Gangneung café with garden views, lattes and cake: Cafe KIWA

After lunch on a weekend afternoon, I visited Cafe KIWA (카페기와), a hanok café in Gangneung, with my father and husband. We were looking for a place to have tea and talk as a family, and the hanok and garden drew us in.

What is the courtyard garden like?

As I entered, the spacious courtyard garden caught my eye first. Pine trees, wildflowers, and an old-looking wall blended with the hanok.

Crape myrtle flowers and lush trees appeared alongside the tiled roof. Walking slowly through the courtyard made me feel calmer, too.

Where can you best see the garden from inside?

The interior retained its rafters and wooden beams. Vintage lighting, antique objects, and small potted plants placed among the hanok structure made it feel cozy.

If you want to rest while looking at the garden, the tables by the windows were a good choice. Trees were visible through the large lattice windows, making me want to linger. When sunlight came in, the windows also made a nice backdrop for capturing the hanok atmosphere in photos.

How do the signature lattes and KIWA Cake taste?

My family and I ordered the KIWA Black Latte, Mung Bean Flower Latte, and KIWA Cake to share.

How did the KIWA Black Latte and Mung Bean Flower Latte differ?

The KIWA Black Latte combined the nutty taste of black sesame with a full-bodied espresso flavor. A gentle bitterness followed the soft cream, and the balance with the nutty flavor was good.

The Mung Bean Flower Latte had a subtle grain aroma. It was sweet without being overly so, and my father liked it too.

Was the KIWA Cake very sweet?

The KIWA Cake was a signature dessert modeled after a tiled roof. Its shape suited the café’s hanok atmosphere well.

Layers of red bean paste and cream sat between moist cake layers. It was not excessively sweet, so it was easy to eat with a clean finish, and I thought it would pair well with an Americano.

If you would like to try the signature menu together, I think the KIWA Black Latte or Mung Bean Flower Latte makes a good pairing with the KIWA Cake.

Where is it, and what was weekend parking like?

The address is 15 Chodangwon-gil 54beon-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon, South Korea. There was ample dedicated parking, and we parked without difficulty even on the weekend.

How was it for taking a break with family?

The drinks and desserts were good, but the garden and cozy hanok space stood out most from this visit. It was a nice place to relax after a meal while sitting with my father and husband and talking.