Spring Sokcho café with cloudy Ulsanbawi view: Neorae Tea, Cafe Neorae

Sokcho isn't just about the sea; the mountain scenery is great too. Seoraksan especially, and Ulsanbawi (Ulsan Rock) in particular is absolutely breathtaking if you find the right spot. The spot I found was Cafe Neorae (카페너래), where even the bread was delicious!

What is Cafe Neorae like?

Cafe Neorae is a big café with a lovely atmosphere on Sokcho's tofu village street, and if you go up to the 3rd floor, wide floor-to-ceiling windows give you a view of Ulsanbawi. Hunting for good cafés on trips has become a kind of culture these days. Wherever we wander, we end up looking for a café with a great view or a special vibe.

And Neorae is a place where, up on the 3rd floor, wide windows open onto Ulsanbawi. It's on the tofu village street.

A great atmosphere you'd visit often if you lived nearby

Even the space you see right as you walk in has a gorgeous view. If I were a Sokcho local, I'd totally be here all the time. It's good for a little me-time with a book, and just as perfect for coming with friends and chatting away.

Spring makes it even better. Summer will bring a different view, I'm sure. I bet each season has its own scenery and mood, so I'm curious how it looks all year round.

How are the bread and cakes at Cafe Neorae?

Cafe Neorae has a wide range of bakery items, from the basic bread line to cake slices and Basque cheesecake. And the bread is good too!

On top of that, the bakery selection is varied. Bread is always right, as they say.

You could tell at a glance that the quality of each bread was impressive. If you like plain flavors there's the basic bread, but there were also all kinds of lines that looked like they took serious skill,

and there are plenty of cake slices too, so choosing is hard. I want to eat them all. Greed is boiling over. Looking again, the Basque cheesecake caught my eye too. I have no idea why I crave bread so much lately, but then, "lately" has been going on for a long time... haha

What drinks are on the menu at Cafe Neorae?

Drinks at Cafe Neorae range from coffee and tea to smoothies that kids love, and the signature drinks made with ingredients from Sokcho stand out. Neorae Latte and Neorae Pudding are signatures too.

There's a wide variety to drink, from coffee to smoothies that kids love. What caught my eye were the signature drinks using ingredients from Sokcho. There's Neorae Latte and Neorae Pudding too, but I was curious about Neorae Tea, so I ordered that.

The self-service bar is neatly set up. It was very clean, and I liked how hygienic it felt.

Photo zone and interior of Cafe Neorae

Cafe Neorae has a separate photo zone in one corner, and with windows all the way up to the ceiling, the whole space is great for photos. The photo zone is there for people who are serious about photos.

I took one here too.

Honestly, though, every corner of the café is so pretty that the whole place is a photo zone. The ceiling has windows too, so it must look stunning even in the rain. When it rains... wow... just thinking about it makes my heart pound.

Can you see Ulsanbawi on a cloudy day?

Even on a day with some clouds, Ulsanbawi was visible far away through the windows of Cafe Neorae. It wasn't crisp, but the clouds added atmosphere.

Ulsanbawi is visible far in the distance. It was a bit cloudy so it wasn't clear, but that's actually fine. The clouds add charm and give it a mysterious feel.

We found a seat and sat down too. The mood was perfect for a cozy chat. With warm tea and toasty bread, it was also just right for a brunch break.

How do the real strawberry latte and Neorae Tea taste?

The real strawberry latte at Cafe Neorae was sweet and full of real strawberries, and Neorae Tea, made from stir-fried soybean pulp, was mildly nutty. It was easy to drink even right after a meal.

My boyfriend had the real strawberry latte, and it was packed with real strawberries, so his mouth was full of sweetness. The generous foam on top added a soft texture, and with the strawberry bits coming along, the varied textures and fresh flavor put him in a spring mood.

And the Neorae Tea I ordered is made from stir-fried soybean pulp, with a subtle nuttiness that I felt I could drink all day without getting tired of it. Since I came for tea right after a meal, I wanted a drink that wasn't too heavy, and this seemed good for the body while warming my body and mouth, and the tiredness from all the walking just melted away. This is why tea time matters on a trip.