Local places · 472 stories
Cafés in Korea, told firsthand by local bloggers — with photos and Google Maps.
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.
Pulse Line Coffee is a café in a Sha-ro Street alley between Seoul National University Entrance and Nakseongdae stations in Gwanak, Seoul. I visited alone for the signature Pulse-nal Latte and a handmade crumble pie; the lightly sweet, herb-forward latte paired especially well with the sweet pie.
Baegya Coffee is a large bakery café directly across from Sacheonjin Beach in Gangneung, where I had coffee and bread while looking out at the sea. The open view and terrace were memorable, though many breads were sold out and window seats were full when I arrived late on a weekend.
Hands Coffee Dongchon Resort Branch is a four-story café in Dong, Daegu, with spacious seating and views of Dongchon Resort. I ordered Double Tray Hands Brunch Set B with mushroom cream pasta and a soft jambon-beurre; both were mild and satisfying, and parking was easy during my visit.
MUG is a large bakery café in Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju, Ulsan, with a spacious interior and walking trails. I had a blueberry cream cheese cinnamon roll with coffee, then walked about 10 minutes uphill to the viewpoint. The natural views and chance to take a gentle walk made the visit memorable.
