It’s no secret that South Korea is a powerhouse in aestheticism. Koreans have a highly curated sense of style and art-direction, and this attention to aesthetics is most prominently seen in their cafes, bars, restaurants, and fashion.
South Korea is also a massive fan of caffeinated beverages, ranking top 10 in countries that drink the most coffee in the world. Bring aesthetic and coffee together, and you are left with beautifully themed, unique, and eccentric cafes all over the capital city.
In this article, I’ve compiled a list of 10 of my favorite, most memorable, or most trending cafes currently in Seoul. Feel free to use this list as a guide when exploring South Korea’s beautiful capital!
Where to Stay in Seoul for Cafe Hopping
There are truly an endless amount of imaginative and unique cafes to visit in every corner of the city. There are specific “cafe streets”, trendy popular hubs tourists and locals alike frequent when they’re looking to grab a drink at an artsy cafe. Yeonnam, Seongsu, and Gangnam are all viable options when it comes to cafe-hopping!
When I lived in Seoul, I practically lived in Yeonnam, hence many of the spots on this list are found nearby this area. Directly next to Yeonnam, I’m talking a 5-10 minute walk away, is Hongdae, a tourist favorite. If you’re looking for accommodations for an upcoming Seoul trip, check out L7 Hongdae. With an amazing location, quality service, and luxury suites, L7 Hongdae is an amazing hotel to stay at for a really affordable price.
Wherever you stay in Seoul, I hope this list is helpful in picking your next aesthetic cafe.
Without further ado, here are 10 must-visit cafes in Seoul!
1. Cheong Su Dang
Cheong Su Dang/Naver
Cheong Su Dang is a quintessential aesthetic cafe in Seoul. Its exterior is a zen garden – a stone walkway shrouded with bamboo and lanterns leading to the entryway. The cafe has several floors, all matching the overall nature theme but each room having slightly different vibes – one is more cave-like, and another is more plant heavy. Cheong Su Dang has multiple locations, and I’ve been to both Yeonnam and Gangnam cafes. If you’re a matcha fan, Cheong Su Dang is a must-visit. My favorite drink here is the hand dripped matcha (핸드 드립 어린 잎); it’s a really mature, clean matcha that requires no milk or sugar accompaniment. It pairs perfectly with the matcha fromage cake, which is so beautiful you almost don’t want to eat it!
https://www.instagram.com/cheongsudang_yunnam
마포구 연남동 239-48
2. VER’S GARDEN
Ver’s Garden/Instagram
If you’re cafe-hopping in the Yeonnam area, Ver’s Garden should definitely be on your bucket list. Another plant-centric cafe, Ver’s Garden is a cozy, chill, and laid-back cafe where you could hang around and get work done on your laptop. Like other Korean cafes in the Yeonnam area, the Ver’s’ layout is similar to a house with several rooms and floors, each with unique decorations and themes – retro, whimsical, and lofi to name a few. When the weather is nice, you can enjoy a beverage on the patio, overlooking the hip Yeonnam area. If you’re looking for a friendly and casual environment to relax after traveling, check out Ver’s Garden.
https://www.instagram.com/vers_garden
연남동 246-22, Mapo District 03979
3. Cafe Layered
Cafe Layered/Instagram
Cafe Layered is another staple in the Yeonnam district. Layered is extremely popular amongst both tourists and locals alike, and for good reason. The interior reminds me of a Victorian aristocratic house with framed pictures and decorative pieces dispersed throughout its two floors. While Layered is less “aesthetic” than other cafes on this list, the main focus of this cafe is its delectable, pick-your-own dessert bar. My favorite desserts here are the strawberry vanilla cake and the earl-gray cake with vanilla buttercream. If you have a sweet tooth, visiting Cafe Layered is a must!
https://www.instagram.com/cafe_layered
서울 마포구 성미산로 161-4
4. Vinyl Seongsu
Vinyl Seongsu/Instagram
Vinyl Seongsu is one of the more creative cafe concepts on this list, and is a fun activity for music lovers. Per its name, Vinyl Seongsu’s unique focal point is its wide array of turntables, one stationed at every table, to use alongside a massive vinyl collection. Customers simply pay for their drink (it’s an entry fee + drink combo), pick a vinyl to listen to, and vibe! The seating at each table is a sofa that only has room for two, so the cafe is a perfect place to visit as a pair or date. The menu here is simple, offering the standard coffee, tea, or ade that Korea seems to love. If you find yourself looking for a cool cafe in the Seongsu area, or you just enjoy aesthetic cafes where you get to listen to music, Vinyl Seongsu is made for you!
