Seochon café with signature Seochon Blossom Americano: Wine Stein

On a day set aside for lunch in Seochon and browsing little shops, the first stop I picked was Wine Stein Seochon. You'd think a place with 'wine' in the name is somewhere you go for a glass in the evening — that's exactly the image I had before I went. But once I got there, it turned out to be a great spot for brunch and coffee during the day too, with a laid-back view of the Seochon alleys to enjoy while you sit. And this was the day I went in for the Lunch Club and walked out having discovered a coffee I really didn't expect.

A third-floor room looking down on the Seochon alleys

Wine Stein Seochon is on the 3rd floor of a building at 9-2 Pilundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Walk into the building and up the stairs, and you'll find Wine Stein Seochon.

The first thing that caught my eye after opening the door was the huge window. Tables run along the window, so from your seat you can look out over the Seochon alleys — old buildings and hanok rooftops mixed with glimpses of the city beyond, making a view that felt distinctly Seochon.

The interior overall is bright and comfortable. In a white-toned space, wood tables and chairs are paired with plants and vintage-feeling props, which kept it from feeling cold and gave it warmth instead.

Looking around, not just the tables and chairs but even the smallest props are placed to fit the mood. On one side there's a vintage wood shelf holding books, plants, and small objects, all arranged naturally.

I especially liked the corner with what looked like an old audio setup. Rather than the uniformly tidy look of most cafés these days, this is a space where you notice more personality the longer you look — and that's exactly what I liked about it.

The wine bottles displayed here and there were also part of what defines this place. Since I visited during the day, I mostly stuck to coffee and food, but looking around the space, I could tell the mood must shift quite a bit in the evening.

What comes with the 16,500 won Lunch Club at Wine Stein Seochon?

What I ordered at Wine Stein Seochon this time was the Lunch Club. For ₩16,500, you choose two of sandwich, salad & pasta, or mushroom soup, plus an Americano or Coke/Sprite.

We went with salad & pasta, mushroom soup, and an Americano. I'd planned on something light for lunch, but with salad, pasta, and a warm soup all together, it ended up being a more filling meal than expected. The salad had vegetables, cherry tomatoes, and grapes — a nice, refreshing side. The mushroom soup was smooth and savory, with crunchy croutons on top for texture.

The pasta combined tomato sauce with ground meat,

and the sauce soaked well into the penne, making it taste light but still satisfying.

Between the salad, soup, and pasta, this felt like more than enough for a full lunch.

How acidic is the Seochon Blossom signature blend?

The beans behind the Americano I chose with the Lunch Club are Wine Stein's signature blend, Seochon Blossom. It's described as blending jasmine's elegance with the freshness of orange and peach and the deep flavor of cacao.

I actually spent a while deciding on a drink for the Lunch Club. With a name like Wine Stein, shouldn't I try a wine? A light glass alongside the Lunch Club sounded pretty appealing. But since this was a lunch trip, I decided not to get greedy and stick to basics, so I went with the Americano.

I'm honestly not a fan of coffee with noticeable acidity, so I was a little worried at first. But once I tried it, the acidity wasn't sharp at all like I'd expected. The subtle fruity brightness and aroma weren't overwhelming, and after each sip, a smooth, deep cacao-like flavor lingered.

Good thing I ordered coffee instead of wine.

I came for lunch and never expected the coffee to be this memorable. It made me think I could come back another time just for Seochon Blossom and a dessert.

Café by day, a glass of wine by night at Wine Stein Seochon

Wine Stein Seochon runs its Wine & Market hours from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., so you can order wine even during the day. On Sundays, though, it's only open until 6:00 p.m. I didn't end up ordering wine on this visit, but that only made me more curious about what the place looks like in the evening.

Coffee and glass wine, in particular, are only available from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., so it's worth keeping that in mind before you visit.

So I could easily picture spending the day here on the Lunch Club and coffee, then coming back in the evening with friends to order a few dishes and share a glass of wine over conversation. It's not a stiff, formal kind of place — it feels easy to sit and talk, which makes it well suited to a get-together with friends or even a work dinner.

There's also information posted about event bookings, work dinners, and bar rentals, which is worth checking if you're planning to come with a bigger group.

Wine Stein Seochon hours, location and parking

• Lunch 11:00–17:00 / Wine 11:00–23:00 / Dinner 18:00–23:00 / Sunday 11:00–18:00
• Wine & Market: 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
• Coffee & glass wine: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• No parking

A Seochon wine bar where the coffee is the surprise

I went in for lunch and ended up falling for the coffee, and looking around the space left me curious about the wine in the evening too. Seochon Blossom in particular was an unexpected find for me, since I don't usually like coffee with acidity. This time I kept it light with the Lunch Club and coffee, but next time I'd love to come back with friends in the evening, linger a bit longer, and pair good food with a glass of wine. If you want to experience both the day and night sides of Seochon in one place, Wine Stein Seochon is it.