Sunday morning at a Gangneung hanok café with private rooms: Cafe Giwa

What kind of place is Cafe Giwa in Chodang-dong, Gangneung?

Gangneung has so many pretty, atmospheric cafés that I really had to think hard about where to go — but this Gangneung travel course, I think I picked really well! Cafe Giwa is located near Chodang Sundubu Village. With its 130-year-old antique hanok and beautiful garden, Cafe Giwa blends vintage props and the flavor of old things so well that it feels both comfortable and refined.

The tranquil atmosphere really comes alive, and even though the space is large, it's well divided so it never feels noisy — a quiet, peaceful feeling 😌

Sunday morning at Cafe Giwa: quiet enough for a local book club

When I visited on a Sunday morning, local residents were gathered in twos and threes having a book club, and it was such a great atmosphere for reading that I was honestly a little jealous. No matter how nice a book café in Seoul might be, it's hard for it to match this leisurely, unhurried feeling!

There's also a private room available for group use, so it'd be great atmosphere for a family visit. You can lock in group seating in advance through Naver Reservation, so it might be worth planning ahead.

Visited September 2026

What to order at Cafe Giwa: the three signature lattes

The café's vibe is so nice that anything you drink here feels right, but I especially recommend the signature menu that pairs so well with the hanok: the black sesame latte, mung bean latte, and strawberry latte. These are Cafe Giwa's signature drinks, named Giwa Black Latte, Green Mung Bean Flower Latte, and Pink Flower Latte! There's also toast and cake, good for filling out something sweet.

The best seats at Cafe Giwa: garden tables under the eaves

The weather was nice, so I took a seat under Cafe Giwa's tiled roof, where the garden and sky come into view all at once, giving a peaceful feeling. The sun is warm, but sitting under the eaves you can dodge it a bit, and there's a nice gentle breeze too — I'd recommend grabbing an outdoor garden seat on a day like this 😌

This seat right here might just be the best spot 😎 The pretty flowers that change with the seasons seem to be tended by the owner personally — there are so many flowers that butterflies and bees drift by lazily. Big and small trees are landscaped in nice harmony, giving the space a sense of calm. It's a small garden, but thinking about how much care must have gone into keeping it like this makes it feel even more beautiful.

Having a cup of coffee with a garden view — such a feeling! I get why people bring books here to read.

Americano at Cafe Giwa

Americano ☕️ A fragrant Americano made with nutty beans, clean and inoffensive — a style hard for anyone to dislike.

Pink Flower Latte (strawberry)

Pink Flower Latte 🌸 Sweet, soft strawberry milk mingles with the subtlety of Dutch coffee, making for a fresh-looking, flower-like, feel-good latte.

The pink color, made from strawberries and natural ingredients, was so pretty, and it matched beautifully with the flowers blooming in the garden. I bet it'd be even better in spring 🌷

Giwa Black Latte (black sesame)

Giwa Black Latte. Made with a base of grains, black sesame and milk, plus a shot of espresso, topped with black sesame cream. Mixed well with the ice, it's nutty and slightly bitter, with a subtle sweetness drifting through — a really intriguing flavor.

Mugwort injeolmi gateau

Mugwort Injeolmi Gateau 🌿 Soft mugwort ganache combined with soybean powder cream gives a nutty yet substantial flavor, while the cream itself is fresh and light, never greasy.

The bread part, with its subtle mugwort aroma, has a dense yet chewy texture, so it blends smoothly with the fresh cream instead of feeling separate. It's an injeolmi (sweet rice cake) cream that would suit an older palate, so it's a dessert that really fits well with Cafe Giwa!

Is Cafe Giwa, a Gangneung hanok café, worth a visit?

Cafe Giwa, this Chodang-dong café in Gangneung, was far more atmospheric and cozy than the photos suggested. A beautifully arranged garden, the character of an old hanok, the comfortable energy of the indoor spaces, and vintage props — everything! It's all so well maintained overall that it's a Gangneung café where you can spend time comfortably and happily 😌 If I ever come to Gangneung on a family trip, I've decided I'd want to spend time in that group room styled like a separate annex. If you're looking for a Gangneung café with a great view, I highly recommend it!