Sokcho café with okara cream latte, milk cake and scone: Cafe Neorae

What kind of café is Cafe Neorae?

When you think of a café in Sokcho, the first image that comes to mind is probably sitting by the beach with a wide-open sea view. This time, though, Cafe Neorae turned out to be a bit special.

Instead of the sea, it's a place where you can enjoy coffee and dessert while looking out at Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi (Ulsan Rock) — a different kind of charm from the typical ocean-view cafés you find all over Sokcho.

"Neorae" in Cafe Neorae is Gangwon-do dialect for a wide, large rock, and apparently the name used for Ulsanbawi itself. Since the name itself carries Ulsanbawi, it makes sense that you can properly take in the Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi scenery from the café too.

• Cafe Neorae
• Address: 114 Wonam Haksapyeong-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
• Hours: Daily 9am–6pm (closed every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month)

How big is Cafe Neorae? From the 2nd floor to the 4th-floor rooftop

The café is made up of the 2nd and 3rd floors plus a rooftop on the 4th floor. Once inside, it turned out to be a much larger, bigger space than you'd guess from just looking at the building from outside — a genuinely large-scale Sokcho café.

Each floor has a slightly different interior and layout, so the mood changes depending on where you sit. The natural light coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the Seoraksan view outside were especially striking.

There's plenty of space to comfortably accommodate families or larger groups, so it's worth keeping in mind if you're looking for a café in Sokcho that can handle group visits.

Ordering the signature Neorae Latte, milk cake and scone

Cafe Neorae has not just coffee but a wide range of teas, desserts, and bakery items. Among them, the signature Neorae Latte caught my eye — a unique latte topped with a cream made from okara (soybean pulp), so I ordered it out of curiosity about the flavor.

There was a wide variety of bakery items too, fun just to browse one by one. I couldn't capture it in a photo, but scones were also available, so I ordered the Neorae Latte along with a scone and the milk cake.

The self-service corner had an oven for warming up bread. There were also bags, knives, and forks available for taking leftover bakery items to go, which was a convenient touch.

Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi Rock from the 3rd-floor window seats

After picking up my order, I headed up to the 3rd floor. You can take the elevator for convenience, but heading up the stairs on the right leads to a spot with seating where you can rest while looking out at the view.

Best of all, the floor-to-ceiling windows continue up to the 3rd floor, so you can take in the whole Seoraksan scenery at a glance. On a clear day, Ulsanbawi would probably look even sharper.

Seoraksan's scenery changes completely with the seasons — fresh greenery in spring, lush mountains in summer, autumn foliage, and snow-covered peaks in winter — so it seems like it'd be fun to visit again each season.

So it felt less like a place just for a cup of coffee and more like a Seoraksan café where you can rest and take in the scenery during a Sokcho trip.

There were several photogenic spots scattered around the café. Sitting by the window with Seoraksan as the backdrop makes for a nice photo, and the interior spaces work well as a backdrop too.

What is the 4th-floor rooftop like?

I also went up to the 4th-floor rooftop. It felt different from the view through the indoor windows — the open space made the view feel much wider, and with a cool breeze blowing, sitting there for a bit seemed to melt away some of the fatigue from traveling.

The rooftop has tables too, so it looks like a nice spot for chatting over coffee or taking photos if you're visiting with a group. On a clear day especially, gazing at Seoraksan from the rooftop would be another highlight of Cafe Neorae.

How does the Neorae Latte taste, and what is okara cream?

Now, time to try the drink and desserts I ordered. First up, the Neorae Latte — the Neorae cream on top had a really soft, fluffy texture.

At first, hearing it was a cream made with okara made me a little unsure, but it actually tasted nutty and smooth, pairing well with the latte.

The strong latte combined with the soft, sweet cream made for an overall flavor that wasn't too heavy. Having arrived after a long drive, that one sweet, nutty Neorae Latte really melted away the fatigue.

Milk cake at Cafe Neorae

The milk cake I ordered alongside it was delicious too. It looked snow-white and soft even just by appearance, and it really did have a moist, soft texture when I tasted it.

I've had plenty of whipped-cream cakes and similar types before, but the softness of this milk cake stood out in particular. Thanks to the cream layers running through it, it stayed moist and never felt dry.

Scone at Cafe Neorae

I also tried the scone — plain and crisp on the outside, nutty on the inside, with a sweet icing drizzled on top that went well with coffee. Paired with a sweet drink like the Neorae Latte, the two complemented each other nicely.

Is Cafe Neorae worth a stop on a Sokcho trip?

Cafe Neorae stood out for a mood a little different from the typical Sokcho café. People usually think of the sea first when they think of Sokcho, but here, I could relax with a coffee while looking out at the impressive Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi.

Being such a large-scale café in Sokcho, it was also comfortable to visit with family or friends, and there was fun in exploring the differently styled spaces on each floor.

Since you can enjoy bakery items and desserts alongside coffee, it should suit anyone looking for a bakery café in Sokcho, and the view of Ulsanbawi in particular makes it a memorable spot for anyone seeking out an Ulsanbawi-view café.

If you're traveling around Sokcho and looking for a café with a different kind of view than the usual ocean-view spots, it's worth stopping by Cafe Neorae for a coffee and a rest with Seoraksan in view. Next time, I'd love to come back once the season changes and see Seoraksan looking completely different.