https://www.instagram.com/vinyl_seongsu
서울 성동구 아차산로 15-8 2층
5. Undebt
Undebt/cafeundebt.com
Cafe Undebt is a cave themed cafe located nearby Seoul Station. Upon entering the cafe, you are met with boulder-esque walls and a stone pathway leading to what seems like a cabin inside a cave. It’s warm, spacious, and serene – the stone decor, wooden detail, and natural lighting from glass windows really brings the cave aesthetic alive here. Undebt is another great place to relax or do work, because honestly it’s just really pretty. Their malt iced latte is butter and barley flavored, and their affogatos look stunning. They have a myriad of desserts alongside affogato, including tiramisu, brownie, and granola. Undebt also has seasonal items, so check out their website if planning to visit: https://cafeundebt.com/. Spend some time sipping your beverage of choice and rejuvenating in this natural retreat from bustling Seoul!
https://www.instagram.com/undebt_cafe
서울 용산구 두텁바위로13길 11
6. Cafe Pokpo
Cafe Pokpo/Naver
Are you a fan of enjoying the great outdoors, and also a fan of lounging at a cafe? Cafe Pokpo is your dream come true! Cafe Pokpo is a new cafe in Seodaemun, positioned by a tributary of the Han River. The cafe’s most stunning asset is its outdoor seating area, looking upon a breathtaking waterfall. The cafe often touts live performances and mini concerts to accompany the scenery, so be sure to check their instagram for details! There is a lot to do in the area surrounding Cafe Pokpo, including walking trails and, one of my favorite Seoul activities, hiking Seodaemun’s great Ansan. Relish in Seoul’s delicate balance of urban living and the natural world at Cafe Pokpo!
https://www.instagram.com/cafe.pokpo
서울 서대문구 연희로 262-24
7. Protokoll Roasters
Protokoll Roasters/Instagram
If you’re a meticulous coffee person, Protokoll is up your alley. My old workplace is directly next to Protokoll, so I naturally frequented this cafe during breaks in the workweek. There are always local Koreans taking pictures outside of Protokoll – likely uploading these photos to accompany posts about their Protokoll experiences on Naver Blog or Instagram. Protokoll’s interior is perfectly brutalist, intellectual, and industrial. If you have work to do, it’s a great place to hunker down and get it done. The coffee here is top-tier, with a nice array of hand selected in-house roasts. My go-to was always an iced flat white and it hit the spot every time. You won’t forget the industrial-warehouse-turned-modern-study hall fantasy that is Protokoll Roasters!
https://www.instagram.com/protokoll.roasters
서울 서대문구 연희로 109 2층
8. CAFE MOG
CAFE MOG/Naver
Cafe Mog is an innovative and eccentric cafe located nearby Yonsei University. The cafe’s unique selling point is its coffee conveyor belt propped in the center of the space. This specific cafe used to be a popular spot called Gwedo, and I think many people aren’t aware of the new name nor its existence yet due to the name change. The cafe itself is modern, clean, and artsy. I ordered the iced INJEOLMI Einspanner (injeolmi is Korean traditional rice cake and einspanner is a Viennese coffee) and it was absolutely delicious. Cafe Mog is located on the second floor, but directly underneath, there’s an indie movie theater – making this cafe a perfect spot to grab a delicious drink before a film viewing!
https://www.instagram.com/mogcoffee
서울 서대문구 연희로8길 18 스페이스독 2층
9. Shinleedoga
Shinleedoga/Instagram
Shinleedoga is a hanok (traditional Korean house) cafe with a modern twist! Beautiful and containing an open-air yard in its center, Shinleedoga is the perfect place to recoup after a long day in modern Hongdae (or recover in the morning after a long night of clubbing)! This is a popular destination and has solidified its status as a Hongdae date spot for locals. I ordered the red velvet cake and an iced latte here, and sat on the rooftop with a few close friends. There are several floors to Shinleedoga, but often due to its popularity, you may have trouble finding seating… so if interested, I recommend going earlier in the day!
https://www.instagram.com/shinleedaga
마포구 잔다리로 20-12
10. AQUAGARDEN
AQUAGARDEN/Instagram
Aquagarden, located inside Gangnam’s Lotte World Mall, is an all-immersive aquarium cafe experience. I believe Aquagarden is more than just an aquarium cafe; it’s more of a combination of aquarium and exhibition. The cafe’s aquascapes are artistically designed, with massive tanks containing fish of varying colors and varieties covering the entire space. The decor in Aquagarden’s interior are sprawling pieces of wood, moss, and foliage extending from the ceiling. The menu offers coffee, tea, smoothies, juices, and desserts. Aquagarden is nothing short of beautiful, and I highly recommend spending some time in the cafe and absorbing yourself within the rows of wonderfully kept, curated, and clean fish tanks.
https://www.instagram.com/aquagarden_korea/
서울 송파구 올림픽로 300 롯데월드몰 지하1층
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