lackingdaze (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lackingdaze) wrote2022-09-28 06:29 pm
lackingdaze) wrote2022-09-28 06:29 pm
korea cafe highlights
i've been procrastinating on this post forever...here we go:
i'd like to think i went to a /lot/ of cafes in korea, but i feel like in comparison to the amount of places i bookmarked on naver maps, i actually didn't go to that many? anyways, here's a non-comprehensive list of some favorites, excluding cafe chains like starbucks, ediya, the coffee bean, etc. [starbucks in korea is actually top tier though and has its own seasonal menus, so i would highly recommend checking them out! aside from the drinks, their cakes are a must.]
π° seoul
i think navigating seoul cafes is best split up into neighborhoods, with my favorites being μ°λ¨λ(yeonnam-dong) and μ±μλ (seongsu-dong).
μ°λ¨λ
a gem of a neighborhood! it's right next to hongdae and is generally known as a hotspot for trendy cafes. unlike hongdae, yeonnam is quieter and makes for pretty chill, self-contained area that's easy to get around!
π plant cafe
at the top of the list because i went here the most :) it's a vegan cafe, with the original location being in itaewon i believe? i haven't gone to the itaewon shop, but the food at the yeonnam location is always consistent! they mainly do western vegan food, with my go-to being the mushroom burger. for drinks, i like their earl grey milk tea (hot) and my friend likes their shakes. vibes are minimal but cozy, and lots of little plants!
π cafe layered
oh miss layered... this place is a staple of cafe vloggers, along with cafe highwaist and london bagel museum (they're all owned by the same people!). layered is famous for its pastries and cakes, as well as the vintage/eclectic decor. in terms of actual vibes beyond looks, it's quite crowded and loud. i made the mistake of taking a class here and could not hear a single thing (which was fine bc i wasn't paying attention but still). the seats themselves are rather cramped. they also have an interesting system where you pick out your own pastries on fancy plates and then bring them to the counter, where you can then order drinks. i got a slice of matcha cake here, which was yummy. my friend did not enjoy their basil scone, but she enjoyed her slice of cake (which might have been lemon?)
π cafe comma
the drinks and pastries here are nothing to write home about, but the primary reason i love this place is 1) it's basically a bookstore and 2) it's massive, with ample seating on 3-4 floors. it's the perfect place to get work done because everyone else is here to do work, so the entire place is relatively quiet save for sometimes kind of loud music. the wi-fi here is awful though :")
π cafe skon
this place has the cutest patio for people-watching! the decor is very cute and bright, with adorable character illustrations all over the place. per the name, they're famous for their scones, but the person i went here with did not like the earl grey scone they ordered so ??? i had an oat milk latte which was perfectly fine tbh.
μ±μλ
the "brooklyn" of seoul....i think this namesake is so funny but i suppose it's apt in the sense that seongsu is more spread-out than other hubbubs in seoul and it has a "retro" meets new vibe thanks to the old factory buildings that used to be there. my favorite part of seongsu is actually seoul forest, which is bordered by a few streets filled with cafes, stationary shops, and other cute vendors. i wish i was able to spend more time here because seoul forest is literally the perfect place...so much green and peace in the middle of a bustling city π₯² wonderful spot for a day picnic, i could spend hours there!!
π super matcha
per the name, they specialize in matcha drinks. i think the main gimmick is the fact that the drinks are whisked by a robot hand which is kind of random but cool! i got takeout here, but i'll drop this random naver blog review which gives you a good idea of their interior β very sleek and minimal. i got a regular matcha latte with oat milk which was pretty good. they also have specialty matcha flavors, my friend got the coco matcha which was um pretty weird and not all that palatable. they remind me of matchaful.......also they have a surprisingly variety of plant-based milk (like rice milk?)
π clementine
honestly just putting this here bc it's cute!! it's tucked in a rather conspicuous corner of the seoul forest cafe street and doubles as a flower shop. interestingly, i found this place not through naver maps but just from walking around (insane, i know) to kill time while waiting for a bumble bff date that eventually bailed on me ummm. but anyways, this place was adorable. i wish i got something else on the menu like coffee because i did not like the lemon spritzer i ordered......
π lowide
this is a super hyped cafe for some reason? their coffee is good but they were running out of stuff by the time i got there in the late afternoon. i got their pumpkin pie which was alright.....honestly i'd just go somewhere else in the area.
μ μ΄
who knows this one...well i lived in sinchon so this was a no-brainer, i went to cafes here a lot to study and take classes. in general, sinchon's vibes are more college-y, with a huge population of international students per yonsei being right there. i think cafes here are a little less pretentious? also there are a lot of cafes specifically geared towards studying (ex. being open 24/7, charging by the hour) but i never went to one because i find those to be kind of intense.
