Hongdae coffee shop with rooftop seats and tiramisu: Central Site

Hello! Wait, this is the place. Walking around Yeonnam-dong, there's a spot that kept catching my eye. A calm space and a coffee bar visible through the big window.

This time I didn't just walk past — I went into Central Site Yeonnam. If you're looking for good food in Hongdae and a Yeonnam-dong café to stop by afterward, this is a good place to slow down and enjoy coffee.

Where Central Site Yeonnam is and how it looks inside

Central Site Yeonnam sits right along a Yeonnam-dong street, right on the sidewalk, so it wasn't hard to find. What caught my eye most was the huge picture window.

Even from outside, you could feel the neat, tidy atmosphere specific to a coffee specialty shop. Once inside, it felt even calmer. Rather than flashy, it felt like a space focused on coffee.

Choosing single-origin beans by smelling them first

At Central Site Yeonnam, you don't just pick coffee off a menu. There's a row of single-origin beans lined up neatly on one side, and you can smell each one before choosing.

The first thing that caught my eye at Central Site Yeonnam was the row of single-origin beans lined up neatly on one side. It wasn't just picking coffee from a menu.

I got to smell each bean directly. When I told the staff what kind of coffee I like, they carefully explained the aroma and nuance of each bean. Even without knowing much about coffee, you could pick one just by talking about your taste — the process itself was pretty fun. There are a lot of cafés in Yeonnam-dong, but taking the time to explore the aroma first like this was a slightly different experience.

Two hand-drip cups brewed in front of the bar seats

The two hand-drips I picked that day were 2021 COE #5 Awarded Lot and Entre Volcanes. I took a seat right at the bar, so I could watch the coffee being made up close.

I picked two hand-drips that day. 2021 COE #5 Awarded Lot Entre Volcanes

And I took a bar seat. Sitting here, I could watch the whole process of the coffee being made right in front of me.

From the dry aroma of the ground beans, to the scent that slowly rises the moment water touches them, to the aroma once it's finished brewing and poured into the cup.

Even with the same beans, the aroma changed moment to moment. Watching that process together stayed with me longer than drinking the coffee itself.

Why the acidity never felt too sharp

I'm usually not someone who enjoys coffee with strong acidity. So at first I was a bit cautious. But instead of a sharp sourness, rich aroma carried through. It wasn't overwhelming, yet each coffee's notes still came through clearly.

And one small detail — the iced coffee comes with large, dense ice cubes. Even while sipping slowly, it didn't water down easily, so the coffee flavor didn't fade much even toward the end. As someone who drinks coffee over a long time, I really liked this.

Tiramisu alongside the coffee

The menu item that surprisingly stuck with me longest that day was Central Site Yeonnam's tiramisu. One spoonful in, the cream was incredibly soft.

Rather than sweetness hitting first, it melted gently, and the sponge layer carried a strong espresso aroma. If it had been just plain sweet, I would've stopped after a bite or two, but switching between it and the coffee, the combination worked really well. If I come back to Central Site Yeonnam, I think I'd pick the tiramisu with coffee again.

If you're looking for good food in Hongdae and walked all the way to Yeonnam-dong, this would also be great as a dessert course after your meal.

Taking the coffee up to the Central Site Yeonnam rooftop

Since the weather was nice, I took my coffee up to Central Site Yeonnam's rooftop. The view opened up wide and the breeze was cool — this turned out to be a great choice.

The table spacing and layout matched the mood of the space well, too.

I just sat there for a while with a cup of coffee, and the particular ease of Yeonnam-dong felt a little closer. A day when I wanted to rest slowly rather than deal with Hongdae's bustle — that day, the time spent on the rooftop was as good as the coffee itself.

Hours and parking near Hongik Univ. Station

• Hours 08:00-22:00
• Distance from station: about 450m from Exit 3, Hongik Univ. Station
• Parking: private parking lot 1-2 minutes on foot

Final thoughts on the visit

• One-line summary — A café that was good from the moment you smell the beans.
• First impression — The picture window and calm coffee bar caught my eye first.
• Most memorable moment — The cool breeze on the rooftop with coffee in hand.
• Would I go back? — I'd like to pick different beans and sip slowly again.
• Recommended for — Anyone who loves hand-drip coffee or wants a quiet café to stay in Yeonnam-dong.

A day that went from good food in Hongdae to a Yeonnam-dong café. A delicious cup of coffee became the final course.

Today too, I stayed in a good place for a while. Wait, this was the place.