Sinyongsan laptop-friendly café with QR ordering: HYBE Playground

I work from a café about two days a week on weekdays, so today I headed over to Yongsan. My destination: HYBE Playground, the place right across from HYBE headquarters.

HYBE Playground details: the orange facade near Sinyongsan Station

HYBE Playground is a 4-floor café and lounge on Hangang-daero 15-gil in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The orange facade catches your eye from far away. It's apparently a remodel of an inn building from 1970, but it looks completely different now.

The building itself feels like a photo zone! Like, wait, there's a café like this here? Huh? That kind of feeling haha.

So colorful right from the entrance! The matcha basque cheesecake and dark chocolate cake signs especially caught my eye. When they put it up like that, there's no way I can walk past ㅠㅠ.

A sign explaining each of the 4 floors has a different concept. Let me quickly go see what the inside looks like. I open the door and head up the stairs.

Looks like the concept shifts — café by day, lounge by night.

Reading the floor guide, you get a sense of the tone and manner they're going for.

The window seat I claimed first has a view of a building painted with an American flag — such an unusual view point >< that kind of vibe.

Laptop work at the 2nd-floor window, and why QR ordering made it easy

I settled into a window seat on the 2nd floor of HYBE Playground. Just setting my MacBook down made it feel exactly like my own workspace! I could even see the café I usually go to across the street. It felt like a view that captures Yongsan's particular blend of old and new. I also enjoyed watching people walk by.

I heard it tastes exactly like the persimmon flavor my grandmother used to make, so I figured I'd have to come back in winter to try it. One bingsu (shaved ice) per person is still a bit much for me. I ordered easily using the QR code stuck to the window.

No need to stand in line — I could order right from my seat, which was convenient even while working. While waiting for my order, I browsed the display case.

(Sorry, I shot this on iPhone night mode so it looks like this haha.) The sandwiches came in various kinds too, and the cakes were all displayed beautifully. Next to them, they were also selling umbrella goods.

So cute! There were so many colors it was fun picking one out. Could come in handy if it suddenly rains. You could tell they paid attention down to the details.

How do the peach cake, sandwich and matcha latte taste?

The order I'd been waiting for finally arrived. A full spread — peach cake, iced drink, and sandwich.

So good ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ One bite of the cake and the cream was genuinely so soft. They didn't skimp on the peach flesh either, which was great.

With the view outside added in, it was a perfect combo. Working and eating something delicious at the same time. And the coffee was so good too! ㅠㅠㅠ Sweet enough to wake you right up.

The combo of matcha latte and coffee was seriously so good? This is a Sinyongsan Station café that foreign friends would love too.

Floor by floor: the 3rd-floor lounge and 4th-floor rooftop

While eating and working, I got up for a bit to look around HYBE Playground. The whole 3rd floor has a vibe kind of like this (roomy enough to lie down and relax). They sell alcohol in the evenings too!!

From window seats to 4-person tables to standing counters! The seating variety seemed like it'd suit whether you come alone or in a group, and it looked like a lot of office workers from around here come for lunch too. During busy hours it might be a bit hard to grab a seat.

There's a spot in the middle where you can get water like this too. Overall the space was laid out so conveniently that I enjoyed it without any hassle. And there's a rooftop like this too!

Is HYBE Playground worth it for remote work?

I got one new menu item packaged to go! The clean package design was a perfect finishing touch. Coffee, dessert, and space all came together here, so I have a feeling I'll be back often with my laptop. If you have plans around Yongsan, give it a try!