Gangneung hanok café with a tiramisu roll cake: Cafe Giwa

On this trip to Gangneung, instead of the usual ocean view spot, I went to a café whose whole vibe is built around a peaceful hanok and a green garden.

Why we went to Cafe Giwa in Chodang-dong

I wanted to get away from the busy downtown and enjoy a cup of coffee somewhere quiet and calm. After reading reviews about the spacious garden and distinctive signature menu, I went straight to Cafe Giwa in Chodang-dong, Gangneung, without a second thought.

• Address: 15 Chodangwon-gil 54beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Hours: 10:00–21:00 (last order 20:30)

Is parking easy at Cafe Giwa?

Cafe Giwa has a very spacious dedicated parking lot right in front of the café. Parking was what worried me most before visiting, but as the photos show, there was plenty of room, so I could park comfortably without any stress.

After parking and walking a little way into the alley, the atmosphere suddenly shifted, and a peaceful tiled-roof hanok with a lush green garden unfolded like a scene from a cartoon. The first impression alone was pure healing!!!!

Hanok interior with exposed rafters and garden views

Cafe Giwa's charm is the interior, which keeps the hanok's rafters and wooden pillars fully exposed. I think that's the real kick of this café. The clear sky outside and the smell of the garden's greenery come straight through the windows, so just sitting by the window looking out was healing enough on its own.

It felt much more like a relaxed, pleasant retreat where you could step away from daily life and quietly catch your breath. In a calm atmosphere free of any bustle, it was a great place to enjoy a rare moment of real healing and just stay a while comfortably. Isn't this exactly the kind of happiness travel gives you?

What we ordered: Giwa Black, pink flower latte, Americano and tiramisu roll cake

Looking at the menu, Cafe Giwa's own signature drinks caught my eye. The signature menu really lived up to the café's name, and we ordered the signature 'Giwa Black' and 'pink strawberry latte' topped with black sesame cream, plus a clean, classic Americano.

Roof-tile-shaped desserts in the showcase

While browsing the showcase to the side, I noticed the desserts were cutely shaped like 'giwa' roof tile houses, fitting the café's name perfectly. It was such a clever touch, but since I love tiramisu, I added a tiramisu roll cake to my order as an extra dessert.

What does the black sesame Giwa Black taste like?

Not long after we sat down, our order arrived, and the Giwa Black's color is noticeably different from a regular café latte, isn't it?

There's a rich coffee base at the bottom, topped generously with heavy, nutty black sesame cream, so the layers were beautifully divided.

As instructed, I first drank the cream and coffee together from the top, then stirred it lightly and drank it again — the intense nuttiness of the black sesame and the coffee's bitterness balanced perfectly. If you love black sesame, you'll be absolutely obsessed. The Americano was also rich and clean, a perfect match with the sweet dessert.

Pink flower latte: strawberry and coffee together

This drink combines sweet, smooth strawberry milk with Dutch coffee. Honestly, at first I wondered whether strawberry and coffee could even work together — but once I tried it, the Dutch coffee's clean, subtle aroma pleasantly tamed the sweetness of the strawberry milk, and the balance was great.

Who should visit Cafe Giwa in Gangneung

The overall atmosphere was old-fashioned and warm, and just being there felt healing. Thanks to the space's particular warmth and comfort, we lost track of time chatting away happily for ages. It was a cozy, hideout-like café that put my mind at ease.

Among hanok cafés in Gangneung, it's rare to find one with a garden this well kept and a menu concept this clear. Being able to enjoy the charm of a peaceful hanok while having great coffee and quirky roof-shaped desserts made for a time that satisfied both eyes and taste buds. For anyone tired of big oceanfront cafés, this place was a perfect oasis.