Best Coffee Shops In Seoul – 28 Top Rated Cafe By Locals!
I am here sitting by wondering about what I should do next for my weekend escape in Seoul. After trying all of the theme parks, winter activities and shopping in Seoul, I think it’s best to chill, relax and coffee-ing during the weekend. That’s why I surf all the internet to find the best coffee shops in Seoul. where I can spend my weekend.
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Best Coffee Shops in Seoul
After some research and gather recommendation from young local’s, I found 28 best coffee shops in Seoul you definitely don’t want to miss. Make sure to share and save this article for your later visit to Seoul so you can find the perfect cafe for your next coffee break. Here are some of the best coffee shops in Seoul.
1. Seoulism (서울리즘)
Seoulism is probably one of the most popular instagrammable cafes in Seoul. This coffeeshop is located in Lotte Tower in Jamsil, known for it’s terrace photo zone with wonderful backdrop of Lotte Tower and a large Seoul neon sign.
If you are looking for instagrammable coffeeshop in Seoul, then this one is to go especially if you never went to Seoul before, because the big sign of Seoul and Lotte Tower is just a perfect mark for your first visit.
Thanks Nature Cafe
- Opening Hours: 13.00 – 23.00
- Contact: +82 2-412-0812
- Address: 48-7 Songpa-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Homepage: Seoulism
2. Thanks Nature Cafe
Thanks Nature Cafe as known as Sheep Cafe, offers the unique coffee shop experience accompany with sheep. Experience being a shepherd for a while as you slurping your coffee slowly, life will be much slower and enjoyable.
I really love animal and for me this one is just perfect, because I felt like being one with nature. In addition to that, you don’t need to worry about the smell, this cafe smells good.
Thanks Nature Cafe
- Opening Hours: 11.00 – 22.00
- Contact: +82 2 335 7470
- Address: 486 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Hongik University Subway)
- Homepage: Thanks Nature Cafe
3. C Through Cafe
C Through Cafe is famous among locals due to it’s unique and creative barista skills that able to compose various range of drawing of “cream-Art”! Ranging from animals to flowers, you can get all kinds of arts above your coffee.
If you love to take a wonderful picture of coffee arts, then you can try visit this cafe as you travel seoul.
Useful Informations
- Opening Hours: 12.00 – 21.00
- Contact:+82 70-7796-8991
- Address: Yeonnam-dong 387-3
- Homepage: C Through
4. Meerkat Friends Cafe
Meerkat cafe is exactly a Meerkat cafe, where you can enjoy your coffee as accompany by a cute meerkat all around. Animal cafes is quite popular in south Korea, so you can find many type of animal cafe, such as rabbbit, sheep, cats and even like this one, meerkats cafe in Hongdae.
Address: 19-12 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (3rd floor)
5. Nuldam Space
Nuldam Space is a one of a kind coffee shop in Seoul where you can write and send a letter to your future self within 12 month distance. Since Seoul is a competitive city, seoulites rarely enjoy a free time and almost never takes time to encourage themselves.
In addition to a delicious coffees and a wonderful views of Namsan tower, this space give you a quite time to think and write letter to your future self. It’s good to takes time and be compassion to yourself, if no one praise you, praise yourself and motivate your own self.
Address: 18-12 Sinheung-ro 15-gil, Yongsan 2(i)ga-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
6. 943 King’s Cross (943킹스크로스)
King Cross cafe is a theme cafe inspired from Harry Potter, which attract tons of harry potter fans all over the world. This cafe is really crowded, so don’t be surprised if there are a long queue in front of this cafe.
This harry potter cafe is located in Hongdae, on a huge four storey buildings and easy to find, which make it even more convenient. As you enter into this cafe, you will feel as if you’re inside the harry potter magical world, surrounds with magical stuff you see on harry potter movie.
This cafe is designed exactly like Hogwarts, offering a chance to drink quality coffee while surrounded by the world of witchcraft and wizardry. There’s an area where you can dress up in Hogwart’s uniforms, which is amazing. For harry potter fans, this cafe feels right at home. The best part is that you can enjoy all of this for as little as 7,500–9,000 won per cup of coffee!
Address: 24 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
7. Greem Cafe (Cafe 연남동 223-14)
Greem cafe is a famous coffee shop in seoul known for it’s 2d cartoonist interior design. Everything in here will makes your world turns 2d and feels like you are living in a cartoon world.
It’s located in Yeonnam-dong, a neighborhood filled with many fancy cafes all around. The most interesting about this coffee shop is it’s instagrammable design, but the drinks is quite normal. They also sell juice, ade and sandwiches in addition to coffees.
Address: 161-10 Seongmisan-ro, Seoul, South Korea
8. Mouse Rabbit (마우스래빗 카페)
The Mouse Rabbit is a popular coffee shop managed by the family of Yesung (Super Junior member). Located near Konkuk university, this coffee shop has super junior fans as their customer base.
