Haenggung-dong café with a rooftop: Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters

A café you have to visit if you come to Suwon, and a café you have to visit if you come to Haenggung-dong—the start of Haengridan-gil. I recommend Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters (정지영커피로스터즈).

How was the coconut coffee?

The issue was that I couldn't take photos at Jeong Ji-young, so... let me substitute these.... First of all, people say the coconut coffee is famous, but personally, it wasn't my taste...!! It kind of felt like drinking dalgona coffee. They put coffee cream on top of milk, and you have to mix it all together, but even mixing it took a while, and I was like, do I really need this??

They say the coffee beans at Jeong Ji-young are delicious, so I think I'd rather have another kind of coffee! It is such a famous coffee shop in Suwon's Haenggung-dong, and the place was huge too. I stopped by Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters while I was there for the Hwaseong Starlight Festival in Haenggung-dong, and unlike the café's name, the vibe was incredibly hip. Since Jeong Ji-young sounds like a person's name—and it was similar to my professor's name—I thought it might be an old-fashioned coffee spot only older neighborhood residents went to! But there were lots of people in their 20s and 30s, and it felt very trendy!

A different space on every floor, plus a rooftop

It was also impressive that every floor had a different atmosphere. There were seats that were great for quiet conversation, as well as spaces comfortable for using a laptop alone or reading a book. Above all, I think the rooftop would make for an even more special time on a nice day. Drinking coffee while looking out over Haenggung-dong's distinctive, atmospheric scenery is this place's real strength.

The staff were kind, so even first-time visitors could use the café comfortably. Ordering was fairly quick too, so I did not have to wait long even during busy hours, and the place was kept very clean, which made the overall experience highly satisfying.

There are so many pretty cafés in Suwon, but if you are looking for one that satisfies both in coffee and atmosphere, Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch is definitely worth recommending. It also fits neatly into an itinerary that includes Hwaseong Haenggung Palace and Haengridan-gil because the route is so convenient. This was a Haenggung-dong café in Suwon that I recommend to anyone wanting to spend a relaxed moment with delicious specialty coffee in an atmospheric space.

A Haenggung-dong café that uses the whole building

The café uses the entire building, making it much larger than a typical café. You order in the basement, then choose a space on whichever floor suits your style. In particular, the window seats give you a full view of Haenggung-dong street, and taking in the scenery over coffee felt wonderfully unhurried. The wood-toned interior and warm lighting worked beautifully together, creating a setting where photos came out naturally pretty too.

House-roasted beans and the coffee

I think Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters' biggest draw is, of course, its house-roasted beans. From the moment you enter, the savory aroma of coffee beans gently fills the café, and I think anyone who loves coffee would find it lovely. The coffee I ordered was richly aromatic with a clean finish, and the acidity was not excessive, so it was easy to enjoy. Even for me, someone who usually likes strong coffee, it was satisfying; I could really taste the flavor of the beans with every sip.

The signature coconut coffee

If you come here, I recommend trying the signature coconut coffee that so many people suggest at least once. I worried that it might be overly sweet because it was coconut, but it worked with the coffee better than expected and was smooth to drink. Coconut's subtle aroma blended nicely with the coffee, giving it a charm different from an ordinary latte. If you usually enjoy trying new menu items, I think you will be very satisfied.