Hongdae study café with a lamp-and-outlet Immersion zone: Naemyeonui

Naemyeonui Balgyeon (내면의 발견), a Hongdae café with a wonderful name. Of all the cafés I've been to, this is the most tasteful and comfortable one. It has such an artistic touch that, how do I put it.. it felt like visiting an exhibition ☁️ The calm, soft music is lovely too.. if you're looking for a café to heal in, this is the one.

How do you get to Naemyeonui Balgyeon, and is there parking?

Naemyeonui Balgyeon is closer to Mangwon Station than to Hongik Univ. Station. It's a 10-minute walk from Mangwon Station Exit 1. I had a meal in Hongdae and strolled over, and it didn't feel that far at all.

It's a café with parking! There's a parking space right next to the building, so it's perfect for anyone coming by car.

A 3-story detached house café with a water sculpture at the entrance

Naemyeonui Balgyeon is a 3-story detached house, and the whole building is the café.. the white-toned house is so pretty. When I was a kid I wanted to build and live in a house like this ⭐️

I pulled out my camera at the sculpture I saw as soon as I came through the entrance. A sculpture with falling water, and moss.. it's a bit like a mountain stream, and hearing the sound of dripping water calmed my mind.

It even gives off steam like this. I think I get why the café is called Naemyeonui Balgyeon ("Discovery of the Inner Self"). As you focus on the calm sound of the water, it feels like a space where you can hear your inner voice.

Choosing coffee beans and desserts at Naemyeonui Balgyeon

They seemed to sell mugs and drip coffee too. Naemyeonui Balgyeon is a place known for tasty drip coffee, so I really recommend trying it :) There are also packages that work as gifts, which is nice.

There are many kinds of beans to choose from. I asked the staff for a recommendation and got a bean with moderate acidity and a fresh, bright feel. Prices differ by bean, so keep that in mind!

This is the dessert lineup to go with your drink. They're desserts I'd never seen anywhere else, so I agonized over what to eat 🤔 There was also a dessert with butter and nuts inside a date, and if you like dates, it looked tasty enough that I wanted to try it.

Where are the best seats for studying? Each floor's spaces

1st-floor table seats

There are seats on the 1st floor of Naemyeonui Balgyeon too, with several tables like this. The height of them looked just right for working, I'd say?

2nd-floor "Immersion" zone: a lamp and an outlet at every seat

Coming up to the 2nd floor, there were spaces arranged around various concepts. This one is the "Immersion" (몰입) zone. As the name says, it's optimized for laptops and studying, and each seat has a lamp and an outlet, which is great.

2nd-floor "Pause" zone: sofa seats with Little Forest playing

This is the "Pause" (멈춤) zone. If I weren't there to work on my laptop, I'd have wanted to sit here and relax with a cup of coffee... I sat here and zoned out until my drink came, and the sofa was soft and so nice.

There's also a TV in front playing the movie Little Forest! It repeats, with just the picture and no sound. Even the music playing in the café is the Little Forest OST ㅠㅠ It has no lyrics, but it settles my heart..

The "Filling" zone and the 3rd floor

The "Filling" (채움) zone. Even though I visited on a weekday, there were lots of people. Isn't this the perfect café for people who need rest? Personally, it's one of the cafés I want to visit again.

There was a staircase up to the 3rd floor, so I went up. There seems to be a rooftop too.

The 3rd floor of Naemyeonui Balgyeon seems to be viewing only, no drinks allowed-! The last chapter of the inner space.

So good... a place where you can feel your inner voice. The space itself felt carefully made, and anyone who likes a Little Forest mood will definitely love it.

What I ordered: Geisha drip coffee and corn bread pudding

• Drip coffee: Costa Rica Tributos de Ota Geisha lactic honey
• Corn bread pudding

At Naemyeonui Balgyeon, the drip coffee comes with a sheet describing the beans, which is nice to read before you drink. Geisha coffee never lets you down~

What does the peppered corn bread pudding taste like?

The corn bread pudding at Naemyeonui Balgyeon is topped with golden-grilled corn, and pepper is sprinkled over the white cream. I love bread pudding and couldn't resist my curiosity, so I ordered it, and this look is so fresh...!

The pudding scoops up softly. As for the taste,, it's a soft, sweet corn pudding, but maybe because you can taste the pepper, it feels like a dish and a dessert at the same time!

Anyway, it's simply delicious. I doubt many people would call it bad. If you like bread pudding, give it a try 🌽

How does the Costa Rica Geisha lactic honey drip coffee taste?

As the staff explained, the coffee has moderate acidity with a little sweetness rising up, a really tasty Geisha coffee. The cup it came in is so pretty that I want it.

I should find a little forest of my own, too.

A space like a small shelter in a busy day, the Hongdae café Naemyeonui Balgyeon. If you're looking for a calm café that's good for working, I highly recommend it ⭐️