Address: 1 Neungdong-ro 11-gil, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
9. Poop cafe (또옹 카페)
Poop Cafe is located in Insa-dong, the place where you can find souvenir and traditional korean gift to bring back home. From it’s name, you can expect to see uncomfortable shape of their cups and design, filled with toilet stuff and ‘poop’ shaped pillow.
Since this cafe is located in Insadong, it’s better to visit when you plan to buy some traditional gift to bring back to your country.
Address: 44, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu 4th floor of Ssamzigil mall, Seoul 03146 South Korea
11. The Royal Food and Drink
The Royal Food and drink is another coffee shop located in Itaewon, offers a wonderful landscape views of Seoul. You can expect this place fill with expats and tourist as it located in a tourist-heavy spot. The good news is that they also offer some vegan menus in case you are a veggies.
Address: 406-58, Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 1F, South Korea.
12. Melting Pom
Melting Pom, another animal cafes in Seoul. Located in Dongdaemun, you can enjoy a delicious coffees sitting on a bed accompany by cute a pomeranian dogs. Do note that if you visit animal cafes in south korea, you will need to take off your shoes, so make sure you wear socks.
Address: Imun-dong, Dongdaemun-gu
Instagram
13. Cafe Layered
Cafe Layered is a beautiful decorated girly mix hanok style cafe offers a delicious pastries and coffee. This cafe is really famous and crowded due to it’s wonderful decoration and many people come to try their delicious pastry and take instagrammable pictures.
Addresses:
- Layered Yeonnam – 223-20 Yeonnam-dong
- Layered Bukchon – 2-3 Bukchon-ro 2-gil
14. StyleNanda Pink Hotel and Pink Pool Cafe
Credit to eatstretchexplore
Stylenanda pink hotel and cafe is the one to go if you are a pinky fanatics. Almost every girl would love to visit this place to take some beautiful pictures. The best part is that this cafe is located in the heart of Myeongdong, the center of shopping zone in Seoul.
Do note StyleNanda has 2 branch.
- Pink Hotel Cafe in Myeongdong, on top of their shop (rooftop terrace).
- Pink Pool Cafe in Hongdae
15. Onion Cafe
If you are a big fan of hanok traditional korean style houses, then you can visit Onion Cafe Anguk. This cafe is a hanok style cafe where you will need to take off your shoes to enter in.
Onion Cafe Anguk
- Address: Gyedong-gil 5, Jongno-gu
- Opening hours: Mon – Fri 7AM-10PM, Sat & Sun 9AM-10PM
16. The Innisfree Flagship Store
Credit to taufulou
Most of you might already know and even use some of innisfree skincare product for your daily routine. They have a flagship store in Myeongdong across Zara shop where you can buy some of their skincare products and go up to the second floor to enjoy some coffees.
The design of the coffee shop is also inspired by nature, so you can expect a green and eye comforting cafe. In addition to coffee, you can also buy juice, tea and sweets.
Address: 64-2 Myeongdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
17. Dear Dahlia Flagship Store Cafe
Dear Dahlia Flagship store cafe is located in prime location in gangnam areas. The interior design of this cafe is very sparkling, girlish and filled with make ups. If you are looking to shopping and buy some make ups near gangnam areas, make sure to visit this cafe.
Address: 14, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
18. Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia is a shocking pink building cafe located in Gangnam areas. The menus are changing depends on the season and theme they’re in. For example, during halloween and christmas, they will sell halloween and christmas theme cakes as well as beverages.
Most people come here to take a picture with their shocking pink brick tile and huge window as the background. However, make sure you also try their dessert, it taste quite good.
Address: 45, Apgujeong-ro 42-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul,
19. Namusairo
What makes Namusairo different among other coffee shops in Seoul is that this coffee shop combine modern design and Hanok korean style, which for me looks like Hanok Minimalist. More than that, you to choose your own preference of bean.
Even if you don’t really have knowledge about coffee, their barista will assist you choosing the right one suit your taste. Once you ready with your order, you can choose to sit at their cozy courtyard on the back of their hanoks building.
Address: 196 Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
20. Fritz Coffee Company Dohwa
If you’re in search of the best taste coffee in Seoul, Fritz Coffee Company Dohwa is definitely the one to go and visit. They provide freshly brewed cups made by barista champions and using only high quality coffee beans which makes a satisfyingly delicious cup that all coffee-lovers will surely appreciate.
The staff is friendly and also very knowledgeable, so you can be sure you will get the perfect cup of happiness you are looking for. On top of that, this shop also offers freshly baked pastries and features a charming courtyard garden.
