Popular Cafe Streets in Seoul

Seoul boasts a vibrant coffee culture, with cafes dotting the cityscape. In this guide, we'll acquaint you with six renowned cafe districts, each possessing its distinctive allure. Bukchon is celebrated for its abundance of Hanok (traditional Korean house)-style cafes, whereas Seongsu revitalizes old factories into chic coffee spots. Garosu-gil stands out for its expansive coffee establishments. Pick the cafe street that resonates with your preferences and relish a delightful cup of coffee paired with a scrumptious dessert.

Many old Hanok have been converted into coffee shops in Bukchon. There are numerous coffee shops where you can truly immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere of traditional Hanok. Furthermore, many menus have been created with the idea of Korean traditional desserts using savory ingredients such as black sesame, sweet potatoes, and corn. As a result, it's a great place to experiment with new desserts.

Seongsu has many coffee shops that were converted from old abandoned factories. Because these coffee shops are housed in former factories, they are quite large in scale. It's exciting to find trendy coffee shops hidden among the abandoned factory sites. Many young people are drawn to Seongsu by its hipness and unique concepts.

They are affluent neighborhoods with a plethora of department stores and designer concept stores. As a result, the area's coffee shops are also upscale, trendy, and spacious. There are numerous famous coffee shops, particularly around Dosan Park, where you can enjoy brunch. Because they are the trendsetters in Seoul, you can sample a variety of desserts.

Insa-dong abounds with venues offering a taste of Korean traditional tea. While most establishments display signs in Korean and offer a range of traditional Korean souvenirs, it exudes a distinct traditional ambiance compared to Bukchon. Many tea houses in this district focus on serving authentic teas such as Omija (Schisandra), Dunggulle (Solomon's seal), and Ssanghwa (medicinal herb) varieties and you can even partake in a traditional tea ceremony.

Because of the area's limited building dimensions, Yeonnam-dong has a streetscape adorned with small buildings, which primarily host cozy coffee nooks over spacious establishments. This spatial constraint fosters a stimulating environment for creative concepts. These coffee shops cater to younger people by offering Instagram-worthy treats and beverages. Numerous curio stores are interspersed throughout, adding to the district's popularity as an ideal location for a romantic rendezvous.

Haebangchon is an elevated area near Namsan Mountain that offers spectacular views of Seoul. That is why there are so many rooftop coffee shops with breathtaking views of the city. However, the steep slope of the area makes the spaces narrow and inaccessible. Nonetheless, Haebangchon's sunset and night views are so beautiful that they compensate for the terrain's shortcomings. We highly recommend a visit to Haebangchon if you want to enjoy a refreshing evening breeze while sipping a cup of tea or beer.