Café by Mangwon Market for non-coffee friends: matcha & mint ade, PICT

Why I visited PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch

After wandering around Mangwon Market, I was looking for a roastery café with good coffee, and that's how I ended up at PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch ☕ It keeps showing up when you search for cafés in Mangwon-dong, and since they roast their own beans and lots of reviews praised the coffee, I went out of my way to try it.

Conclusion first: not only the coffee but also the matcha latte and the ade were all better than average. I've put together some things worth knowing before you go 😊

Location and how to get to PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch

The address is 45 Woldeukeop-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about a 6-minute walk from Mangwon Station Exit 2. It's right next to Mangwon Market, so it fits perfectly into a market stroll.

The entrance is confusing, so where do you go in?

The address says 1st floor, but you actually go down the stairs beside a red brick building. First-timers, watch out 👀 If you look for a ground-floor entrance based on the sign alone, you might wander a bit. There's no parking lot, so I'd recommend public transport or a nearby public car park 🚇

Opening hours and closing days

• Wed–Fri: 11:00 – 19:00
• Sat–Sun: 11:00 – 21:00
• Closed every Monday and Tuesday

I heard they close on Mondays and Tuesdays because those are the days they select green beans and roast. If you're going on a weekday, do check the day first! (Hours can change, so I'd suggest checking Naver Place before you go.)

It's down the stairs, so isn't it dark?

Big picture windows let in lots of light, so it was much brighter than I expected. Going down the stairs I wondered, "Won't it be dark?" but that worry was for nothing. White walls with wood furniture make it feel clean yet cozy. Seating is split into a bar table and regular tables. The crowd was mixed: people working alone on laptops, couples on dates, groups of friends 👫

You can see the coffee being made right at the bar, so watching it while you wait is fun too. The restroom is inside the café, which was convenient.

How bad are the weekend waits and dessert sell-outs?

⚠️ There tends to be a wait on weekends. It was almost full when we went, and popular desserts like the matcha Basque cheesecake and aged French toast reportedly sell out early, so if desserts are the goal, aim for opening time.

Ordering tip at PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch: you can choose your beans

What's special about the coffee menu here is that you can pick the beans yourself. The bean lineup changes from time to time, so you can taste something different each visit. If you dislike acidic coffee, choose a nutty-type blend and you can't go wrong 👍

One more thing! There's no one-drink-per-person rule, so ordering mostly desserts is no pressure, and takeout gets ₩1,000 off every item. It'd be great to carry on a walk to Mangwon Hangang Park too 🌳

Does the iced Americano have acidity?

The iced Americano was cleanly nutty, with no burnt taste or sharp sourness. At a roastery café you have to start with an Americano, right? The bitterness comes first and a nutty finish lingers, so I think even people who don't like acidic coffee can drink it comfortably. I heard they use beans roasted in-house every week, and the aroma did feel clearly fresh.

Is the Kyoto matcha latte very sweet?

The Kyoto matcha latte wasn't very sweet and the matcha flavor was strong. My companion, who can't really drink coffee, ordered it. It comes with the matcha and milk in separate layers, and the deep color makes for great photos 📸 I stirred it well and took a sip.

It's bitter but finishes nutty, so it suits people who like the true taste of matcha rather than a sweet green-tea-milk kind of matcha latte. My companion said they'd order this again next time 😊

Is the mint lemonade strongly minty?

The mint lemonade has a surprisingly strong mint aroma 🌿 I picked something refreshing for the last drink and sipped it assuming it was just lemonade, and I was surprised. After the lemon's tartness, a cool minty feeling stays and leaves your mouth really refreshed.

If you like mint, definitely try it; if mint isn't your thing, you may be better off choosing something else. It's good for non-coffee drinkers or for finishing off cleanly alongside a dessert.

Which desserts are popular at PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch?

This time I only had drinks, but every table next to us had a dessert. Looking at reviews, the pistachio tiramisu (₩8,000) got especially lots of praise, with a common comment that it's moist and not too sweet. The aged French toast and matcha Basque cheesecake are also said to be popular. Next time I'm definitely trying desserts too 🙌

PICT Roastery Mangwon Branch in a nutshell

• 6-minute walk from Mangwon Station Exit 2, right next to Mangwon Market
• Closed Mon & Tue (roasting days)
• Choose your beans; nutty-type recommended
• No one-drink rule / ₩1,000 off takeout
• Weekend waits; popular desserts sell out early
• No parking

It was a nice place to rest with a coffee after browsing Mangwon Market. If you've been looking for cafés in Mangwon-dong or Mangridan-gil, give it a spot on your route ☕