Flying Scots Girl

Cafe culture in Seoul is something else. Seriously. The aesthetics. The vibes. The coffee. The pastries. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve visited quite so many cafes on holiday before. I actually wished I’d had more meals so that I could have stopped at even more. Seoul’s cafe culture has risen dramatically in the last ten years or so and you’ll find it difficult to find a street in the city without a cafe on it. There are so many to choose between and social media has made the competition fierce and exciting. This means it’s pretty hard to go too wrong as the competition to stand out has led to exceptional quality and plenty of innovation.

I planned a six day stopover in South Korea with four days in Seoul in May (travelling from Australia to the UK) and top of my agenda in Seoul, taking over the majority of my saved pins on Google maps, was a mission to eat or drink at as many popular cafes as I could find. Read on to discover 10 cafes you should have on your list – the trouble is narrowing it down to the ones you have time to visit 😉

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1. Cafe Onion Anguk

If you only have the chance to stop at one cafe then make it Cafe Onion Anguk. It’s an absolute beauty and very popular. You may have to queue although if you come at opening time mid week that’s your best chance of being able to walk straight in. The cafe has a traditional Hanok structure and the seating arrangements is traditional on the floor seating with cushions and small, low tables. It was very peaceful on my visit and I snagged one of the tables around the courtyard which was lovely. Cafe Onion is famous for its Pandoro Bread which is the one that looks like a snow capped mountain. It was pretty yummy but they also had lots of other choices that looked equally delicious like the matcha scones and the chocolate brownie.

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Holafly

2. Solbangul Bakery

I found Solbangul Bakery when I was looking around on Google Maps to find cafes to visit and realised this one was super close to my accommodation so it would be rude not to give it a try 😉 The space at Solbangul is inviting with lots of corners to find a cosy spot. The seating is located around a courtyard which also has chairs and tables. There is a rich choice of pastries and breads to choose from which makes it difficult to pick your option! After much deliberation I went for something savoury – a garlic and herb bread which was tasty. I think this was my last bakery on my trip to Seoul and as I’m thinking about what I ate, I really wish I’d chosen something else as well to taste, especially because Solbangul had lots of unusual flavours to try. Oh well…next time 😉

Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours

My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇

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3. Fritz Coffee

If you’re a coffee fiend then head to Fritz Coffee. The Fritz Coffee Company is one of the most recognisable names in South Korea and have been in the coffee game for ten years so they have the expertise. There are a number of Fritz Coffee outlets in Seoul but the one I visited was in Wonseo located at the bottom of the Arario Museum. It has some indoor and some outdoor seating and some of the best coffee you’ll find in the city! There is a small area for ordering so tasty smells of baked goods! This was great for a short stop on a busy day exploring.

4. Greenmile

When you visit the Bukchon Hanok Village, make a stop at charming Greenmile Coffee. It’s nearly opposite the entrance street to the Village although it’s quite unassuming so easy to miss. When I visited it was also very quiet which is surprising given the coffee is delicious and the views are beautiful. Take your coffee to sit in and head up to the rooftop terrace. What makes Greenmile special is this place because you can look out across the tiled roofs of the historic homes and buildings in this area. This makes such a great photo opportunity and it’s also the perfect place to refuel after exploring the streets of Bukchon Hanok.

5. MIL Toast

Mil Toast is possibly the best known cafe in Seoul because it’s unbelievably popular on social media, particularly on TikTok. I found out the hard way how popular. I arrived at five minutes to opening time on a Sunday morning and didn’t get seated until about fifty minutes after opening 🙃 The reason it’s so popular? Soufflé French toast. I must admit by the time I got a seat I was feeling pretty hangry (and in desperate need of a coffee) and I was wondering if I’d made the right decision to wait. I had. They were so light, fluffy and indulgent. I mean really, melt in your mouth and there were lots of flavours you could choose from. They do also have steamed bread which I didn’t taste so I can’t comment on that option! The interior of Mil Toast is a lovely mix of traditional Hanok style but with lots of modern details and slick lines, fusing old and new together.

