Suwon Station café with matcha einspänner and hot milk tea: Hongrad

Some cafés you visit once and never go back, but others you find yourself returning to whenever the craving hits. For my husband and me, Hongrad is one of those places. From the Haenggung main branch to the Suwon Station branch, Suwon City Hall Station branch, Mangpo Station branch, and Yeongtong Station branch, they're scattered all over Suwon, so we often drop in whenever we're passing by and thinking of it. We've been so many times on our own dime that we've lost count, and this time we made our way back to Hongrad Suwon Station Branch after a while.

If you're near Suwon Station looking for a café with a good atmosphere, I hope this return-visit review helps.

Where Hongrad Suwon Station Branch is and when it opens

Hongrad Suwon Station Branch sits just behind the Suwon Tax Office.

• Address: 61-1 Hyanggyo-ro, 2nd floor, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• About 675m from Exit 8 of Suwon Station (Suin-Bundang Line), so you can walk over
• Hours: Daily 12:00–23:00

It's also a convenient stop after browsing the department stores or the Rodeo Street area near Suwon Station.

Parking near Hongrad Suwon Station Branch

Hongrad Suwon Station Branch has no parking of its own. We drove this time and parked at the former Gyeonggi Provincial Office public parking lot before walking over. It's about a 10-minute walk from there to the café, and it's free on both weekdays and weekends.

There are also paid private lots nearby like Arirang Parking, Gyeonggi Parking, and Samsung Parking, but they charge a fee, so keep that in mind. Honestly, taking public transit to Suwon Station and walking over is the easier option.

The vintage interior that surprises you at the door

Hongrad looks different once you step inside compared to the outside. Inside, there's a vintage feel that also reminded us a bit of an American café, so it's fun just to look around.

The base is black and white, but cute little props are placed all around, so it doesn't feel like a purely minimal café — there's always something to look at.

There's a variety of table setups too. My husband and I always go for the couch seats whenever we come to Hongrad.

The couches are comfortable enough to sit in for a long time, and there are outlet seats too, so it looks like a good spot to use a laptop or study at the café. Some people come alone and use the solo seats, there are cozy spots for couples, and group tables that seat up to 6, so it works well for meetups too.

They even have blankets ready along with other little amenities, and I really liked that thoughtful touch.

What we ordered at Hongrad: toast, matcha einspänner and milk tea

That day we ordered three things: Hongrad toast (₩7,000), Bear Matcha Einspänner (₩7,000), and milk tea (₩6,000).

The drinks at Hongrad are cute, but the desserts are genuinely delicious, so I end up ordering something extra every time I come. This time too, it felt like a waste to just get drinks, so I picked the Hongrad toast.

Ice cream and red bean were piled generously on top of the toast, and it looked delicious just looking at it.

The cool, sweet ice cream paired with the red bean matched really well when eaten together with the toast.

My husband especially loves sweet desserts like this, so he happily ate away, saying it was delicious.

It was just the right size for two people to share, so it was nice to order one dessert alongside coffee or a drink and just chat for a while.

Bear Matcha Einspänner, 7,000 won

My husband usually orders an Einspänner or a matcha Einspänner whenever we come to Hongrad. This time he picked the Bear Matcha Einspänner. The fun part of this drink is definitely the cute little bear drawn on top. The drink itself is already pretty, but with the bear on top, you can't help but take a photo. The slightly bitter matcha and the soft cream blended together nicely, and it went well with the sweet dessert too. Hongrad has these cute menu items, which makes taking photos part of the fun.

Hot milk tea, 6,000 won

I ordered the hot milk tea this time. It had a soft, creamy feel, good for sipping slowly. It paired well with the sweet Hongrad toast too. Hongrad also has a decaf option, which is nice for anyone visiting late and wanting to avoid caffeine.

Small touches that make Hongrad fun

Every time I visit Hongrad, I notice how many small things there are to look at throughout the café.

They sell cute little items too, and even the restroom is decorated with a hip vibe unlike most typical cafés, so it's fun just to look around.

You can also get a cute badge through a Naver review event, and they say they keep amenities like feminine hygiene products and bandages on hand.

One reason I keep coming back to Hongrad is the stamp event. Hongrad stamps can be collected across all branches, and once you collect 10, you get a free drink regardless of price. Since there are several branches around Suwon, it's kind of fun to stop by whenever I'm nearby and add to my stamp count.

On weekdays, they also run a 50% discount on reordered drinks when you order 1 drink per person. It applies to all drinks and is limited to weekdays, excluding public holidays, so it's worth knowing if you plan to stay a while. Laptop use and studying at the café are welcomed, and the wifi is fast, making it a comfortable space to spend time in.

Is Hongrad worth it for a café near Suwon Station?

We've already been to Hongrad many times, so we came back this time without much thought, and as always, the atmosphere was great. Sitting on the comfortable couch, eating delicious desserts and drinks while chatting was nice, and the cute menu items and props made it fun to look around each time. It's a good fit for anyone grabbing a meal near Suwon Station and looking for a café afterward, or anyone wanting a relaxed spot after browsing the department stores or Rodeo Street.

It's good for working alone on a laptop, fine for a date with a partner, and nice for catching up with friends too. Since we love Hongrad, hopping between branches like we do is fun in its own right. To me, Hongrad isn't the kind of café you visit once and forget — it's more of a go-to Suwon Station café I keep coming back to whenever the craving hits. Next time, I should visit another branch I haven't been to in a while :)