Quiet hanok café in Chodang-dong, Gangneung with rafters: Cafe Giwa

Cafés with gorgeous sea views are great in Gangneung, but sometimes I just want a quiet, good-vibe café away from the crowds. This time I visited Cafe Giwa, a hanok (traditional Korean house) café tucked into a residential alley in Chodang-dong.

Where is Cafe Giwa, and what are its hours and parking?

Cafe Giwa is located at 15 Chodangwon-gil54beon-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon, and is open daily from 10:00 to 21:00, with last order at 20:30. It's closed every Wednesday, and there's a dedicated parking lot for the café.

• 📍 15 Chodangwon-gil54beon-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon, South Korea
• ⏰ Daily 10:00–21:00 (last order 20:30)
• 📅 Closed every Wednesday
• 🚗 Dedicated cafe parking lot available

The moment I saw the building, I understood why the café is called 'Giwa' (roof tile). In a space that keeps all the charm of an old hanok, I got to leisurely enjoy Cafe Giwa's own drinks and desserts.

The tiled roof and garden in a Chodang-dong alley

Walk down a Chodang-dong alley and Cafe Giwa appears — a serene hanok topped with a tiled roof. Unlike cafés that grab attention with flashy exteriors, this one has the calm atmosphere only an old hanok can give~

There's a garden set up around the café, and I thought this would be lovely even in winter.

Inside Cafe Giwa: rafter ceilings and the window seat

Inside Cafe Giwa, the rafters and wooden structure typical of a hanok show through naturally.

The traditional hanok atmosphere is left intact, while the tables, lighting and small props are arranged tastefully for a comfortable stay — I was impressed by the owner's sense of style...

Here's the spot we sat! With the garden visible through the window, it never felt stuffy even while sitting indoors.

Old objects and props placed throughout the space made for fun browsing too. There was also a more modern-feeling space hidden right next door, which was fun haha

Cafe Giwa's menu and what we ordered

Cafe Giwa has a pretty wide drink lineup, including signature drinks, hand-drip coffee, ades, smoothies and teas.

There were also plenty of pretty desserts to pair with drinks. I wanted the mugwort injeolmi (sweet rice cake) toast, but since we came after a meal and were already pretty full, I turned my eyes to a cake I could enjoy a bit more lightly!

• Iced americano ₩5,500
• Giwa black latte ₩6,500
• Mung bean flower latte ₩6,500
• Mugwort injeolmi gateau ₩7,500

The cake and drinks arrived beautifully plated :)

Giwa black latte, 6,500 won

If you visit Cafe Giwa, this is one of the signature menu items you should try at least once — the Giwa black latte. One sip and the deep flavor of black sesame spread smoothly through my mouth. It's not just a sweet latte but has a familiar nutty taste, so it'd be great for older folks too~! A drink that really suits Cafe Giwa's atmosphere :)

Mung bean flower latte, 6,500 won

The name alone made me curious about the mung bean flower latte. I couldn't easily picture what it would taste like, but the thick, sweet-and-salty cream flavor left an impression.

The clean, nutty flavor unique to mung beans combined with the sweet-salty cream gave it a distinct charm. It's a drink whose nuttiness only grows the more you drink, and since it's not something you find often, I'd recommend pairing the mung bean flower latte with the Giwa black latte if you want to try Cafe Giwa's own special drinks :)

Mugwort injeolmi gateau, 7,500 won

The dessert we ordered alongside the drinks was the recommended mugwort injeolmi gateau. It was a Korean-style dessert where you could enjoy the mugwort's subtle fragrance and the nutty cream of injeolmi (sweet rice cake) all at once — the dense, moist gateau, with the mugwort's fragrance and roasted bean powder flavor added on top, had a completely different charm from cakes that are just sweet.

Who should visit Cafe Giwa?

• ✔️ Anyone looking for a good-vibe hanok café in Gangneung
• ✔️ Anyone who wants to rest in a quiet, serene space
• ✔️ Anyone who wants to try special drinks like the Giwa black latte or mung bean flower latte
• ✔️ Anyone in Chodang-dong looking for a café to visit after a meal
• ✔️ Anyone looking for a comfortable café to stay in with parents

Cafe Giwa was a Gangneung hanok café with a serene charm quite different from the big sea-view cafés. It's also somewhere I'd love to bring my parents. I think it's worth stopping by Cafe Giwa after a meal in Chodang.