π a to z cafe
when ur so niche that you have no instagram and i have to link the naver maps page......ok this place is gorgeous, very different from most of the cafes i've been to here because their decor is much moodier and kind of maximalist? also there are dinosaur figurines every where. it's a good place to study (amazing wi-fi) but i'm mildly traumatized by an interaction i had with a worker where she was telling me something and i had no idea what she was saying but it sounded vaguely like i did something wrong.....and now actually looking at this naver blog review i think it was bc i returned the trays when i didn't need to. anyways. their vanilla latte is great and their ice cream!! is so good!! a bit on the expensive side tho.
π my secret mate
so cute!! it's decorated in a mishmash kitschy way, but in lots of pastels so it's not overwhelming. their speciality is madelines (i had an earl grey one which was gudd) and the workers are really friendly! only con is that they don't have outlets which makes studying a little hard but i enjoyed coming here when virtually no one else was there to take class <3
π chloris
no pics bc honestly i think this place looks kind of clapped (has an "antique" decor sense but rlly it just looks like someone's grandma's house in a bad way) and i never got a good pic of the food....also every time i came here they were like 30 mins from closing??? but. i love their cakes, particularly this milk tea chocolate mousse tart....expensive but worth. their milk tea is a pass, i know this place is famous for it, but i ordered it once through delivery and it was pretty disappointing.
π cafe moonbear
almost forgot this one but perf study place + super fast wi-fi + i love their matcha lattes!!
elsewhere in seoul
π ikseon-dong | cheongsudang
this is one of the first cafes i ever went to in korea so it has a special place in my heart <3 i love the decor, it's a mix of traditional/modern/moody/nature which sounds like a lot to tackle but somehow they pull it off pretty well. a very famous cafe (with multiple locations), so it gets pretty busy but i highly recommend their strawberry tiramisu! again it is expensive but Very Worth bc it's so light and airy and perfect. the matcha lattes are also good, i like the version that adds cream more than the basic latte.
π insa-dong | osulloc
oh osulloc <3 they're actually a tea brand and this is one of their flagship shops. i'm obsessed with their teas (THEIR WEDDING GREEN TEA IS SO SERIOUS? i think this is the best tea ever.) but in terms of the cafe drinks, i recommend their rooibos latte, which i think is only at this location! my friend actually got it and i got a green tea latte that i could have passed on. also got a roll cake, which was pretty good! (annoyed i couldn't find their naver map link nor a recent ig account but i hope they still exist)
i think navigating seoul cafes is best split up into neighborhoods, with my favorites being μ°λ¨λ(yeonnam-dong) and μ±μλ (seongsu-dong).
μ°λ¨λ
a gem of a neighborhood! it's right next to hongdae and is generally known as a hotspot for trendy cafes. unlike hongdae, yeonnam is quieter and makes for pretty chill, self-contained area that's easy to get around!
π plant cafe
at the top of the list because i went here the most :) it's a vegan cafe, with the original location being in itaewon i believe? i haven't gone to the itaewon shop, but the food at the yeonnam location is always consistent! they mainly do western vegan food, with my go-to being the mushroom burger. for drinks, i like their earl grey milk tea (hot) and my friend likes their shakes. vibes are minimal but cozy, and lots of little plants!
π cafe layered
oh miss layered... this place is a staple of cafe vloggers, along with cafe highwaist and london bagel museum (they're all owned by the same people!). layered is famous for its pastries and cakes, as well as the vintage/eclectic decor. in terms of actual vibes beyond looks, it's quite crowded and loud. i made the mistake of taking a class here and could not hear a single thing (which was fine bc i wasn't paying attention but still). the seats themselves are rather cramped. they also have an interesting system where you pick out your own pastries on fancy plates and then bring them to the counter, where you can then order drinks. i got a slice of matcha cake here, which was yummy. my friend did not enjoy their basil scone, but she enjoyed her slice of cake (which might have been lemon?)
π cafe comma
the drinks and pastries here are nothing to write home about, but the primary reason i love this place is 1) it's basically a bookstore and 2) it's massive, with ample seating on 3-4 floors. it's the perfect place to get work done because everyone else is here to do work, so the entire place is relatively quiet save for sometimes kind of loud music. the wi-fi here is awful though :")
π cafe skon
this place has the cutest patio for people-watching! the decor is very cute and bright, with adorable character illustrations all over the place. per the name, they're famous for their scones, but the person i went here with did not like the earl grey scone they ordered so ??? i had an oat milk latte which was perfectly fine tbh.
μ±μλ
the "brooklyn" of seoul....i think this namesake is so funny but i suppose it's apt in the sense that seongsu is more spread-out than other hubbubs in seoul and it has a "retro" meets new vibe thanks to the old factory buildings that used to be there. my favorite part of seongsu is actually seoul forest, which is bordered by a few streets filled with cafes, stationary shops, and other cute vendors. i wish i was able to spend more time here because seoul forest is literally the perfect place...so much green and peace in the middle of a bustling city π₯² wonderful spot for a day picnic, i could spend hours there!!
