Local places · 440 stories
Cafés in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.
Sum (숨) is a bakery café in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, with mountain and forest views through large windows and from its terrace. I tried the mugwort black sesame bread, yeontan bread, and a vanilla bean latte; the breads were generously filled and the latte was gently sweet, though one drink per person is required.
Cafe Dunchi is a café on the first floor of the Namdaecheon Water Leisure Sports Experience Center in Yangyang, Gangwon. I visited with my husband, daughter, and dog, bringing a strawberry smoothie and affogato aboard an electric boat. Being able to share a quiet ride on the river with our dog was the highlight.
Pink Wall Cafe is a bakery café on Yongyuseo-ro in Yeongjong, Incheon, with a pink exterior, terrace, and parking. I tried garlic and fig bagels with cream cheese, plus coffee with little noticeable acidity; the spacious weekend seating was comfortable, though the carrot cake was sold out.
Pulse Line Coffee is a café in Gwanak, Seoul, where I stopped before lunch with my baby and family for coffee and handmade crème brûlée pie. The crisp, soft-centered pie and aromatic Americano stood out, and the quiet shop and kind owner made the visit comfortable.
Baegya Coffee is an ocean-view café overlooking Sageunjin Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon. I returned for coffee and three baked goods, and found the terraced seating, rooftop, and blueberry cream cheese pie especially enjoyable.
Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch is a café in Dong-gu, Daegu, with seating from the second to fourth floors. I had coffee, a cream roll bread, and a chewy chocolate banana waffle; the river view, roomy seating, and waffle with soft cream stood out.
MUG is a large bakery café in Ulju, Ulsan, where I visited with my child on a weekend for bread, drinks, and a bubble event. The high chairs and nursing room were convenient, but it is a kids’ care zone requiring active supervision, and weekend seating was hard to find.
Benetto (베네또) is a brunch café near Ulsan City Hall that says it makes its own sandwiches, granola, and herbal tea. My older sister and I tried the jambon burrata sandwich, barbecue chicken grilled sandwich, and Summer Apple tea, and the generous fillings and contrasting textures stood out. My favorite pairing was the sweet, nutty jambon burrata sandwich with the herbal and apple notes of Summer Apple.
Sum (숨) is a large bakery café in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi. We had bread and coffee, then looked around the music listening room, glass-walled annex, and outdoor seats. The main hall was busy during our visit, but the other indoor spaces were relatively quiet and parking was plentiful.
The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch is a baumkuchen dessert café on Jahamun-ro in Jongno, Seoul. I tried four chocolate-based desserts, from ice cream to brûlée, and found that each had a different texture and level of sweetness. The prices felt high, but I enjoyed the deep chocolate flavors and variety.
Cafe Dunchi is a floating café on the Namdaecheon River in Yangyang, Gangwon. After drinks with a friend, I spent 30 minutes on a large electric boat with Bluetooth music; driving was initially a little scary but became fun, though the café restroom requires a walk to the parking area.
Pink Wall Cafe is a bakery café in Eulwang-ri, Yeongjong, Incheon, where I tried mocha cream cheese and basil tomato bagels. The pink, plant-filled setting was good for photos, but the bagels were softer than chewy and the similar indoor tables made choosing a seat difficult.
