Local places · 410 stories
Cafés in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.
The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch is a baumkuchen café about 100 m from Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno, Seoul. We tried three baumkuchen varieties with two iced Americanos; the moist Mini Baum Plain was my favorite, and it was a quiet place to read and rest.
MIMI Coffee Mill is a café in Sunseong-myeon, Dangjin, Chungnam, where I had coffee and desserts with a companion on the outdoor terrace. The classic and lemon butter bars paired well with bitter Americano, while the spoonable Oreo cake was nuttier and softer than expected; the quiet terrace was the highlight.
Pulse Line Coffee is a café in a side street of Sharosugil, between Seoul National University and Nakseongdae stations in Gwanak, Seoul. I stopped by on a date for a brûlée pie, iced Americano, and iced long black; the filling was like egg tart and paired well with the long black, though the top was less crisp than I expected.
Pink Wall Cafe is a bakery café in Yeongjong, Incheon, with a pet-friendly annex and outdoor area. I visited with my dog on a weekday, walked by the canal, and had an iced Americano and mango smoothie; the air-conditioned annex and spacious free parking were useful, though it was too hot to sit outside.
Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a café and dessert shop on Seonggogyangil 5beonan-gil in Gangneung. During a family trip, I took home strawberry and coffee sand cookies; the strawberry aroma was strong, while the coffee was pleasantly not too sweet. The spacious white-and-blue café and third-floor excavator experience zone also stood out.
Hands Coffee Dongchon Recreation Area Branch is a large café in Dong-gu, Daegu, serving brunch alongside coffee and desserts. I visited with my boyfriend at opening on Saturday and tried cream paccheri pasta, soft jambon-beurre, and an iced long black; the spacious parking lot and seating were convenient, and I especially liked the warm, fluffy bread.
Benetto (베네또) is a brunch café near City Hall in Nam-gu, Ulsan, where I visited one morning with my young relative for a jambon burrata sandwich, ttalgi latte (strawberry latte), and vanilla latte. I enjoyed the crisp bread, soft burrata, and strawberry pieces, and appreciated how the owner checked on the child first when a drink spilled.
MUG (카페 먹) is a large bakery café in Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju, Ulsan, with ample parking, mountain views through full-height windows, and outdoor tables. I ordered coffee, lamington cake, and an injeolmi (soybean-coated rice cake) roll, and used my laptop at a table with a power outlet. The high chairs and baby care room made it seem well suited to family gatherings, though it was crowded on the weekend and some breads were already gone when I arrived late.
Cheongchuni Oranda Dongmun Market Main Branch, Tapdong is a dessert café in Dongmun Market, Jeju. I sampled its oranda and gwajul, then compared the four flavors in its ₩23,000 individually wrapped 20-piece gift set. A reliably tasty Jeju travel gift, especially for gamtae and garlic fans.
Forest Jeongbang is a two-story café near Jeongbang Waterfall in Seogwipo, Jeju, with sea views through second-floor picture windows. I had an Americano, strawberry jumulleok, chocolate madeleines, and a tangerine whipped-cream cake; the desserts were not rich, and the generously spaced seating made it a comfortable stop.
The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch is a hanok-inspired dessert café about 100 m from Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno, Seoul. I tried three kinds of baumkuchen with Americano coffee by the second-floor window; the first floor was busy, while the second was calmer, but the ice cream was sold out.
Chamsae Bori Sikppang, Bucheon main branch is a takeout-focused bakery about 600 m from Bucheon Station Exit 2. I bought and compared three barley breads around 11 a.m.; the nutty, soft Grain Glutinous Barley was my favorite, but the shop may close early when everything sells out.
