty of matcha drinks, with the colour and presentation fitting right in with the little garden downstairs. The staff were incredibly friendly too, even giving me a Portuguese tart to try after adding it to the menu that week. It was delicious enough that I wouldn't have minded seeing it become a permanent addition.
Rain Report Rainbow – Ikseon-dong
You can't really talk about cafe hopping in Seoul without mentioning Ikseon-dong. Traditional hanok homes have been transformed into cafés, restaurants and boutique stores, creating a maze of little laneways that's one of the best places in Seoul to simply wander around. Between the little clothing stores, stationery shops, photo spots and endless food options, it's somewhere you could easily spend a whole day.
Part of what makes Korea's café scene so much fun is that every café is trying to offer a different experience. Many cafés are built around a single concept that carries through the menu, the interior and even the building itself. Rain Report Rainbow is one of my favourite examples. The concept is simple, it's all about rain. Add in a rainbow selection of pastries and weather-inspired drinks, the rainy day theme made it one of the more memorable cafés I visited in Seoul.
I ordered the black sesame latte (of course) with the corn scone. As someone who loves sweet corn and sweet potato, it was nice seeing them appreciated so much more in Korea than they are back home. The scone had a subtle sweetness from the corn, with the salty seasoning adding a nice contrast that was perfect to have alongside my drink. Aside from coffee, they also had plenty of (rainbow!) fruit juices and other drinks that are just as worth trying
There are two Rain Report cafés in Seoul, and I'd recommend the Ikseon-dong branch over the Itaewon location. It's a little quieter and is built into a traditional hanok, giving it a much cozier feel. The mossy stone courtyards and window seats are also perfect for sitting and watching the rainbows when the mister starts up.
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Cafe La Seine – Anam
Anam is an area I can definitely say I spent a lot of time in. Home to Korea University, it's full of student-friendly attractions like pubs, cheap eats, gaming bars, stationery shops and thrift stores. One day I decided I wanted a slower day without venturing too far, so I wandered a little further around Anam. While there's plenty to see along the main streets, I ended up taking a walk along Jeongneungcheon Stream instead. It was there that I was lucky enough to stumble across Cafe La Seine.
The big windows overlooking the stream drew me in, but it was the welcoming atmosphere that made me stay. I sat inside in the beautifully sun-warmed wooden interior with a coffee and a brownie. The space was filled with plants and they had a cute inner garden. It was the sort of place where an hour disappeared without me noticing. It was the perfect place to sit and relax before continuing my exploration.
If you've got an extra day in Seoul and feel like slowing the pace down a little, Anam might fit your needs. Walk along Jeongneungcheon Stream or wander through Korea University's beautiful Gothic-style campus. Between the student cafés, casual restaurants and little shops around Anam Station, it's a side of Seoul that feels very different from the city's busier neighbourhoods and I'm really glad I got to experience it.
I hope these cafe recommendations help you find a few new favourite spots in Seoul, whether you're after a morning coffee, an afternoon treat or somewhere to stop for a break. These five cafés are only a small selection of what's out there, and every neighbourhood seems to have its own little treasures to discover. Go and explore!
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Cassie travelled to Seoul at her own expense, to study at Korea University as part of her university degree. All coffees, drinks and delicious treats mentioned above were paid for by Cassie. All images are Cassie's.