Useful Informations
- Opening Hours
Weekdays: 08.00 – 23.00
Weekends: 10.00 – 23.00 - Address: 68 Mapo-daero, Dohwa-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Homepage: Fritz Coffee Company
21. Flower Yard Cafe
Credit to Restaurantguru
Flower Yard Cafe, previously known as Madang Cafe, is a beautiful hanok style coffee shop located in Ikseon-dong in Seoul. You might already seen this cafe in some famous kdramas such as Goblin, so you can expect this cafe is quite crowded during the weekend.
Just as it name suggest, you can see fresh flowers decorated all over the cafes, from the walls to the windows. If you would love to get some of the flowers, you can buy it here, but with a higher price.
Flower Yard Cafe
- Address: 33-12 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea Selatan
- Homepage: Fritz Coffee Company
22. Coffee Nap Roasters
Coffee Nap Roasters, a small coffee shop on a small corner in Yeonnam-dong neighborhood. While the downside is that this coffeeshop is small, yet they’re pet friendly and the bricks style interior design is also worth to take a shot. However, since it’s focus on the ‘instagrammable’ looks, the brick seating areas is actually not comfortable to sit for a long time.
Address: 453-32 Yeonnam-ro, Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu
23. Blue Bottle Coffee
Credit to kofeeandkpop
Blue bottle coffee is a coffee shop based in California that open their branch in some location in Seoul. In case you’re a US netizen missing your local taste as you travel Korea, you can go to blue bottle coffees.
Address: 11 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
24. SooSoo Coffee
SooSoo Coffee is a clean modern white minimalist cafe located in the famous Gangnam district. As you enter this coffeeshop, you will feel as if you are about to do some experiment, because the interior design is looks like a laboratorium.
In addition to great coffee and unique lab interior design, they also have a delicious korean specialties Ssukcha, mugwort tea prepared with milk. Do note that it taste a little too sweet, so you can ask them to reduce the sugar.
Address: 24, Gangnam-daero 154-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
25. Anthracite Coffee
Credit to Greysuitcase
Anthracite Coffee Seogyo is definitely one of the most cozy coffee shop in Seoul where you can choose your own beans and enjoy a super calm vibes in the midst of hectic Seoul.
The natural interior design filled with wood furniture, floor and bricks wall just makes you feel right at home. The better part is that this cafe is close to Mangwon subway station, which makes it easier to visit.
Address: 475-22 Seogyo-dong, Seoul, South Korea
26. Komfortabel
Credit to archdaily
Komfortabel, as it name suggest, it’s interior design try to achieve ‘comfy’ vibes for all of it’s customers. This natural design cafe located in Anguk areas.
While the seating areas is not the most comfortable to sit on, this cafes offer a delicious coffees where you can choose your type of blends and some small pastry.
Address: Seoul, Jongno-gu, Yunposun-gil, 16-1 1층
27. Cerulean Insa
Cerulean Insa is a mixture of modern minimalist and hanok style interior design coffee shop located in Insa-dong, the place where you can find all kinds of korean traditional stuff for gifts and souvenirs.
While the design might not be the best (because it looks more into minimalist), they take their coffee quality and taste seriously. You can choose your own type of coffee blends and enjoy the mixture of modern meet the old hanok style coffee shop.
Address: 17 Insadong 12-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
28. Kenya Kiambu Coffee
Credit to Henryinmichigan
Kenya Kiambu Coffee is a coffee shops located in the hype itaewon tourist areas. This coffee shop is also offers a wonderful views of Namsan tower with it’s forested hills of Namsan Park. Make sure to visit during the sunset to enjoy the best vibes and views of this cafe.
As it name suggest, they use Kenyan coffee beans for their coffees and the best part about this cafe is that this cafe is really spacious, which makes it even more comfortable to spent some times working on your laptop or reading books.
Address: 36 Hoenamu-ro 44-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Origin of Korean Coffee Culture
The origin of Coffee culture in South Korea is actually tracked back to 1896 as coffee finally arrived in Korea. Afterwards, the first south korean cafes called ‘Dabang’, which literally mean ‘tea room’, eventually developed in the early 1900s. Initially, it was exclusive for the wealthy who want to drink a modern western drinks.
At first, people consumed coffee as if it was a hard liquor due to it’s very bitter taste. So back then people drink it in a very small glasses that you can drink in one shot.
Until 1950s, dabang still exclusive for the wealthy such as artist, politicians, writers or other wealthy people where they gather for socializing. The exciting resurgence start from 1960 onwards where dabangs were now open to any and every one who want to enjoy their time!
Sum Up
While most people think Korea is a beauty romance country, this country is actually a great destination for any coffee lovers all around the world. Especially in major city and tourist destinations like Seoul, Busan and Jeju, you can find a lot of delicious and beautiful coffeeshop to hop on with your friends.
I’ll keep updating, adding as well as removing list of the best coffee shops in Seoul as time goes by. For now, here are all the list that I can share to you. Which one of these cafe and best coffee shops in Seoul you would like to visit? Let me know in the comment sections below!
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