Hapjeong brunch café in rusted steel and bamboo: Seowon Angil

Seowon Angil Hapjeong (서원안길 합정) is a café and restaurant that newly opened in Hapjeong after its Incheon location. Hapjeong is such a convenient spot for meeting friends that I book plans there all the time. The lively atmosphere is fun, but sometimes I want a nicer space where I can slowly savor my food and relax. So here is my experience visiting Seowon Angil Hapjeong, a great place for exactly that.

Where is Seowon Angil Hapjeong, and what are the hours and parking?

Seowon Angil Hapjeong is on floors 1–2 of Jandari-ro 3-gil in Mapo, Seoul, a 3-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 3. The floors keep different hours: the 1st floor is open 9:30–20:00 (until 22:00 on Saturday and 21:00 on Sunday), and the 2nd floor 11:00–18:00.

• Location: 34 Jandari-ro 3-gil, Floors 1–2, Mapo-gu, Seoul (3-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 3)
• 1st floor: 9:30–20:00, until 22:00 on Saturday and 21:00 on Sunday
• 2nd floor: 11:00–18:00
• Parking: fees can be covered if you use a nearby alternative lot

Since the two floors have different hours, check the time before you go if you want to sit on the 2nd floor.

What does the exterior of Seowon Angil Hapjeong look like?

The exterior is defined by a corroded steel finish and outer walls wrapped in bamboo. On the way from Hapjeong Station toward Seowon Angil, the understated, natural-looking sign caught my eye first, and the gently sloping building seemed to make you stop and linger.

The corroded steel finish lifted the look even more. The facade itself is so eye-catching that it made me want to visit.

I liked that the name Seowon Angil itself feels so steady and stylish, and the English lettering is in a free, unstructured handwriting style that blends well with the building.

With the outer walls wrapped in bamboo, you feel the natural vibe even more strongly once you step inside.

What are the interior and seating like, and which floor is better?

The counter is right to your right as you enter. Since it runs as both a café and a restaurant, the menu is really big.

Desserts and breads are set out separately in a showcase, so it looked easy to order to your taste.

The café is split into two floors connected by an inside staircase. Because you pick up your own food, more people use the 1st floor, but personally I recommend the quiet 2nd floor with its open, airy feel.

The tables come in so many types that you can really feel the care put into each design. With varied tables and finishing materials, it should be easy to pick a seat to your taste.

Can you choose your own coffee beans at Seowon Angil Hapjeong?

When you order coffee here, you can choose from Seowon Angil's signature beans. You can order everything from drinks to brunch, and being able to choose the beans was a big plus for me.

In particular, there are scent jars so you can smell the beans yourself before choosing.

Artwork and props to look at on the 2nd floor

After you order food, a vibrating buzzer lets you know when it's ready, so the wait is a good time to look around. The café has lots of artistic touches, so it's fun to explore every corner.

Going up to the 2nd floor, I came across some wonderful artwork, and the space is so stylish that it felt kind of healing.

I loved how every little prop felt carefully chosen, and since I visited at a quiet time, I could enjoy browsing at my own pace.

The tables vary a lot, from seats for 2 to large tables for 6 or more, so it would also work for a meeting or a group get-together.

The colors vary too, so picking a table is genuinely fun.

Seowon Angil Hapjeong also allows pets, so it should be comfortable to visit with your pet.

The 1st floor also sells merchandise and coffee beans, and time flew by as I looked through them one by one.

Even the restroom isn't an ordinary restroom but a space full of style, with a kind of Hongdae feel that I liked.

How does the creamy salmon poached egg Benedict taste?

For brunch at Seowon Angil Hapjeong, I ordered the creamy salmon poached egg Benedict. While eating, it felt so relaxing that I seemed to be at a resort.

The poached egg looked visibly moist, and the harmony of colors was lovely too, which really freshened my mood.

The sauce was good, and it was even better because the dish looked like a work of art.

The combination of fresh salmon, onion and poached egg on firm bread was great, and eaten with the carrots served alongside, it was thumbs-up delicious.

Signature grilled shrimp and herb oil plate

The grilled shrimp and herb oil plate is Seowon Angil Hapjeong's signature menu item, and the portion was really generous. It's clearly a signature for a reason.

The avocado was really fresh, and I enjoyed eating fresh, healthy ingredients with a variety of sauces.

The grilled shrimp were big, and above all the texture of the nicely cooked shrimp was great. It's a taste I'm already thinking about again.

I dipped the bread in olive oil, and I felt that every ingredient was made with a careful balance of flavors.

Is Seowon Angil Hapjeong a brunch café worth revisiting?

Overall, the space itself is so charming that Seowon Angil Hapjeong felt like one of the best cafés in Hapjeong, and the food was really good too, so I wanted to give it a thumbs-up in every way. The space blends beautifully with nature and put me at ease, and it's a brunch café where you can enjoy your food even more, so I'd really recommend it to people around me.

• Large café
• Pets allowed
• Choose your own beans
• Great brunch
• Café with a view