Suwon Station vintage shop café with rooibos bilberry tea: Hongrad

Hongrad, a well-known café near Suwon Station, has that New York vibe down pat! It's tucked slightly away from the crowded food alleys, which actually makes it feel less hectic. It's close to the Old Gyeonggi Provincial Office too, so I imagine it'd be lovely to visit in spring, and since it sits along the path over to Haenggung-dong, it's the perfect spot to duck into on a nice-weather walk haha.

Where is Hongrad Suwon Station Branch, and how do you find the entrance?

Hongrad Suwon Station Branch sits near the back gate of the Suwon Tax Office. Since it's on the 2nd floor, the entrance can be a little confusing and easy to walk right past, so keep an eye out — look for the yellow arrow!

• 61-1 Hyanggyo-ro, 2nd floor, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours → Daily 12:00–23:00 / open year-round
• No pets allowed / no separate parking support

Parking near Hongrad Suwon Station Branch

• Spot A – Gyeonggi Provincial Office Old Building public parking / free, 10 min walk
• Spot B – Arirang private parking lot / 60 min – ₩3,000 / 120 min – ₩6,000
• Spot C – Samsung private parking lot / same rates as Spot B
• Spot D – Gyeonggi Parking Lot / 60 min ₩3,000 / 120 min ₩5,000

There's a yellow smiley face and a signboard right in front of the entrance~ The building has some age to it, so you have to climb some stairs to get up! The original branch is in Haenggung-dong, and there are now several Hongrad locations around Suwon, but it was nice to know this one near Suwon Station can't be found elsewhere haha. As you climb the stairs, you can already check out a full-length mirror and various props along the way?

House rules at Hongrad, and can you work on a laptop?

At Hongrad, a favorite café near Suwon Station, participating in the receipt review doesn't get you some kind of extra service — instead you get a pin badge~ One drink per person is required, and outside food is naturally not allowed haha. On weekends and holidays there's a 2-hour limit to keep the café running smoothly for everyone ★ There are outlets on the wall, and laptop/study café users are welcome :-) Details like the buzzer system and restroom location are all clearly posted, so make sure to check!

Inside Hongrad: New York–style retro interior

Seating layout and which tables to pick

Usually window seats are the popular ones, but at Hongrad Suwon Station Branch it seemed like the corner seats in the back were actually more popular haha. The mood is New York–inspired, black-and-white interior full of vintage character, with props displayed right in front of the counter~ Seating ranges from tables for a single person up to tables for six, and there are separate seats set aside for groups of three or more! It's less a coffee specialty shop and more a place for characterful drinks and desserts >.< There's also a photo zone, so it's the kind of café that's easy to linger in for a while.

Hongrad's menu and the signature bear drinks

Hongrad, a favorite café near Suwon Station, blends the feel of an old-school dabang (tea house) with a vintage prop shop~ There's toast and croffles on the menu, but also a good range of brownies and cake slices, perfect for a sugar refill haha. There's also the ex-boyfriend toast that went viral for a while, and the signature is the einspänner! Since a bear is drawn on top of the cream, a bear ends up in the picture every time :-) Bear Einspänner ₩7,000 / Bear Matcha Einspänner ₩6,500.

How the Hongrad brownie and rooibos bilberry tea taste

The brownie comes topped with vanilla ice cream, served alongside banana, blueberry, and cherry haha. It's not a huge portion, but it's just the right size to finish cleanly :-) The brownie itself has a rich, deep chocolate flavor, and the vanilla ice cream isn't bland either, so the two came together nicely and tasted great~ The bear matcha einspänner is a non-coffee drink, perfect for an evening treat! The rooibos bilberry was also decaf, with a subtle berry aroma that came through slightly tart and clean...?

• Hongrad Brownie ₩7,500
• Rooibos Bilberry ₩6,000 / Bear Matcha Einspänner ₩7,000
• All coffee menu items can be switched to decaf for +₩500 ★

The old TV set and vintage props on display

There's an old-school CRT TV by the entrance that brought back memories, and honestly the fuzzy picture quality only added to the retro charm~ Overall the space has a slightly dim atmosphere with soft lighting, which was really appealing and made it a great spot to sit and chat away quietly — recommended bb. The display case right in front of the counter makes browsing feel like exploring a vintage prop shop, which was surprisingly fun, so if you're into cute retro-style props, it's worth a visit for that alone. If you're looking for a good café near Suwon Station, keep this in mind, and go enjoy a variety of desserts at Hongrad, a retro dabang with New York vibes, haha.