Seoraksan-view café in Sokcho: roasted soybean pulp tea, Cafe Neorae

Two things you always have to figure out on a Sokcho trip: where to eat and where to get coffee. Sokcho makes you think of the sea first, but I've already hit up plenty of ocean-view cafés, so this time I went for something different — a large Sokcho café where you can drink your coffee with a view of Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi rock instead: Cafe Neorae. I'd seen reviews raving about the view, and honestly, the café was even bigger than I expected and the view was no joke.

Where is Cafe Neorae in Sokcho, and when is it open?

Cafe Neorae is a large café at 114 Wonam-haksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, 2F, near the Haksapyeong sundubu (soft tofu) village. It's open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 (last order 17:30), and closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.

The space is spread across the 2nd and 3rd floors, with a rooftop area up top that's great for enjoying the Ulsanbawi scenery! The huge floor-to-ceiling windows are the real highlight — even sitting inside, you get an open, sweeping view of Seoraksan. And apparently 'neorae' is Gangwon-do dialect for a wide, big rock — a perfect name for a café looking straight at Ulsanbawi.

What we ordered at Cafe Neorae, plus the bakery selection

We ordered three things at Cafe Neorae: Neorae Latte, Americano, and Neorae Tea!

Honestly, Cafe Neorae was also packed with delicious-looking baked goods, but we'd already eaten so we skipped them this time. If you come back with more time to spare, the bakery is a must!

Being a proper bakery café, Cafe Neorae even has a station set up so you can warm up your bread.

What is the Ulsanbawi view like from Cafe Neorae's 3rd-floor windows?

Honestly, the best part of Cafe Neorae was the space and the view, hands down!

The 2nd floor is already spacious, but head up to the 3rd floor and Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi rock spread out beyond the massive windows — a totally different kind of charm from the sea views you usually think of in Sokcho.

On a nice-weather day, I feel like you could just stare out the window and skip the coffee entirely. The seating is well-spaced too, with plenty of room to sit comfortably, so it works for dates, family visits, or groups. Parking is available too, which makes it a great stop for a Sokcho trip by car.

Back to the menu! What we ordered: Neorae Latte, Americano, Neorae Tea. If you're at Cafe Neorae, you've got to try the signature drinks.

What does Neorae Tea, made from roasted soybean pulp, taste like?

Neorae Tea is Cafe Neorae's own tea made using roasted soybean pulp (biji) — nutty and clean-tasting. This was actually the menu item I was most curious about, and if you're looking for something that isn't coffee but is still uniquely Cafe Neorae, I highly recommend it.

Neorae Tea is another menu item that captures the local character — recent visitor reviews describe it too as brewed from roasted soybean pulp. It's a good pick when you're visiting with people who don't drink coffee, and especially nice served hot in weather like this. For me it was nutty, clean, and exactly my taste.

How should you drink Cafe Neorae's signature Neorae Latte?

The Neorae Latte is a latte topped with cream made from soybean pulp, reflecting the character of Haksapyeong Kongkkot Village where Cafe Neorae is located — and you're supposed to drink the cream and coffee together without stirring. Just an ordinary sweet cream latte? Nope.

Coffee with soybean pulp?! might sound odd, but it's soft cream with the distinctive nuttiness of biji added in, giving it a different feel from your typical sweet cream latte. Don't mix it — just sip so the cream and coffee come in together. One sip, and you get the soft cream, the coffee, and the nutty flavor of the soybean pulp all at once.

Is Cafe Neorae worth adding to your Sokcho itinerary?

Picking through Cafe Neorae's signature Neorae Latte, plus Americano and Neorae Tea, while relaxing in that spacious layout — it was such a nice break. If you're heading toward Seoraksan or planning to eat near the Haksapyeong sundubu village, I'd definitely recommend working this into your route!

If you're looking for a café in Sokcho, skip the sea after your meal and heal with the Ulsanbawi view instead!