Reading café in Seogyo-dong for a quiet solo hour: Naemyeonui Balgyeon

Today I'm telling you about my visit to Naemyeonui Balgyeon (내면의 발견), a café in Seogyo-dong I'd wanted to try for a while, with a strong exhibition-hall vibe.

Naemyeonui Balgyeon in Seogyo-dong: hours, parking and visitor info

Naemyeonui Balgyeon is at 53 Woldeukeopbuk-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and you can use both the 1st and 2nd floors. It's open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with last order at 7:30 p.m.

• Groups welcome
• Laptop work allowed
• Takeout discount
• Wi-Fi available
• Hand-drip coffee
• Parking available (4 spots at the café); when full, use the nearby Cheonggiwa public parking lot
• Seating: bar table, group seats, 4-person seats, couple seats
• The room fits up to 15 people

What does Naemyeonui Balgyeon look like inside?

There was a curious atmosphere right from the entrance of Naemyeonui Balgyeon. The space seemed to be divided into Emptying, Filling, Pause and Immersion.

A faint smell of coffee hung around the counter entrance,

Detailed tea descriptions at the counter make ordering easy

At the counter of Naemyeonui Balgyeon, detailed descriptions let you browse the different teas. When picking a drink I often wonder, what will this one taste like?

Thanks to that, I had no trouble choosing. Cakes and puddings were also displayed as models, which were adorably cute.

The drinks and desserts at Naemyeonui Balgyeon also seemed somehow different from the usual,

with lots of items I'd never heard of or tried.

Why is Naemyeonui Balgyeon called an exhibition-like café?

After ordering at the counter, turn just a little and a wide space with tables and chairs opens up,

and the mysterious-feeling interior catches your eye. So that's why visitors

say it feels like an exhibition hall, I thought.

An hour of solo reading in the Pause space

At Naemyeonui Balgyeon, I really loved this space called "Pause." I liked the line written there: if you can't go any further, maybe you need a moment to stop and regroup.

When I stepped inside, the movie Little Forest, starring Kim Tae-ri, was playing. It's a film I once watched in a daze, feeling comfort and ease, so it was nice to see it again.

It wasn't a neat, tidy kind of space so much as a cozy, quiet one that was just right for spending time alone.

I leaned back, paused and sat comfortably for a while, then read the book I'd been wanting to read for a full hour, totally focused. Maybe because it's a separate, independent space, I liked it even more.

The big windows were opened wide, so it never felt stuffy,

and maybe thanks to the good ventilation, the inside of the café didn't feel stuffy either, which I liked.

Does Naemyeonui Balgyeon have group seating and laptop spots?

The "Filling" space at Naemyeonui Balgyeon is quite good for groups, with more chairs and tables than I expected. Look to the other side and there's a tall bookshelf, and across from it quite a few people were working on laptops.

It's a little disappointing that I couldn't take photos because of the crowd. The Naemyeonui Balgyeon building uses the 1st and 2nd floors as one whole,

The rooftop at Naemyeonui Balgyeon is open too

It can be used as a rooftop too! On a nice day, it would be good to head outside.

The sky was really clear that day,

If you're looking for a café in Seogyo-dong, I think a visit to Naemyeonui Balgyeon can give you a healing time. As written on one wall, it felt like I'd made my own little forest and walked out of it. 😁

How were the floral milk tea and dessert at Naemyeonui Balgyeon?

I was so busy introducing the space that I almost forgot to tell you about the milk tea I tasted.

It wasn't just a plain tray: a small card explaining the floral milk tea came with it, which felt extra thoughtful. Petals on top of milk tea, even the tea has sensibility. It wasn't too sweet, and I downed it in one go (shh, secret).

I ordered a dessert too, and its sweet-and-salty taste kept making me reach for more.

Review event: a free coffee bag

As I was about to go home, I noticed the Naemyeonui Balgyeon review event. You get a coffee tea bag for taking part. Next time I come, I'll definitely join in.

A time enjoying the stillness at Naemyeonui Balgyeon, a café in Seogyo-dong 💛