Songjeong traditional tea café in Busan: Suwolgyeonghwa

A café by the Songjeong sea, beginning with moonlight and wave sounds

I visited Suwolgyeonghwa because I wanted to enjoy tea and traditional desserts in a slightly different setting while looking out at the Songjeong sea.

It is right in front of Songjeong Beach, so it was easy to stop by after seeing the sea. Its mood is clearly different from that of a typical ocean-view café, which is why I had been curious about it for a while.

Even the way up the stairs was quite impressive. Round moon-shaped lights seemed to float between dark concrete walls, while a soft blue glow spread through the space, making it feel as if I were walking along the night sea. Gentle wave sounds played through the audio as well, so rather than being simply stairs leading to a café, it felt like a space designed to let you experience Suwolgyeonghwa’s atmosphere in advance. The sea-and-moon staging continued from the stairs, so I was already looking forward to going inside haha.

Songjeong sea views that change from seat to seat on the second and fourth floors

We first went in and found a seat on the second floor. Exposed concrete walls and ceilings were paired with warm indirect lighting, creating an overall calm and atmospheric mood. The aged-looking wooden furniture and hanok-inspired lattice windows

were joined by low floor tables, giving traditional elements a modern interpretation. There were seats where the Songjeong sea appeared like a picture through a small window, too,

while the large windows offered an open view down to the sea, so every seat had a slightly different atmosphere to enjoy.

If it’s your first visit, check the fourth-floor ordering area first

We went straight into the third floor at first and sat there for quite a while, only to realize that ordering had to be done on the fourth floor haha. The entrance sign explained it like this, but we had walked right past without noticing it.

If you are visiting for the first time, it would be a good idea to check where to order before choosing a seat.

When we came up to the fourth floor, it had another distinct mood from the third. There was a high wooden ceiling and thick pillars,

and the warm lighting made it feel even cozier.

Songjeong Beach spread out in full view. Along with the rolling sea, we could see the Beach Train tracks below and even watch trains pass by. The window-side seats especially caught my eye because they offered such a perfect Songjeong scene. It was a truly lovely view for a cup of tea by the sea.

The Dalbodeure box, Lemon Sunset Tea, and Rui Bam

We ordered the Dalbodeure box, Lemon Sunset Tea, and Rui Bam. Served together as one set, they looked pretty in color and suited Suwolgyeonghwa’s distinctive atmosphere so well.

Lemon Sunset Tea first drew my eye with its red color. It had a fresh fragrance and a bright flavor, making it nice to drink alongside sweet desserts. Taking sips in between made my mouth feel refreshed, so it paired well with tasting several different treats little by little.

Rui Bam was a drink topped generously with soft cream, with the nutty, sweet flavor distinctive to chestnuts. The cream was fluffy and smooth, giving it an overall comforting feel. If you enjoy sweet drinks, it seems like a nice one to savor slowly.

The Dalbodeure box, Suwolgyeonghwa’s signature dessert assortment, was fun to look at from the moment I opened the box. Since it lets you try several kinds of traditional sweets at once, it was great to have with tea.

The gamtae myeongran financier had the savory saltiness of gamtae seaweed and pollack roe, and the sweet-and-salty combination was memorable.

The whole-red-bean ang butter monaka combined the nutty sweetness of red bean and butter with a pleasantly chewy texture.

The ganache monaka had the sweetness of smooth white-chocolate ganache, which went extremely well with the crisp monaka wafer.

The black-rice sulppang, a lightly fermented steamed bread, was moist yet mild, so it was easy to enjoy without feeling heavy among the other treats.

The injeolmi skewers had the familiar nutty flavor of soybean powder and the chewy texture of rice cake.

A tea selection where you can see the leaves before choosing

In keeping with Suwolgyeonghwa’s atmosphere, one side displayed many kinds of tea so visitors could see the leaves themselves and compare the aromas. There were teas with distinctive names such as Jeju Breeze, Chamomile Elixir, Mint Shock, Black Moon Hojicha, and Rui Elju. The ingredients and aromas of each were written out as well, making it easy to choose according to your taste. It was more fun than simply looking at a menu because I could see the colors of the tea leaves and ingredients with my own eyes. This tea curation added even more of Suwolgyeonghwa’s own character to the traditional setting, and being able to enjoy traditional ingredients in a slightly different way felt like part of its charm.

It was a nice place to stop by when I wanted to rest quietly while looking at the Songjeong sea, and the space itself had plenty to explore, offering a mood unlike a typical ocean-view café. There are many ocean-view cafés in Songjeong, but Suwolgyeonghwa felt a little more distinctive because you can enjoy a traditional atmosphere along with tea and desserts. If you would like to relax at an unhurried pace by the sea or are looking for a café with a new atmosphere that feels different from the usual, I think it would be worth visiting at least once.