Yeonnam-dong work café with apple yuja tea and chiffon sando: Noknok

This is my honest review of Noknok, a big, atmospheric café in Yeonnam-dong that's great for working. I'll cover the location, prices, taste and service in detail!

There are so many lovely cafés as you walk around Yeonnam-dong, but this time I dashed over to Noknok, a café where both the big, moody space (great for working) and the desserts left me satisfied ☺️

What's the interior of Noknok in Yeonnam-dong like?

The first thing you notice at Noknok is the plant styling (planterior), with cactus objects and all kinds of greenery right from the entrance. What impressed me most is that it doesn't feel like a plant café stuffed with nothing but plants. The plants are blended naturally into a stylish interior. That really brings out the trendy, Instagram-y good vibes, and the relaxed yet refined mood was so charming 😌

You can tell at a glance that it's a spot for the photo of your life, right? 😙

Are the first-floor seats at Noknok comfortable?

The first thing I liked, even though Noknok is an Instagram-style café, is that the seats are comfortable. The black sofa in the middle of the first floor is so plush, and lots of people were using it.

How are the drinks and desserts at Noknok, in price and quality?

The second thing I liked is that there's a wide range of drinks and desserts at reasonable prices. At Instagram-style cafés the drinks or desserts are sometimes a bit disappointing, but the owner of Noknok confidently stresses good coffee beans and generous desserts, and now I see why.

To enjoy Noknok even more, I quickly ordered at the kiosk and grabbed a seat 😎

Is Noknok dog-friendly?

Noknok in Yeonnam-dong is dog-friendly too!! There were sadly no cute puppies when I visited, but dog lovers would be very happy here, I think.

Is the second floor of Noknok good for working?

The second floor of Noknok had a different, moody feel from the first floor, and lots of people were working there. The view through the big windows is so pretty that I plan to enjoy the second floor once summer turns everything green 😉

How does the apple yuja tea at Noknok taste?

Here come the apple yuja tea (apple and citron tea), cherry choco chiffon sando (chiffon cake sandwich) and fig cream cheese financier I ordered. They look so delicious already!!

I'm an apple yuja tea lover, and I was sad because cafés don't usually sell it ㅠㅠㅠ But I found a delicious one at Noknok!! At the first sip a gentle apple aroma spreads, then the fresh, fragrant yuja fills your mouth, so it's perfect for summer. It tastes more of the fruit's own aroma and flavor than artificial sweetness, so I recommend it.

Fig cream cheese financier

Noknok's fig cream cheese financier (financier: a small French almond cake) is crisp outside with a nutty butter aroma first, and moist and chewy inside, so I really felt what makes a financier special. With the soft, rich cream cheese, the mild sweetness of fig and the popping texture of the seeds, it was delicious, as expected 🫠

Cherry choco chiffon sando

Noknok's cherry choco chiffon sando passes on looks alone!! A generous layer of fresh cream sits on a fluffy chocolate sponge, topped with fresh cherries, and just seeing it made me happy. The sweetness of chocolate, the sweet-tart cherry and the soft, nutty cream go well together.

Visiting Noknok in Yeonnam-dong

If you're looking for a café in Yeonnam-dong with a great mood for working, I recommend Café Noknok 🙂

• Address: 139 Seongmisan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st and 2nd floors, Noknok)
• Hours: daily 8:30–23:30
• Dedicated parking lot
• Dog-friendly
• Takeout and delivery available
• Restroom inside, separate for men and women