Guatemala drip and strawberry trifle at a Hongdae café: Central Site

What kind of café is Central Site Yeonnam?

Hongdae date, Yeonnam-dong café recommendation! This is potato, an einspänner fanatic.

Today I'm writing up my visit to a unique Yeonnam-dong café near Hongik Univ. Station, 'Central Site Yeonnam.' It's the kind of brewing café that coffee obsessives will go crazy for — you can actually smell the beans you pick and watch them get brewed right in front of you, which is such a neat experience!

There were tons of beans that would be perfect if you like acidity. Unfortunately I like a nutty, low-acidity flavor, and there was exactly one bean in that category, so picking was easy haha. Honestly it was nice not having to agonize over the choice.

Between the signature classic tiramisu, the fruit trifle, and the cookies, the desserts here were on point too!!

The whole building, three floors, is the café, and each floor has a different vibe — stylish and sleek, which I loved. Maybe that's why it draws such a mix of couples, friends, and groups. Overall a really great Yeonnam-dong café.

Address and opening hours

• Address: 29-1 Yeonhui-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Weekdays 08:00–22:00 / Weekends 08:30–22:00
• Facilities: Roastery, hand-drip, vegan and organic menu
• No parking
• Delivery/takeout available

Which beans to order if you don't like acidity

Classic tiramisu, strawberry trifle, plus two coffees

The names were so long ordering wasn't exactly easy lol, but as long as you can gesture roughly at what you mean, it works out fine.

Since I like nutty flavors, I just asked the owner directly which bean was nutty. Turns out everything except the Guatemala had strong acidity, so I went straight for the Guatemala, while my cousin picked the Ethiopia single farmer something-or-other, and then we went all out on desserts too.

Central Site's signature menu — classic tiramisu and strawberry trifle! Honestly, they looked upscale from the get-go. Though right now I'm realizing we may have ordered a bit too much lol.

Personally I hate acidity so I love nutty flavors — that refreshing hit that totally satisfies my palate! I basically drank it in a flash — if it's tasty, three sips is plenty, and yeah, I think it took about three sips. The glass felt more like a whiskey tumbler than a coffee cup and it disappeared fast!

How the classic tiramisu and strawberry trifle tasted

Honestly, I thought the classic tiramisu alone would've been enough, but my cousin threw a fit insisting she had to try the strawberry trifle too, so we ordered it. It looked pretty appetizing, I have to say — passed the visual test! The strawberries weren't overly sweet, more tart, which actually paired perfectly with the cream.

The tiramisu is made using the authentic recipe supposedly beloved by the Gucci chairman. It was delicious, as expected lol. Bitter coffee and tiramisu really are always a perfect match, aren't they?

They also give you info about the coffee you picked in this mini booklet format, which made it more fun. Anyway, I get that a lot of people work hard to produce these beans — noted, I'll keep that in mind.

Getting there from Hongik Univ. Station, floor by floor

Location and interior info

You'll spot Central Site Yeonnam if you just walk straight up from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. Since it's famous as a Yeonnam-dong café, and it's right in the Hongdae Yeonnam-dong area, it was easy to fold into a Hongdae date course along with nearby things to do and eat.

Inside, they first display a variety of premium beans, and you can actually smell them yourself, which was a fun experience. Watching them brew my coffee with my own eyes was surprisingly enjoyable lol.

I also felt like Central Site Yeonnam's interior had a lot of mood to it. All-black chairs mixed with wood tones, cement tones, and brick — very modern! Kind of reminded me of the Everland Viking ride style, maybe?

And no matter which floor you sit on, they bring your order straight to your table, so you can just sit back and relax!

Who is Central Site Yeonnam best for?

Wrapping up

That's my review of Central Site Yeonnam, a great-vibe, distinctive Yeonnam-dong café worth visiting near Hongik Univ. Station. Great location, nice interior and exterior, and it was fun and fascinating being able to sample and watch various beans get brewed right in front of me. I'd say it's a great spot for couples, friends, or even that not-quite-official someone you're still getting to know.