Gangnam café with rooftop views and Earl Grey latte: Selected Nicks

While looking for a large café near Gangnam Station with plenty of seating, I visited Selected Nicks (셀렉티드닉스). I’ll share my firsthand experience, from its quiet multi-floor spaces and rooftop to its tiramisu.

If you are looking for a large café near Gangnam Station, I think Selected Nicks is worth trying.

Even though it is right in the middle of Gangnam, several floors are used as café space, so I could choose a seat fairly comfortably when I visited after Friday lunch.

There was a real mix of people, from those quietly reading or studying to groups of three or four chatting. At cafés near Gangnam Station, I have often had to hunt for a seat on weekends or at peak times, but this place was definitely more comfortable because the space itself is so large.

Walking from Gangnam Station and parking conditions

Selected Nicks is at 37 Teheran-ro 4-gil in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, an easy walk from Gangnam Station. It is about 300 m from Exit 3, so it did not feel like a burden to visit by subway, as I did. I had made plans nearby and naturally walked over, so the route seems convenient for anyone looking for a café close to Gangnam Station.

If you are looking for a Yeoksam café that is also easy to reach from Gangnam Station, the location is an advantage. If you bring a car, it is best to check the parking conditions beforehand. According to the guidance, on-site parking is mainly available for non-SUV vehicles up to a Genesis G80, and larger vehicles such as SUVs and large sedans may be difficult to park.

Vehicles that cannot use the on-site parking will need to use nearby paid parking. Eligible vehicle types and nearby parking rates can change, so I recommend checking the café’s guidance again before setting off by car.

A quiet interior with a different feel on every floor

What I liked most about Selected Nicks was that it was not simply a huge Gangnam café; each floor had a slightly different atmosphere. Everything was very neat, and even with people around, it felt calm rather than busy and chaotic.

When I visited after Friday lunch, there were groups of three or four talking, but quite a few people were also reading alone or spending time with a laptop open. I have previously left Gangnam Station cafés soon after getting coffee because they were so crowded, but this was the kind of place where staying a while did not feel awkward.

Let me show you the atmosphere on each floor. Being able to drink coffee while looking at exhibition works was especially distinctive.

On the day I visited, paintings in a style I really liked happened to be on display, so I took quite a few photos while looking around. It felt less like a simply pretty Gangnam Station café and more like enjoying an exhibition along with coffee.

The tables were fairly spacious too, making it nice for studying or reading alone. I think it would also suit people looking for a quiet place to stay, much like a Gangnam study café.

Ordering tiramisu and drinks

As you would expect from a tiramisu specialist, Selected Nicks had a wide variety of tiramisu.

That day, I ordered original tiramisu, an iced Americano, and an Earl Grey latte. I ordered on the first floor, then took my drinks and dessert to the floor where I wanted to sit.

Even at a large café near Gangnam Station, I tend to be a little disappointed if the dessert is ordinary. Since tiramisu is the main attraction here, I was looking forward to it from the start.

The official introduction says it uses fresh eggs and cheese, adding its own recipe to an Italian-style tiramisu recipe. If you are looking for good tiramisu, I would recommend ordering dessert as well rather than visiting only for the space.

According to the current guidance, café hours are 8 AM to midnight on weekdays and 11 AM to 11:30 PM on weekends. Some areas, such as the eighth floor, have separate operating hours, so it is worth checking whether the specific floor is open that day before visiting.

Original tiramisu and Earl Grey latte taste

The original tiramisu I had was quite a bit larger than I expected when it arrived, which I liked. Rather than cream that collapses loosely, it was chewy yet fluffy, so the texture was obvious from the moment I scooped it up.

Some tiramisus I have had at other cafés were so cream-heavy that they became cloying after just a few bites. The tiramisu at Selected Nicks balanced the soft creaminess with the rich flavor typical of dessert, making it nice with an Americano. Here is a look at the cross-section and cream texture.

The Earl Grey latte also stayed with me. When I drank it, the tea’s pleasant bitterness came through more strongly than expected, followed by a subtle aroma and a little sweetness. Rather than the simply sweet milk tea I had imagined, its tea aroma was quite clear, so it worked well with a sweet dessert like tiramisu. The tiramisu-and-Americano pairing was the safest choice for me, but if you usually enjoy milk tea, it would be nice to order this too.

At the time I visited, the café was also running a review event. These events can change depending on the period, so it is worth checking whether one is underway when you visit.

Overall thoughts after visiting the rooftop

One thing that has disappointed me while visiting cafés around Gangnam Station is that, at busy times, I end up looking first for a café with an available seat rather than one I actually like. Especially around Gangnam Station on weekends, I have entered cafés only to leave again because there were no seats.

By that standard, Selected Nicks had a clear advantage for people who prioritize a large café near Gangnam Station: several floors are available and there are lots of tables. Even on the Friday I visited, people spending time alone and small groups naturally shared the space, and the seating and spaces felt neatly maintained.

Above all, the Gangnam rooftop was memorable. Looking out at the forest of buildings in central Gangnam from up high, with a cool breeze, felt completely different from being indoors.

For a date, it would be a nice course to have tiramisu, look around the spaces and exhibition on each floor, then head up to the rooftop. If visiting alone, it also seems good for quietly reading or working on a laptop on a relatively less crowded floor. Having visited myself, I liked that Selected Nicks was more than just a large Gangnam Station café: it combines tiramisu, exhibition space, and a rooftop to enjoy.

If plenty of seating and a quiet atmosphere matter to you in a large Gangnam Station café, it is worth a visit. For a date, try the tiramisu too, and on a nice day, make sure to go up to the rooftop at the end!