Songjeong tea café: leaf-filter tea and dessert box at Suwolgyeonghwa

Where Suwolgyeonghwa is and what the entrance feels like

Suwolgyeonghwa is on the 4th floor of 188 Songjeong-jungang-ro 6beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, across from the Songjeong Gudeokpo tunnel (the red-brick building behind Songjeongjip). It's open from 11:00 to 23:00, with last order at 22:30.

Going all the way to Songjeong just for a quick coffee felt like a waste, so I finally stopped by Suwolgyeonghwa, a place I'd wanted to visit for a while. It looked unique in photos, but visiting in person, it felt less like a café and more like a place to sit down for a proper cup of tea and a rest.

Even the building exterior stood out. The Suwolgyeonghwa sign sits above the brick building, and you have to climb a staircase to get in — the soft lighting at the entrance already sets a completely different mood.

Climbing the stairs, you find a huge round mirror and lighting fixture — a great spot for a photo already.

The wall texture and the wooden chairs all felt calm and quiet, a totally different vibe from the noisy, oversized cafés you usually see. And the sound of waves as you go up the stairs — instantly my thing, haha!

The window seat with the Songjeong Beach and beach-train view

What I loved most about Suwolgyeonghwa in Songjeong was, of course, the ocean view. The moment I stepped in, my eyes kept drifting to the windows. Songjeong Beach spreads out right beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass, and the sea color looked so refreshing that I felt good the moment I sat down.

The window-side seating has low tables and a floor-seating feel, so you can drink your tea facing the sea directly. If you're lucky enough to get a good spot, you can see not just Songjeong Beach but also the Haeundae Blue Line Park train passing by. Every time the train went by I found myself snapping photos — it really felt like I was on a Songjeong trip.

What makes choosing a tea at Suwolgyeonghwa different

Unlike a typical café where you just pick a coffee off the menu, at Suwolgyeonghwa you can actually see and smell the different teas before choosing. The whole process of picking a tea felt a bit special.

Names like Bommulgyeol and Melongmance were fun on their own, and each tea had a different scent and feel, so it was enjoyable to look them over one by one. I really liked this whole process of choosing. Even someone who doesn't know much about tea can pick easily, especially with the staff's explanations to guide you.

I also liked the interior with its wood and ceramic pieces and traditional touches — there were paintings, books, and little objects scattered around, so it was fun to look around too.

Tea served with the leaves on a leaf-shaped filter

Suwolgyeonghwa's tea comes with a leaf-shaped filter placed on top of a clear glass, with the loose tea leaves sitting right on top of it. When my order arrived, the visuals alone caught my eye. Does a cup of tea really need to look this pretty?

Once it was all laid out, the colors and the tableware were so pretty that I kept taking photos before even taking a sip.

It's clearly a different mood from just being handed a tea bag. Sipping it while looking out at the sea, I felt like I could notice the tea's aroma more slowly than usual.

Korean desserts in a wooden box, with hot ssanghwacha

At Suwolgyeonghwa I didn't just drink tea — I also ordered the Korean-style desserts. Several desserts arrive together on a wooden box: pink-shaped cookies, an injeolmi (sweet rice cake coated in bean flour)-style dessert, crunchy cookies, and various rice cakes, all in small portions.

And a hot cup of ssanghwacha (twin flower tea) too!

Most cafés these days serve cakes or croissants, so a dessert with a Korean touch like this actually stuck with me more. Eaten alongside the tea, the sweetness wasn't too much and it paired well, and I liked being able to try a little bit of each kind.

When you want to slow down in Songjeong

Suwolgyeonghwa suited a day when you want to talk slowly while gazing at the sea, more than a quick coffee-and-go stop.

I prefer a calm space where I can sit and chat for a long time over a loud café, so this was especially satisfying for me. If you're looking for something different from the usual big ocean-view cafés in Songjeong, Suwolgyeonghwa is worth a visit.

Sipping tea while looking at the sea and finishing off with pretty Korean desserts made my day in Songjeong feel a little more special.