Cool summer date escape room in Hongdae: Monkey House at Cube Escape
In short
Cube Escape Hongdae Branch is an escape room café in Hongdae, Seoul, between Hongik Univ. Station and Hapjeong Station. A writer who can barely watch horror movies played Monkey House, the easiest of Cube Escape's horror themes, with her boyfriend for ₩22,500 per person (2 players), was startled only about once, and escaped with time to spare. With air-conditioning that keeps even the theme rooms cool, Monkey House at Cube Escape Hongdae Branch made a satisfying indoor date on a hot summer day.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Hongik Univ. Station Exit 9 · 6-min walk (store listing, Oct 2, 2026)
- Location
- 4F, 15 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul; closer to Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station
- Theme played
- Monkey House (described by staff as the easiest of the horror themes)
- Price
- ₩22,500 per person for 2 players
- Puzzle style
- Over 90% locks rather than devices; almost no physical activity
- Escape gift
- Polaroid photo and snacks
- Amenities
- Indoor slippers available if needed; bag storage
- Price reference
- ₩22,500 ≈ $17 (2026-10-17)
as written by the visitor on Jun 27, 2026
The weather is just way too hot these days 🥵. In this heat, I find myself looking for a cool indoor date instead of an outdoor one. So I went to Cube Escape Hongdae Branch (큐브이스케이프 홍대점), an escape room café I'd recommend as an indoor date spot in Hongdae. We played 'Monkey House', which we were told is the easiest of the horror themes and not very scary.
How do you get to Cube Escape Hongdae Branch?
Cube Escape Hongdae Branch is between Hapjeong Station and Hongik Univ. Station, and it felt a little closer to Hongik Univ. Station. Come out of Exit 9, walk straight, and turn left when you see 'Slow On Hotel'! Walk a little further and Cube Escape Hongdae Branch is on the 4th floor of the 'Harmony Mart' building, across from the 'Emart24'.
The route isn't difficult, so I think even first-time visitors can find it easily.
Atmosphere and air-conditioning at Cube Escape Hongdae Branch
Cube Escape Hongdae Branch is famous for its horror themes, and the whole place is decorated in a slightly eerie style. The moment I went up to the 4th floor and opened the door, I thought, "Ah, so this is an escape room café!"
You can also play in indoor slippers if you need to! Maybe because the place is known for horror themes, the whole space is done up in a slightly spooky mood.
If you love horror, I think the anticipation will build from the moment you walk in. 👻🕯️
Best of all, the air-conditioning was blasting! It was over 30°C outside, but inside it was so cool that it felt like a lifesaver the second we stepped in. The theme room itself was kept cool too, so we could play comfortably even in the summer heat. ❄️❄️ If you're looking for a summer indoor date spot in Hongdae, I think you'll be really happy here.
How hard is Monkey House?
Monkey House is the easiest of the horror themes at Cube Escape Hongdae Branch, so that's the one we chose!
Before the game starts, this is how it goes:
- Fill out a consent form 📝
- Watch a usage instruction video 🎥
- Store your bags 🎒
After the briefing, we finally entered the theme room! 🚪🚪 My boyfriend and I have a decent amount of escape room experience, and we got out with time to spare, so Monkey House didn't feel very hard. Of course there were a few puzzles that needed some thought, but it's a difficulty even beginners can enjoy without hints. 🤔
(Physical activity is almost zero, so women can play in a skirt with no problem!) 🔐 It was a theme where locks make up over 90% rather than devices!
Is Monkey House scary? Fine for scaredy-cats?
Monkey House was less scary than I expected, and it's a decent level for a horror theme debut. Honestly, I'm so easily scared that I can barely watch horror movies.... People are scary, but ghosts are scary too T_T 😭👻
I got startled only about once 😳 (why only me T_T my boyfriend laughed at me 🤣🤣), and it's not a theme where ghosts keep jumping out or where the fear is extreme, so I thought it would work well as a first horror theme.
One thing to mention, though: there's a sound that keeps playing inside the theme... 🔊😅 That sound bothered me a bit T_T Still, the horror staging isn't over the top, so even people who think "I want to try a horror theme but worry it'll be too scary" should be able to take it on without pressure.
Price and escape gift at Cube Escape Hongdae Branch
The price at Cube Escape Hongdae Branch was ₩22,500 per person for 2 players, and if you escape successfully, you get a 'Escape Success!' Polaroid photo along with snacks. Escape rooms are so expensive these days, but the per-person price was reasonable. 💸
Above all, the air-conditioning inside the theme was really cool, so it was comfortable the whole time, and in a hot summer like this one, it was a satisfying indoor date choice in Hongdae!
Who I'd recommend it to
- Anyone looking for an indoor date course in Hongdae
- Anyone who wants to enjoy a horror theme without pressure
- Anyone looking for something different to do in Hongdae with friends
- Anyone looking for a date course that stays cool in the hot summer
Where it is
4F Mugwang Building, 15 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 마포구 양화로16길 15 무광빌딩 4층
Cube Escape Hongdae: hours, menu and prices →
24 cafés in Mapo, Seoul, by number of reviews →
