Sokcho café with Ulsanbawi windows: biji cream croissant, Cafe Neorae

After a tasty breakfast, we dropped by the big café right next door, Cafe Neorae (카페너래). I'd gotten up early to set off, so I badly needed caffeine and decided to rest a bit with a cup of coffee.

The main reason we came is its famous floor-to-ceiling window view, where Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi rock come into sight all at once. Since you can see both right through the wide windows, it looked like a great first café stop for a Sokcho trip.

Cafe Neorae runs as a café from the 2nd floor up to the rooftop. You walk past the soft tofu restaurant on the 1st floor and take the elevator or stairs straight up to the 2nd floor. We took the elevator, nice and easy.

Cafe Neorae location, hours and parking

Cafe Neorae is at 114 Wonamhaksapyeong-gil, Sokcho, 2F. It's open daily 09:00-18:00 and closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, so check before you go. Just search "Sokcho café Cafe Neorae" and you'll find it easily.

There's also a large parking lot right in front, which is handy if you drive. We came by car on a weekday at lunchtime, and there were plenty of spots, so parking was no trouble at all.

What is the 2nd floor of Cafe Neorae like?

The first thing I noticed as we stepped up to the counter on the 2nd floor was the plants. The view pouring in through the big windows was lovely, and the space felt even roomier and more pleasant because it isn't stuffy at all. It's open and airy, so it looked like a nice place to take your time.

Walking to one side, we found a pretty photo spot. With the mountain view through the windows and the green interior, it felt like being inside a little garden, which was really unusual. There are also cute little tables in the corners, so you can pick a seat to match the mood you want.

The glass-ceiling stairs to the 3rd floor, and the 3rd floor windows

Personally, I found the way up to the 3rd floor inside the café really impressive. The space has a high ceiling, and the ceiling itself is transparent, so you can look straight up at the sky. Even though you're indoors, it feels as open as being outside.

Up on the 3rd floor, almost every side is glass, so Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi looked even clearer, and sitting by the window you get the full mountain view. There's also a little garden-like area in the middle, so you can feel nature up close even inside the café. The green plants, wide windows and Seoraksan view together made it feel even more relaxed and comfortable.

Cafe Neorae menu and bread

The menu had the basics, but what stood out were the signature items with their unusual pairing with biji (soy pulp left from making tofu).

For a big café, the bread selection isn't huge, but they have the basic bakery items people usually look for. We'd just eaten, but we decided to try one anyway.

What we ordered: Sseoda Einspänner, Tropical Sunset, 10,000-layer croissant

We were a bit scared to try a biji tea or drink, so we ordered one signature Sseoda Einspänner (a coffee topped with cream), a Tropical Sunset, and the 10,000-layer croissant.

The drinks came out looking really pretty. The Sseoda Einspänner had condensed milk along with the cream on top, and the Tropical Sunset ade looked well balanced, not watery at all.

The fluffy cream and the cinnamon sprinkled on top had just the sweet taste I like.

Ulsanbawi seen from the window at Cafe Neorae

Of course we sat where we could see Ulsanbawi and Seoraksan to enjoy our coffee and dessert. I've traveled to Sokcho many times and only ever seen Ulsanbawi from far away, so having it right in front of us was grand and gorgeous, and it put me in a great mood.

Review-event Neorae Cream on the croissant

Cafe Neorae's signature Neorae Cream, which you get by writing a Naver review! I was so curious about a cream made from biji that I left a review and got one!

It says the Neorae Cream is good with plain sandwich bread, but we put it right on the 10,000-layer croissant, and honestly, I super super super recommend this!!! It was so good it genuinely surprised me, and it was so much my style that I ate it slowly to make it last!

How was Cafe Neorae as the first café of a Sokcho trip?

Cafe Neorae was memorable because we could enjoy tasty drinks and dessert while taking in the great Seoraksan scenery. I was a little tired from traveling since morning, but after a good breakfast and a relaxing cup of coffee at the café, I felt properly ready to start the trip.

If you're looking for a big café in Sokcho or want a Seoraksan view, it's worth stopping by at least once.