π super matcha
per the name, they specialize in matcha drinks. i think the main gimmick is the fact that the drinks are whisked by a robot hand which is kind of random but cool! i got takeout here, but i'll drop this random naver blog review which gives you a good idea of their interior β very sleek and minimal. i got a regular matcha latte with oat milk which was pretty good. they also have specialty matcha flavors, my friend got the coco matcha which was um pretty weird and not all that palatable. they remind me of matchaful.......also they have a surprisingly variety of plant-based milk (like rice milk?)
π clementine
honestly just putting this here bc it's cute!! it's tucked in a rather conspicuous corner of the seoul forest cafe street and doubles as a flower shop. interestingly, i found this place not through naver maps but just from walking around (insane, i know) to kill time while waiting for a bumble bff date that eventually bailed on me ummm. but anyways, this place was adorable. i wish i got something else on the menu like coffee because i did not like the lemon spritzer i ordered......
π lowide
this is a super hyped cafe for some reason? their coffee is good but they were running out of stuff by the time i got there in the late afternoon. i got their pumpkin pie which was alright.....honestly i'd just go somewhere else in the area.
μ μ΄
who knows this one...well i lived in sinchon so this was a no-brainer, i went to cafes here a lot to study and take classes. in general, sinchon's vibes are more college-y, with a huge population of international students per yonsei being right there. i think cafes here are a little less pretentious? also there are a lot of cafes specifically geared towards studying (ex. being open 24/7, charging by the hour) but i never went to one because i find those to be kind of intense.
π a to z cafe
when ur so niche that you have no instagram and i have to link the naver maps page......ok this place is gorgeous, very different from most of the cafes i've been to here because their decor is much moodier and kind of maximalist? also there are dinosaur figurines every where. it's a good place to study (amazing wi-fi) but i'm mildly traumatized by an interaction i had with a worker where she was telling me something and i had no idea what she was saying but it sounded vaguely like i did something wrong.....and now actually looking at this naver blog review i think it was bc i returned the trays when i didn't need to. anyways. their vanilla latte is great and their ice cream!! is so good!! a bit on the expensive side tho.
π my secret mate
so cute!! it's decorated in a mishmash kitschy way, but in lots of pastels so it's not overwhelming. their speciality is madelines (i had an earl grey one which was gudd) and the workers are really friendly! only con is that they don't have outlets which makes studying a little hard but i enjoyed coming here when virtually no one else was there to take class <3
π chloris
no pics bc honestly i think this place looks kind of clapped (has an "antique" decor sense but rlly it just looks like someone's grandma's house in a bad way) and i never got a good pic of the food....also every time i came here they were like 30 mins from closing??? but. i love their cakes, particularly this milk tea chocolate mousse tart....expensive but worth. their milk tea is a pass, i know this place is famous for it, but i ordered it once through delivery and it was pretty disappointing.
π cafe moonbear
almost forgot this one but perf study place + super fast wi-fi + i love their matcha lattes!!
elsewhere in seoul
π ikseon-dong | cheongsudang
this is one of the first cafes i ever went to in korea so it has a special place in my heart <3 i love the decor, it's a mix of traditional/modern/moody/nature which sounds like a lot to tackle but somehow they pull it off pretty well. a very famous cafe (with multiple locations), so it gets pretty busy but i highly recommend their strawberry tiramisu! again it is expensive but Very Worth bc it's so light and airy and perfect. the matcha lattes are also good, i like the version that adds cream more than the basic latte.
π insa-dong | osulloc
oh osulloc <3 they're actually a tea brand and this is one of their flagship shops. i'm obsessed with their teas (THEIR WEDDING GREEN TEA IS SO SERIOUS? i think this is the best tea ever.) but in terms of the cafe drinks, i recommend their rooibos latte, which i think is only at this location! my friend actually got it and i got a green tea latte that i could have passed on. also got a roll cake, which was pretty good! (annoyed i couldn't find their naver map link nor a recent ig account but i hope they still exist)
π° busan
π cafe mignon
half the reason i went here so much (3x within the 10 days i was ever in busan) is bc one of the workers look like park seoham if u had -5 vision and didn't wear your glasses but also only from the side. just kidding. their tarts are so fucking good.....my favorites are their mango and apricot tarts. they're also a chain with locations in seoul but for some reason i only ever went to the one in gwangalli (bc my airbnb was just down the block).
π fruiterie
THIS PLACE IS ADORABLE! i didn't get a good shot of their interior, but i'll link some reviews....sad bc they didn't have the drinks i wanted to try but their fruit sodas were still quite refreshing and yummy!
