Gangneung hanok café with a garden courtyard: Cafe Giwa

At Cafe Giwa (카페기와) in Chodang, Gangneung, I looked around the hanok courtyard and had desserts and coffee. The calm setting made it a nice place to take a break, and the coffee I had with dessert also stayed with me.

What is the atmosphere of the hanok and courtyard like?

As I entered the hanok café, the mood changed as though I had arrived at a hidden garden in the city. The well-kept courtyard caught my eye, so I walked around slowly and took photos before even going inside.

It had a different appeal from cafés overlooking the sea. Taking a short break among the hanok and courtyard during my Gangneung trip also gave my travel photos a different feel.

The interior was thoughtfully decorated as well. Drinking coffee in the hanok, looking out the window, and walking through the courtyard are moments I remember together.

Is parking convenient when visiting by car?

Cafe Giwa has its own parking lot, so it was convenient to stop by by car.

When traveling around Gangneung by car, I tend to pay attention to whether a café has parking. With its own lot, it worked well as a dessert stop after a meal in Chodang-dong.

Where is good for taking photos?

From the hanok exterior to the courtyard and indoor seats, there were plenty of spaces I wanted to capture in photos.

In the courtyard, it was easy to frame the hanok in the shot. Indoors, placing the coffee and desserts together captured the calm atmosphere.

I especially liked the courtyard. Even though it was in the city, it felt like stepping into a quiet garden, so I stayed awhile taking photos.

What did the two desserts taste like?

The desserts caught my eye with their appearance, but I was happy with their flavors too. I liked that I could enjoy dessert as well as looking around the space.

My younger sibling and I had the Green Tea Triangle and mugwort injeolmi gâteau.

Was the Green Tea Triangle strongly bitter?

The Green Tea Triangle gently brought together green tea, red bean, and cream. The green-tea flavor spread smoothly without being overly bitter, and the red bean made it feel well suited to the hanok setting.

The cream was not heavy either, so it went well with an Americano.

How sweet was the mugwort injeolmi gâteau?

The mugwort injeolmi gâteau was a little like mugwort rice cake.

The mugwort aroma came through gently, with the nutty flavor of injeolmi (roasted soybean-coated rice cake) added to it. It was not a cake that was only intensely sweet; it also had a nutty flavor, so I enjoyed it to the end. Eating it in the hanok also made the space and dessert feel like a good match.

How were the Americano and mung bean flower latte?

Why did the Americano stand out most?

The Americano was the menu item I remember most from Cafe Giwa.

It was smooth and nutty, and after one sip I thought I wanted to get it to go. I do not know whether they roast their own beans, but to my taste it had a clean finish. Its flavor was not overshadowed even alongside dessert.

Was the mung bean flavor strong in the mung bean flower latte?

My younger sibling had the mung bean flower latte. It was topped with cream, and underneath it I could taste the distinctive nutty flavor of mung beans.

The unusual name made me curious, and when I tried it, it was smooth and nutty. Rather than standing out strongly, the mung bean flavor blended naturally with the cream, making it easy to drink.

When is it a good stop during a Gangneung trip?

For me, it was a good café for taking a break with coffee and dessert after a meal in Chodang-dong. If you like hanoks and garden-like courtyards and want to take travel photos too, I think it would suit you.

After looking at the sea, resting in a hanok courtyard gave my trip a different atmosphere. The next time I am in Chodang-dong, I would like to stop by again to take photos in the courtyard and have coffee.