Jamsil-saenae manga café with mother-of-pearl stairs: One Play Jamsil

I hadn't been out to Jamsil-saenae in a while, so I took a weekend trip over there. Walking through the lively alleys of Jamsil-saenae, I wanted to find a cool, cozy space to read manga and enjoy some indoor date activities — and that's how I ended up here!

This is 'One Play Jamsil Branch,' a multi-play space near Jamsil-saenae Station.

Where is One Play Jamsil Branch and how do you get there?

One Play Jamsil Branch is located at 20 Baekjegobun-ro 7-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea, sharing the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building tucked inside the Jamsil-saenae Station food alley. It's open from 10:00 to 24:00.

A big sign and a usage-guide banner stand out front, so it's easy to spot even from a distance. It's a short walk from the station too, so accessibility is great.

Getting in: mother-of-pearl stairs, shoe lockers and the kiosk

At One Play Jamsil Branch you store your shoes in a locker, lock it up, and switch into indoor slippers before entering. Right from the stairway up, stylish mother-of-pearl (자개) decor caught my eye, giving the place a unique feel.

The first thing you see at the entrance is the shoe locker. You put your shoes in, lock it, and change into the comfy indoor slippers provided. Just hang on to the locker key — you'll need it at the counter.

Around the counter, the time-based rate plans, the basic drink included, and the paid upgrade drink options are all listed in detail.

The usage guide carefully covers everything from how to grab a board game, how to search for and return manga books, to how to use the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation — so even first-timers can figure it out easily.

Orders and payment are handled simply through the kiosk near the entrance.

Alongside cold coffee, they also have sweet cake desserts, so your mouth won't get bored either.

The 3rd floor manga café: comic shelves and seating

The 3rd floor of One Play Jamsil Branch is set up mainly as a manga café where you can cozily relax while reading comics. There's a well-arranged variety of chairs and cushion nooks to lean back into, so it was easy to find a spot to suit my taste.

The wall shelves are packed with books by genre — romance, webtoons, genre fiction, and popular manga. There were plenty of nostalgic titles too, like the 'Detective Conan' and 'Crayon Shin-chan' (괴짜가족) series I loved as a kid, which made me happy to see.

With a cool Americano in hand, I read the copies of 'Demon Slayer' and 'Jeongjik Real Estate (정직부동산)' I'd grabbed. 'Jeongjik Real Estate' in particular was so immersive and genuinely fun that I lost track of time reading it. Coffee plus manga in a cozy space is healing in itself.

The 2nd floor multi-zone: retro arcade machines and board games

After enjoying manga on the 3rd floor, I headed down to the 2nd floor where all sorts of games are gathered. The 2nd floor of One Play Jamsil Branch is an even more lively, varied multi-zone.

There are arcade machines set up where you can enjoy nostalgic retro games, great for a little friendly bet with friends or a partner.

On one side, popular board games are neatly displayed. With a wide range by difficulty and player count, it's fun to pick and choose.

There were also plenty of loft-style hideaway rooms that give off the vibe of playing games in an attic with friends.

Cinema room and the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation console rooms

The 2nd floor of One Play Jamsil Branch also has a neatly furnished cinema room where you can cozily watch a movie or stream OTT content.

Next, what really caught my eye was the console game room with Nintendo Switch and PlayStation!

The equipment was well set up and stocked with popular game titles, so we got to game in a comfortable environment.

There was also a separate, enclosed board game room, structured so you could focus on the game together without worrying about other people around.

Is One Play Jamsil Branch worth it for an indoor date in Jamsil?

It was a perfect indoor play space to spend comfortable, satisfying time in Jamsil-saenae regardless of the weather. From the clean slipper-changing system, to the cozy manga space on the 3rd floor, to the arcade machines, board games, and Nintendo/PS on the 2nd floor — there was so much to do that two or three hours flew by in no time. If you're looking for a unique date course or a comfortable indoor play spot near Jamsil or Jamsil-saenae, I'd definitely recommend stopping by One Play Jamsil Branch.