K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty, pretty boys and kimchi – these are some of the things we have Seoul to thank for. But if you’ve visited the city lately, you would be hard-pressed to not notice the cafes in and around town.
Anthracite Coffee Roasters
View this post on InstagramI may have found my new favorite coffee shop (in the world) nbd
A post shared by Hanna Jones (@cuppajones) on Mar 26, 2018 at 12:02am PDT
With natural lighting gently permeating through the many windows, “comfortable”, “relaxing” and “gorgeous” best describe this industrial chic space. The three-storey shop is one of the three branches of the Anthracite’s Seoul-based cafe chain, and offers an assortment of pastries and cakes which are baked by an in-house pastry chef daily.
240 Itaewon-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
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C.Through
View this post on InstagramA post shared by 씨스루 C.THROUGH (@c.through) on Jan 6, 2018 at 5:24am PST
Latte art lovers, don’t leave Seoul without stopping at C.Through to experience the artistic flair and creativity of the cafe’s barista Lee Kang-bin. From animals and flowers to celebrities, Pokémon and famous art pieces (Mona Lisa or Van Gogh’s Starry Night, anyone?), it’s truly mesmerising to watch Lee display his coffee-drawing magic, which is incredibly lifelike and visually appealing.
403-3, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Fritz Coffee Company
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Le Rigel (@tentative_tokyo) on Sep 3, 2018 at 7:44am PDT
As modern as Seoul gets, it’s hard not to appreciate the traditional architectural beauty – like the Korean traditional house, hanok, for example – that still lingers throughout the city. Instead of replacing these houses with skyscrapers, they are reinvented and modernised by businesses like Fritz to add a charming character to their space. Fritz doubles up as a bakery too, and offers an impressive range of pastries – a perfect getaway from busier areas such as Hongdae. Before you leave, make sure to pick something from the plethora of cool-looking merchandise as a souvenir to remember Fritz by.
17 Saechang-ro 2-gil, Dohwa-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
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Matchacha
Meet Seoul’s first matcha cafe, where its pared-down menu complements its minimalist, Kinfolk-worthy interior. Its hero ingredient is grown on Jeju Island and carefully selected by the owner, so you know you’re only getting the crème de la crème when you pay a visit to this fine establishment. Come here to enjoy traditional, ceremonial-style matcha or if you are feeling adventurous, sample the shop’s many innovative tea beverages like the matcha blanc, a bold matcha latte that’s topped with slightly sweet cream.
685-450 Seongsu-dong 1-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Thanks Nature Cafe
There are cat, husky and owl cafes around the world but here in Seoul, you’ll find this sheep cafe situated near the Hongik University’s campus in Hongdae where you can hang out with the fluffy animal while savouring some waffles and fruit soda. The sheep family has grown since the cafe’s opening but they don’t roam around as freely as you imagine; the sheep are kept in a pen that’s separated from the cafe and are let out once in a while for guests to interact with.
486 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
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Zapangi
View this post on InstagramA post shared by ZAPANGI_official (@zapangi_official) on Nov 20, 2017 at 11:26pm PST
Just a stone’s throw away from Mangwon Market, this cafe uses one of the speakeasy bar’s tricks – by hiding behind common everyday equipment: in Zapangi’s case, it’s a fake, bright pink vending machine. The interior also incorporates splashes of millennial pink, making it a highly Instagrammable spot. Further jazz up your feed with its signature milk tea and sweet confectioneries that taste as good as they look.
400-2 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
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