Hongdae drip café: jasmine Geisha & classic tiramisu, Central Site

Yeonnam-dong café Central Site Yeonnam: great coffee and tiramisu

Whenever I come to Hongdae, Central Site Yeonnam (센트럴사이트 연남점) is a place I end up visiting at least once. ☕️🍪 I love coffee and am always hunting for cafés, and the coffee here is so good that it really stuck with me.

The tiramisu you can have with your coffee is also really delicious, which made me even happier 💡 You get properly brewed coffee and a sweet dessert in a lovely space, so I want to recommend it to anyone looking for a café in Yeonnam-dong.

Central Site Yeonnam location and opening hours

Central Site Yeonnam is at 29-1 Yeonhui-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a big building on the main road 449m from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station. It is open Mon–Fri 08:00–22:00 and Sat–Sun 08:30–22:00.

What does Central Site Yeonnam look like, and how do you order?

Central Site Yeonnam has a sleek exterior of floor-to-ceiling windows and is a standalone three-floor building. It catches your eye from the outside, and it was a nice place to relax and enjoy the café atmosphere.

You order on the 1st floor first, sit wherever you like, and the staff bring your drinks and desserts to you. I really liked this thoughtful service. You don't have to run back and forth waiting for your order, so you can spend your time much more comfortably.

What we ordered at Central Site Yeonnam

The signature desserts at Central Site Yeonnam are tiramisu and trifle 🎂🍰 We like trying tiramisu wherever we go, so we picked the tiramisu.

• Costa Rica La Minita Villasarchi by Esteban, anaerobic natural, 12.0 (cinnamon, gingerbread, apple pie, red apple, caramel, ginger)
• Colombia La Bethania Geisha washed XI, 10.0 (passion flower, jasmine, lemon, raspberry, sweet orange, herbs)
• Tiramisu

This is what we ordered, haha.

Smelling the beans at Central Site's 1st-floor brewing bar and roasting lab

The 1st floor of Central Site Yeonnam has the brewing bar and roasting lab, and there are seats down here too, haha.

What made it special is that Central Site Yeonnam isn't just a café that sells coffee, but a roastery-based brewing coffee specialist.

You can watch the coffee being brewed and smell a variety of beans, so it's even more fun for coffee lovers.

There are more than 10 brewing (hand drip) coffees and beans, including specialty coffees like Geisha, so you can choose to suit your taste. I got to smell the beans I picked myself, which was such a fresh and fun experience, haha.

Central Site's 2nd-floor window seats for dates and blind dates

The 2nd floor of Central Site Yeonnam has nicely styled spaces and window seats, so I think it would work well for couples or a blind date. I saw people reading and people on dates, everyone relaxed, and the mood was pretty great, haha.

Is Central Site's 3rd-floor rooftop cold on a chilly day?

The 3rd floor of Central Site Yeonnam is a rooftop space. The weather had suddenly turned cold the day we visited, so I expected the 3rd floor to be freezing, but not a breath of wind came in and it was warm, so it was a great place to stay for a long while 🖤🫶🏻🐻

How does Central Site's classic tiramisu taste?

After enjoying the aroma of the beans to the full and sitting down, the dessert we ordered came out along with the coffee a little later. Central Site Yeonnam's classic tiramisu, made with an authentic Italian recipe, is reportedly a steady seller.

I'd been looking for a dessert that goes well with coffee, and it was as satisfying as I'd hoped. The soft cream and moist sponge worked nicely together, and the rich cocoa and chocolate on top made every bite sweet yet deep. It wasn't too heavy or overly sweet, so it was great with coffee.

Top pick: jasmine-scented Colombia La Bethania Geisha Washed XI

From the very first sip, the Colombia La Bethania Geisha Washed XI spread a bright floral aroma reminiscent of jasmine and passion flower, and its fresh citrus acidity of lemon and sweet orange was charming. The sweet-tart fruitiness, like raspberry, left my mouth feeling clean and refreshed. It's my top pick coffee 🖤🖤

Above all, the distinctive flavor of brewed coffee went really well with the sweet, soft taste of the tiramisu. A sip of coffee, then a bite of tiramisu, and the combination was really great..

Who is Central Site Yeonnam best for?

I was satisfied with Central Site Yeonnam overall, from the coffee and dessert to the atmosphere of the space. There are so many pretty cafés in Yeonnam-dong, but this one felt a bit more special because you can experience professional brewing coffee firsthand and enjoy the aromas of many different beans. Coffee lovers will probably enjoy comparing several kinds of specialty coffee. Above all, the tiramisu that pairs so well with the coffee was really delicious, and I still remember it!

If you're out in Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong, it's worth visiting as a more unusual date spot than an ordinary café date. If you want refined coffee together with a harmonious tiramisu, I recommend Central Site Yeonnam!