Specialty coffee shop near Gunja Station, Seoul: Kenya Bongoma

There are so many cafés these days, but finding one with really good coffee is harder than you'd think. A friend told me there's a great coffee place in Gunja, so I went to Palco! To get to the point: if you love coffee, it's worth a stop. Choosing your beans and even the pour-over to match your taste made me really happy with it ><

Where is Palco?

Palco is at 330 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, between Gunja Station and Achasan Station, so it's easy to get to. It's a handy spot if you're hunting for dessert near Gunja Station, and also a nice place to drop in when you just want a relaxed cup of coffee.

I heard it's already popular by word of mouth, to the point that there's a wait on weekends. When I visited, customers kept coming in, so I could feel the popularity :)

What are Palco's atmosphere and seating like?

Palco has a wood-toned interior with soft lighting, so the mood is cozy and warm. The first thing I felt walking in was comfort, and the gentle lighting made it a place you'd want to stay for a long time!

The seats are spaced widely, so it never felt cramped. It's easy to visit alone, and the layout is great for chatting with friends too. There are lots of large tables, so it looked fine for working on a laptop or reading. The smell of coffee drifts softly through the whole shop, and from that moment my expectations were already rising ><

Can you choose your own beans at Palco?

What made Palco special was the wide choice of its own roasted beans! You can pick the beans even when ordering an Americano.

I could choose beans for the Americano, and for the pour-over I could smell them first and then pick to suit my taste. I usually like acidic coffee, so of course I went with the acidic-profile beans.

Maybe because it's house-roasted specialty coffee, the aroma was clearly different from the start. One sip was clean, with a subtle fruity note rising up, and I was really satisfied. I could see why coffee fans seek it out!

How does Palco's Kenya Bongoma pour-over taste?

Palco's pour-over works by smelling the beans before you choose, and I picked Kenya Bongoma. I was curious about the pour-over too, so I ordered one.

The beans I chose after smelling them were Kenya Bongoma. It's said to be a traditional variety from the Bongoma area, known for a peach-like fruity aroma and juicy acidity!

When I actually drank it, a fragrant fruit aroma came first, followed by a gentle sweetness. The acidity wasn't just strong; it was well balanced, so it was easy to enjoy. Personally, it was the most memorable coffee I had that day ☺️

How were Palco's homemade desserts and the canelé?

Palco had a variety of homemade desserts, including lamington cake, orange marmalade cake and Basque tiramisu. When a café's coffee is good, you get curious about the desserts too, right?

After some thought, I picked the canelé (a small French pastry)! The outside had a crisp, crunchy texture

and the inside was moist, a classic canelé. From the first bite a rich butter aroma spread,

and it went really well with coffee. Eaten with the acidic Americano, the combination was so good. The dessert quality is good too, so I think people looking for a great café in Gunja will be happy.

Who suits Palco best?

Palco isn't just a café with a nice mood; it's a place serious about the coffee itself, so it suits people with firm coffee tastes. There are plenty of cafés these days, but not so many where you can properly enjoy everything from choosing beans to pour-over.

So I think people with clear coffee preferences will be even happier here, and the atmosphere was good for quiet conversation too.

I think it also suits people looking for a café near Achasan, and anyone who loves specialty beans.

Verdict: Palco, a great Gunja coffee shop

Palco was a great coffee spot in Gunja where you can enjoy house-roasted beans and high-quality pour-over. From the acidic Americano to the Kenya Bongoma pour-over, the coffee was very satisfying, and the butter-scented canelé was impressive too.

With its roomy seating and relaxed mood, it's good for going alone or spending an unhurried time with a friend! I could see why it's popular enough to have a weekend wait, so I recommend it ☕️

• Location: 330 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 10:00–21:00 (last order 20:45)