Sokcho café after the Seoraksan cable car: Neorae tea at Cafe Neorae

A big Sokcho café near Seoraksan with an Ulsanbawi view, perfect for a date: Cafe Neorae (카페너래). Writing and photos © Kim Jigu

A Sokcho café to visit after the Seoraksan cable car

My husband and I had just come back from the Seoraksan cable car, which turned out to have no air conditioning, so we decided we needed a coffee transfusion right away and started looking for a café near Seoraksan in Sokcho. Since it was a stop during a trip, I didn't want just any café, and being near Seoraksan, I wanted one with a good view.

While searching, I found a big Seoraksan café where you can see Ulsanbawi rock, and we went. It was much better than I expected, so I'm going to leave a review right away.

Cafe Neorae location and parking

Cafe Neorae, a hot Seoraksan-area café in Sokcho, is at 114 Wonamhaksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon, on the 2nd floor.

On the first floor is a well-known restaurant called Yetgoeul Sundubu (soft tofu), and the café has glass-wall views on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

You can park in front of the café, which seems convenient, but at peak season hours I think the spots might get a bit tight.

• Daily 09:00-18:00
• Last order 17:30

Inside Cafe Neorae

At big cafés, I've never seen one where the ordering floor feels like the main attraction. But Cafe Neorae is famous for its view, and the moment I walked in I gasped. The scenery through the open glass walls was honestly like art.

Even the first floor, where you order, is roomy enough for groups and has plenty of seats. Wherever you sit at Cafe Neorae, you get a view feast.

They say there's usually a big bakery selection, but when I visited it was peak season and right after mealtime, so maybe everyone had come at once, and there weren't many pastries to choose from. Anyway! Choosing a pastry, ordering drinks, and even getting the pastry warmed up were all possible on the same floor.

Better Ulsanbawi views on the upper floors

The first floor is already art, but it gets even more amazing as you go up. I could see why it's known on social media as a hot spot for blind dates and dates, because it felt less like a café and more like an exhibition hall.

Every seat has a view and the mood is so good that I actually struggled to decide where to sit. On the very top floor, turning left was where most people gathered, while turning right was a bit more private. I chose the more private, quieter side.

First floor: men's restroom. Second floor: women's restroom. They're also well maintained, so you can use them without worry.

Honest review of the Neorae Latte and Neorae tea

I ordered both the Neorae Latte and the Neorae tea iced. I was going to get an iced Americano, but both seemed like signature best-sellers, so it was hard not to pick them, haha. People around us were ordering the Neorae Latte and Neorae tea a lot, and following them worked out well.

First, the Neorae Latte: the peanut aroma and flavor were strong. If you like nutty richness, you'll probably love it. But it has thick cream on top like an Einspänner, so if you don't like sweet things, you might not enjoy it.

I ordered the Neorae tea because I heard it helps with dieting and it sounded interesting. It tasted like tea steeped from peanuts. A bit like sesame oil? It had a subtle aroma too. At first it felt strange and unfamiliar, but as I drank it, it was mild and nutty, and I liked it.

Why Cafe Neorae works for dates and solo work

I think the biggest reason it's famous as a Seoraksan café in Sokcho is that the glass-wall views show Ulsanbawi from practically any seat. Wherever you sit, it's probably a popular, comfortable, good spot.

Cafe Neorae has good taste, but the atmosphere is truly great. I kept thinking how well it would suit a blind date or date course nearby. There are quite a lot of seats with outlets too. Even if you're not on a date with a partner, it's a good place to come for solo work, so I really recommend a visit.