π love urth
why were the workers here so hot and also inconspicuously queer. sorry for being this way but this one worker....was so freaking cute......they're super friendly + speak english except i embarrassed myself when they asked if i would prefer them to explain the food in korean or english so anyways. this place is cute + cozy and i LOVE their udon salad. perfect blend of sweet, savory, herbal, and refreshing, which was a combo that reminded me of home food and reminded me how much i missed it. and my friend's cabbage rolls were also yummy. they change the menu every month/season!! it's also just down the street from an adorable stationary store that i browsed while waiting for a table.
π cafe mignon
half the reason i went here so much (3x within the 10 days i was ever in busan) is bc one of the workers look like park seoham if u had -5 vision and didn't wear your glasses but also only from the side. just kidding. their tarts are so fucking good.....my favorites are their mango and apricot tarts. they're also a chain with locations in seoul but for some reason i only ever went to the one in gwangalli (bc my airbnb was just down the block).
π fruiterie
THIS PLACE IS ADORABLE! i didn't get a good shot of their interior, but i'll link some reviews....sad bc they didn't have the drinks i wanted to try but their fruit sodas were still quite refreshing and yummy!
π love urth
why were the workers here so hot and also inconspicuously queer. sorry for being this way but this one worker....was so freaking cute......they're super friendly + speak english except i embarrassed myself when they asked if i would prefer them to explain the food in korean or english so anyways. this place is cute + cozy and i LOVE their udon salad. perfect blend of sweet, savory, herbal, and refreshing, which was a combo that reminded me of home food and reminded me how much i missed it. and my friend's cabbage rolls were also yummy. they change the menu every month/season!! it's also just down the street from an adorable stationary store that i browsed while waiting for a table.
π° daegu
π blackbear doughnut
hmmm actually not super remarkable in terms of donuts but i think this is one of the only actual cafes i went while i was in daegu. didn't have a great time in daegu btw....but i liked that this cafe was practically empty when i went LOL. got a creme brulee donut + americano which was p good. the cafe is located in very close proximity to a bunch of other really cute cafes and an art gallery (that i contemplated going to but ultimately was too lazy for), i highly recommend walking around and checking some of them out! it's really cute and peaceful.
π blackbear doughnut
hmmm actually not super remarkable in terms of donuts but i think this is one of the only actual cafes i went while i was in daegu. didn't have a great time in daegu btw....but i liked that this cafe was practically empty when i went LOL. got a creme brulee donut + americano which was p good. the cafe is located in very close proximity to a bunch of other really cute cafes and an art gallery (that i contemplated going to but ultimately was too lazy for), i highly recommend walking around and checking some of them out! it's really cute and peaceful.
π° jeju
π osulloc tea museum
tbh this is not so much a museum as it is a glorified flagship store...it's much bigger than the insa-dong location and is right next to a huge innisfree store/cafe. there are SO MANY people here bc it's a tourist location. i didn't like their green tea latte all that much but their cakes are good, particularly the matcha strawberry one. it's something i'd try for the sake of trying but i wish they incorporated more of their actual tea flavors into their menu.
places that i didn't get to but were on my list
- cafe knotted (apparently goated donuts)
- brady's coffee
- thanks oat
- london bagel museum (acc to some people this place sells out super fast?)
- jamjam
- seoul parrot (once attempted to stand in line for it but it was crowded even on a random tueday afternoon so i just gave up)
- maple top (actually a brunch spot moreso than a cafe but I REALLY WANTED TO GO! unfortunately got here near their closing time and couldn't make it)
- nudake house dosan (gentle monster's concept cafe...all the desserts look a little cursed but cool)
- cong cafe (i was curious as to what viet coffee in korea would be like)
π osulloc tea museum
tbh this is not so much a museum as it is a glorified flagship store...it's much bigger than the insa-dong location and is right next to a huge innisfree store/cafe. there are SO MANY people here bc it's a tourist location. i didn't like their green tea latte all that much but their cakes are good, particularly the matcha strawberry one. it's something i'd try for the sake of trying but i wish they incorporated more of their actual tea flavors into their menu.
places that i didn't get to but were on my list
- cafe knotted (apparently goated donuts)
- brady's coffee
- thanks oat
- london bagel museum (acc to some people this place sells out super fast?)
- jamjam
- seoul parrot (once attempted to stand in line for it but it was crowded even on a random tueday afternoon so i just gave up)
- maple top (actually a brunch spot moreso than a cafe but I REALLY WANTED TO GO! unfortunately got here near their closing time and couldn't make it)
- nudake house dosan (gentle monster's concept cafe...all the desserts look a little cursed but cool)
- cong cafe (i was curious as to what viet coffee in korea would be like)
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this makes me want to visit korea so much!!! not sure if iβll be able to do that any time soon but i canβt wait to hear abt ur 2023 summer korea trip with UR BROTHER and assorted slayage. pls bring me back some tea. etc etc. love u always!
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