Gangnam café for late-night laptop work and decaf: Selected Nicks

When I have plans in Gangnam or need to bring my laptop and work at a café, choosing one is surprisingly difficult. It is such a crowded area that I end up looking for somewhere with plenty of seats where I can stay comfortably for a while. Selected Nicks (셀렉티드닉스), the large Gangnam café I visited this time, is about five minutes from Gangnam Station, so I would recommend it to anyone looking for a place to study at a café or meet up.

A large café close to Gangnam Station

Selected Nicks is about a five-minute walk from Gangnam Station, so it is easy to get to. Rather than being a typical single-floor café, its space is divided across several levels.

B1 is a café space with 30 seats, the first floor is the main café space with 45 seats, the second floor is a café and gallery with 10 seats, and the eighth floor is a café space with 30 seats. There is also a rooftop at the very top.

There are quite a lot of seats overall, so it looked like a good option for visiting with several friends or when you need a café in Gangnam for a large group. Another advantage is that it stays open late: 8 AM to midnight on weekdays, and 11 AM to 11:30 PM on weekends.

Working on a laptop at a Gangnam rooftop

This time, I ordered drinks and desserts, then used the rooftop. It was autumn and the weather was getting cool, with a gentle breeze blowing. Working on my laptop while looking at the open sky in the middle of Gangnam was honestly much nicer than I expected.

It felt different from continuously working inside a café. If you are looking for a good Gangnam café for using a laptop or a place to study at a café, I would personally recommend it. With plenty of seating, it is nice for studying or working alone, and it does not feel awkward to visit with several people either.

So I think it would suit anyone who wants to study or work in a more relaxed atmosphere than a typical Gangnam study café. Being able to use the rooftop also makes it a decent choice for anyone looking for a pretty café near Gangnam Station.

Classic tiramisu and decaf Americano

I ordered a decaf iced Americano, classic tiramisu, and a financier. Drinking coffee late makes me feel a little burdened, so I chose decaf, and the iced Americano itself was clean and tasty.

The menu item I had been looking forward to most at Selected Nicks was the classic tiramisu. Selected Nicks says it makes its tiramisu by adding its own recipe to an authentic Italian recipe using fresh eggs and cheese.

After actually trying it, what I liked was that it was not overly sweet. When tiramisu is too sweet, it can get tiring after just a few bites, but this one was soft with a pleasantly chewy texture, and its mild sweetness kept me reaching for more.

It paired well with coffee, too. The financier was also a dessert that went nicely with an Americano, so it was pleasant to take my time over it alongside the tiramisu.

Check your vehicle before using the parking

If you are visiting by car, it is best to check which vehicles can park beforehand. The on-site lot is available for sedans up to the size of a Genesis G80, and it is free for café guests. Search for 827-83 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and once you arrive, ask a first-floor staff member in front of the barrier. SUVs, large sedans, and tall vehicles cannot easily use the on-site lot. In that case, you will need to use nearby paid parking.

Sisa Building Parking is at 28 Teheran-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and costs ₩1,000 per 10 minutes. J’s Tower Parking is at 16 Gangnam-daero 84-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul; it costs ₩2,000 per 10 minutes for stays of 60 minutes or less, and ₩1,000 per 10 minutes for stays over 60 minutes. Parking rates may change on site, so I recommend checking again before visiting.

If you are looking for a café to stay in Gangnam

There are so many cafés near Gangnam Station, but it is not as easy as you might think to find one with plenty of seats, comfortable laptop working space, and good desserts all at once. Selected Nicks is a large Gangnam café spread over several floors, so the space feels roomy, and I especially liked that it also has a rooftop.

My favorite part was the time I spent working on the rooftop in the autumn breeze. I recommend it not only to anyone looking for a place to study alone at a café, but also to people wanting somewhere to chat leisurely with friends or a Gangnam Station café that can fit a group.

Above all, the classic tiramisu was not too sweet and went well with coffee, so I think I would order the tiramisu again on my next visit.