Pocheon holiday drive café, decaf & choco malenka: Geurine Oasis

On a holiday drive to Pocheon, I was looking for a café where I could relax and look out at nature, and ended up at the much-talked-about Geurine Oasis (그리네 오아시스)! It's a big café right in front of Gomori Reservoir, famous as a date spot thanks to its lovely lake view and moody spaces. It's also dog-friendly, and there were so many guests with their dogs. If you're planning a Pocheon drive, I'd recommend it, so let me walk you through it!

Where is Geurine Oasis, and what are its hours?

Geurine Oasis is at 442 Jugyeopsan-ro, Soheul-eup, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (1st floor), and it's open daily 10:00-22:00. There's a parking lot, and dogs are welcome.

It's a large bakery café in front of Gomori Reservoir in Pocheon. It's about an hour from Seoul, so it's a popular drive destination from the city. With its wide outdoor space and reservoir view, it seems good whether you come with family, a partner or friends.

Parking at Geurine Oasis: possible on weekends and holidays?

The café has its own spacious parking lot, but on weekends and holidays it was packed with cars. It's so popular, so I guess that's no surprise. I visited on a holiday and luckily a spot opened up just as I arrived. If it's full, you can use a nearby public parking lot, so keep that in mind.

How is Geurine Oasis as a dog-friendly café?

True to its dog-friendly label, there were so many dogs visiting. Lots of people take a walk with their dog and then come to the café, so the overall mood was relaxed.

I was especially impressed that there's a separate kiosk for dogs and kids. It makes it easy to order items for pets or children, which felt very thoughtful. :)

Gomori Reservoir view: main building or annex?

The biggest charm of Geurine Oasis is the view that takes in the whole of Gomori Reservoir! The wide lake scenery beyond the big windows made even a single cup of coffee feel much more leisurely.

I imagine the scenery changes with the seasons: green trees in spring, autumn leaves in fall, a calm lake in winter, so you could enjoy a different mood all year round! That's probably why I felt it's a great café for a rest stop on a Pocheon drive or trip. :)

Why I recommend the Geurine Oasis annex

Geurine Oasis is split into a main building and an annex, and personally I'd recommend the annex.

The main building is convenient for ordering and using the café, while the annex has a more moody feel, starting with the design.

Above all, the Gomori Reservoir view from the annex was really pretty. The scenery outside the window is framed like a picture, so it's great for photos and for sitting quietly. If you want to enjoy the view at leisure, I'd check the annex seats first!

What's on the menu at Geurine Oasis?

As a bakery café, it sells a wide range of items. There were so many desserts, including salt bread, croissants, scones and bagels baked in-house, plus cakes and plain breads. Besides coffee, they also sell premium blended teas made with a tea research lab.

Decaf coffee is available too, so people who want to cut back on caffeine can order without worry. Drinks come in reusable cups, which is a small thing, but I liked that they practice eco-friendliness. :)

How do the decaf americano and choco malenka taste?

At Geurine Oasis I ordered a decaf americano, a choco malenka (a chewy chocolate dessert) and an affogato. The decaf americano had almost no acidity and a strong nutty flavor, the kind of coffee Koreans usually like. So it went well with the desserts!

The choco malenka I ordered with it is something I really recommend. It had a lively chewy texture and a rich sweetness, great with coffee. If you like dense, chewy desserts, definitely try the malenka.

Geurine Oasis turns into a fire-pit café in the evening

There are fire-pit tables outdoors, so in the evening you can sip coffee while watching a warm fire. It's pretty during the day, but evening brings a whole different mood! I imagine it's wonderful in cool seasons. It suits a date as well as chatting with friends. If you're looking for a special date spot near Seoul, it's worth a visit.

Overall verdict on Geurine Oasis

Geurine Oasis was a big café where I could enjoy both the beautiful scenery of Gomori Reservoir and a relaxed atmosphere.

• Open lake view over Gomori Reservoir
• Dog-friendly, with a dedicated dog & kids kiosk
• The annex is more atmospheric than the main building
• Freshly baked bread and a wide range of desserts
• Nutty decaf americano with no acidity
• Chewy choco malenka recommended
• A date spot with fire pits in the evening

If you're planning a Pocheon drive, it pairs well with a visit to the Gwangneung Arboretum area, and I'd also recommend it as a café to end the day. For anyone who wants to spend relaxed time with a dog, or heal while looking at a pretty lake view, that was Geurine Oasis in Pocheon!