Seongsu café for lemon shiso mugwort tea, solo by the window: T Coffee

I was looking for somewhere to rest for a bit in Seongsu when I ended up at T Coffee.😌 What caught my eye was the unusual drink menu — I wanted to try something different from the usual options, and the vibe looked nice too. Since I was going solo, I wanted a café that wasn't too loud or too date-and-friend-group oriented, somewhere I could just relax without pressure.

A basement floor that still gets sunlight

The café is on the basement level, but it doesn't feel like a basement at all — it's bright and gets plenty of natural light. The whole building had a big gallery kind of feel, so the café inside carried that same calm mood.😌 Once you step in, there's a wall of windows looking out onto greenery, plus a variety of tables.🍃 Each table has a slightly different mood and layout, so it was easy to find a spot and settle in for a while.

This is the overall look of the space. Along the hallway, Pizza Slice and T Coffee sit on either side. Both shops flow into a similar mood, so it was easy to wander back and forth between them. I relaxed with tea at T Coffee, and once I got hungry, grabbed a simple meal at Pizza Slice.🍴

Seating vibe and outlets

Behind the counter and bar there were more seats to choose from. There were table spots with outlets too, so it looked good for getting work done.👩‍💻

This table had a soft flame lamp on it, giving it a quietly atmospheric feel. It looked like a great spot for a couple to sit and take their time together.

There's the front area facing the floor-to-ceiling windows, and another space set back from them for a more relaxed feel. There were quite a few foreign visitors too, and with such varied seating, some people were chatting with partners or friends while others worked solo!

The menu

Mint latte, lemon ginger sparkling, lemon shiso mugwort tea — the unfamiliar drink names made things feel fresh.🍃

There was a special hand-drip coffee called Ethiopia Guji Gogugu Natural! It's said to be sweet and fruit-forward, with notes of grape, tropical fruit, and peach.☕️🍇 That's one I'd like to try next time.🫠

There were desserts on offer too.🤍 They had a calm, tidy look that fit the café's mood well.

Water was also set out separately, which made things convenient.

Since I was there alone, I picked a quiet spot to sit and sip my tea. It's also a great photo spot for capturing the window view.🌿📸

So how does the lemon shiso mugwort tea taste?

What I ordered was the 'lemon shiso mugwort tea.'🍋🍵 I wanted a tea, and having grown a bit tired of the usual tea options, I tried this one since it looked different!🙂 The bright lemon and the gentle flavor of mugwort tea came together without anything sharp or overpowering — easy and pleasant to drink. I was a little worried going into an unfamiliar combination, but the mugwort aroma turned out to be milder than expected, and the lemon's freshness blended in subtly. The more I drank, the cleaner it tasted. It was my first time trying this menu and I was really satisfied — it was nice to experience a new kind of tea.😌🤍

It was a nice place to step away from the familiar and enjoy something different in a relaxed space in the middle of the city. Sipping tea slowly by the window with the greenery in view, I felt like I'd escaped the busy energy of Seongsu for a little while, even if just briefly.ㅎ

Visit info

• 📍 159 Achasan-ro, B1, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (6-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 2)
• 🕖 Weekdays 9:00-20:00 / Weekends 11:00-20:00 (coffee last order 19:00)
• ✨ Takeout, wifi, separate men's/women's restrooms, group-friendly