6. Soha Salt Pond

Soha Salt Pond is in the hub of Seoul’s cafes in the Ikseon-dong area of the city. Combine salt bread having its moment in Seoul and one of the most popular cafes and you get a very busy bakery so be prepared to queue! Plus, the later in the day that you come, the less choice you’ll have of treats because they do sell out. The counter is in a tiny room so it is quite nice to have a chance to browse and choose what you’ll have without many people bustling around. Salt bread is very popular so I decided to be decadent and get a salt bread roll as well as a chocolate croissant cube filled with salted chocolate ganache. Oh yes.

Soha Salt Pond have not only worked on their recipes but they’ve also worked on the design of the cafe which is incredible. The seating options are housed in a Hanok style courtyard around a ‘salt pond’. The design skilfully incorporates elements of salt mining and production into the sitting area of the cafe to highlight the process and give an industrial edge to the visuals.

7. Aya Coffee

We hop over to Gangnam District for the next cafe on the list which is Aya Coffee. Make this a stop on your itinerary in Gangnam and you won’t be disappointed! This area of Seoul is known for its high fashion, cutting edge technology and futuristic vibes. The architecture reflects this with soaring skyscrapers and innovative designs. Aya Coffee also reflects this with a more modern, sleek look than some of the more traditional cafes on this list. They also make exceptional coffee. So good I wrote a Google review (which I don’t think I’ve ever done before) because it didn’t have too many and I wanted to give them a boost!

8. Cheongsudang Bakery

Cheongsudang Bakery is an aesthetic cafe in Ikseon-dong which is famous for its green, nature inspired aesthetic (Garden in the City). Cheongsudang translates to clear water and this is the theme throughout. You enter crossing stepping stones which water flows around and there are streams, fountains and waterfall features throughout. The popular items on their menu are the Soufflé Castella and the Fromage Cake, both of which come in three different flavours. They are aesthetically stunning and so well designed that they look like works of art, not just desserts. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of these fabulous desserts because I didn’t visit this cafe but a quick search on Insta will show you some mouth watering photos.

I’m gutted I didn’t visit here. At the time of my visit to Seoul I decided that the price was too high compared with other bakeries and cafes in the city but in hindsight it would have been such a lovely place to stop to enjoy some moments rest and the desserts are just so unusual and quirky that they’re really unique. If you can make time and space in your budget then pay a visit!

9. Nakwon Station

Nakwon is another Ikseon-dong cafe and it’s famous for its railway station design. Railway tracks are incorporated into the cafe’s design (they’re in the courtyard that the cafe is centred around and which you can walk along to get into the cafe), there is an old school announcement board displaying the cafe’s logo and a conveyor displays the cake and pastry options, circling around the counter! Nakwon is most popular for its cakes as well as its unusual drinks (maple cream coffee and peanut cream latte) plus it does also serve alcohol as well making it a great spot for a late night dessert! I didn’t manage to stop at Nakwon to try their treats but it’s on my list for another trip to Seoul.

Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours

My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇

Get Your Guide App

10. Brady’s Coffee Bar

The majority of cafes on this list have been centred around the areas close to the palaces because there really is such a high concentration of cafes in this part of Seoul. However, Brady’s Coffee Bar is over in Yeonnam-dong, closer to the studenty area of Hongdae. It’s become popular due to social media because of its water basin. Yes, you did read that correctly! Brady’s has an aesthetic water basin on its second floor which has a window behind it and is usually covered in flowers. It’s a charming spot to capture because it’s the definition of peaceful afternoon coffee and cake. It’s not an illusion either/ Despite being popular on social media the cafe itself is not actually that busy and it did feel like a quiet spot to sit and chill before the next adventure of the day. I’d had enough caffeine by the time I got here so opted for a refreshing iced tea and salted bread roll, both of which hit the spot. Make sure to get that shot before you leave!

Cat x

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