Sokcho sharing café: Neorae Pudding & Mont Blanc at Cafe Neorae

What is Cafe Neorae like?

Cafe Neorae (카페너래) is a large bakery café in Hakgsapyeong Kongkkot Village (Soft Tofu Village) in Sokcho, on the 2nd floor of the tofu restaurant Yetgoeul Sundubu (옛고을순두부). It's the big café below Seoraksan that I stop at every time I come to Sokcho, and I went again this time.

From the 2nd floor up to the 4th-floor rooftop, it's said to be the first large café in Sokcho where you can take in the whole view of Ulsanbawi Rock. "Neorae" is a Gangwon dialect word for a wide, big rock, and the café takes Ulsanbawi as its motif, so you face both Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi. Since it sits in Soft Tofu Village, you can also try signature items made with tofu and biji (soybean pulp).

Cafe Neorae hours and parking

Cafe Neorae is open daily 09:00–18:00, with last order at 17:30, and it's closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. It opens early, at 9 a.m., so it's a good café for a morning visit too.

Cafe Neorae shares a parking lot with Yetgoeul Sundubu on the 1st floor. If the lot in front is full, there's a second parking lot, so parking is no worry. Takeout and groups are fine, and there are separate men's and women's restrooms, high chairs and Wi-Fi.

The signature menu is posted in the elevator, which helps you decide what to order on the way up.

How is the 2nd-floor bakery at Cafe Neorae?

Cafe Neorae is a place I always end up at when I'm in Sokcho, the spot I head to when I'm craving good coffee and dessert on a trip. I was happy to be back again this time.

Bakery items are displayed in the middle of the 2nd floor. There aren't a huge number of kinds, but they're the style of bakery I like. I came straight from a meal, so today I held back on the bakery and just had a drink.

What did I order at Cafe Neorae?

This time I ordered the Neorae Pudding, an Americano, and one Mont Blanc. At Cafe Neorae I always look for the signature menu, and today I decided to try the sweet Neorae Pudding.

A signature item named after the café is hard to walk past, right? Neorae Pudding was the one I really wanted to try here, so I ordered it with coffee.

A sharing café that supports the dreams of people with disabilities

Cafe Neorae is said to be a "sharing café" that supports the dreams of people with disabilities. I think drinking coffee at Cafe Neorae is a bit like cheering them on.

Self-service corner

Cafe Neorae has a self-service corner stocked with utensils, packaging and a microwave, which is handy.

How did the Neorae Pudding and Mont Blanc taste?

The soft Neorae Pudding with an Americano was a lovely match of sweet and bitter. Once the order came out, I added a Mont Blanc too and enjoyed a generous dessert spread.

The Mont Blanc with its layered texture was filling with coffee, and it has a different charm from the Neorae Pudding. Since you can enjoy both bread and desserts, Cafe Neorae suits anyone looking for a bakery café in Sokcho.

Is Cafe Neorae worth returning to on a Sokcho trip?

At Cafe Neorae there's even a little fun in watching people from behind as they take in the Ulsanbawi view. Sokcho has plenty of cafés, but having a regular spot you think of every trip is a nice thing.

For me, Cafe Neorae is a familiar, comfortable place, and I want to stop by whenever I come to Sokcho. If you're searching for a Sokcho café and need somewhere to relax near Seoraksan, it's worth a look.

When I pick a café on a Sokcho trip, I check whether I can have good dessert with my coffee. If you're looking for a large café in Sokcho, consider adding Cafe Neorae to your route. Anyone traveling in search of an Ulsanbawi-view café or a pretty café can add it to the itinerary too.

Cafe Neorae is also a nice place to take a short break with dessert and coffee. Next time I'm in Sokcho, I'd like to try another signature drink. I'd recommend Cafe Neorae when you want a relaxed café break on a Sokcho trip.