14 of the Best Cafes in Seoul, South Korea
I wanted to visit as many of the best cafes in Seoul during my week there, but there are just so many to choose from. South Korea is known for many things but a lot of travellers don’t realise just how big the country’s coffee scene is…
In the capital city of Seoul, locals and tourists alike can pick from thousands of different coffee shops, many of which use home-roasted beans.
The city is jam-packed with the best coffee shops South Korea has to offer.
So much so, Seoul is a great place to dip your toe into the wonderful world of specialty coffee, unique beverages, and quirky cafes.
In fact, the coffee scene here has so much to offer, you have no choice but to dive in head first. If you live for the coffee culture, you’ve come to the right place.
In today’s post, I’m going to be showing you the best cafes in Seoul. I’ll show you the cafes you have to visit if you want the best coffee, trendy vibes, and a delicious bite to eat.
Best Coffee Shops in Seoul
These are the Seoul cafes you should make a beeline to…
1. Cafe Layered
The first cafe on this list off the best cafes in Seoul is Cafe Layered. Found in Garosu-gil in Sinsa-Dong, this is a charming cafe that serves some of the best coffee and a huge selection of cakes.
You can buy a classic South Korean lunch or dinner here, but you have to try the cakes instead.
The cafe makes all its own pastries, cupcakes, and the most amazing cheesecakes. Aside from coffee, this dainty cafe also sells a range of matcha-cream drinks.
Everything about this cafe is great. The interior design is magnificent too, offering a uniquely Japanese style in the heart of South Korea.
2. Ddong Cafe
Ddong Cafe is a Seoul cafe dedicated to… dong. Or poop.
Go inside and you’ll see everything here is poop related, from the cushions, to the serving dishes, to the menu. You’ll find it’s also known as the ‘poop cafe in Seoul’.
I didn’t actually sit in here, but instead ordered one of these poo shaped delicacies from the window and walked round the nearby market eating the gooey chocolate from the inside of it. Mmmm, chocolate shaped like poo – appetising!
3. Nolsoop Plus
I loved Nolsoop Plus. I wasn’t getting the best sleeps in my hostel in Seoul unfortunately, so an hour or two here lying in my own personal cabin on the Wi-Fi and in the warm was just what I needed.
It’s actually a book cafe, but such is the modern world that I didn’t get past my phone.
See, I was tucked up in one of those cosy cabins at the back. Absolutely loved it!
If you’re visiting Korea in autumn, or spending winter in South Korea, the cafes are a great place to get some refuge.
4. Wizard Cafe (Harry Potter cafe!)
Look at this, 7 floors of Harry Potter goodness right there!
The Wizard Cafe in Seoul is awesome. So much to see and do, and they serve wine and cakes, and proper meals too.
Look at me drinking wine in Ollivanders wand shop – what a dream!
5. Flower Cafe
This was more of a tea shop in Seoul than a coffee shop, with all different flowery teas to choose from. Every floor was decorated with dried flowers, and as I’m sure you can imagine, there were girls everywhere getting their Instagram on.
I decided to join them, with a flowery tea of my own, right by a flowery wall – as is the Instagram way.
READ MORE: The Best Places to Stay in Seoul
6. Cafe Onion Anguk
Heralded as one of the best cafes in Seoul, if not the whole of South Korea, Cafe Onion Anguk is one of the best cafes to stop by on your way to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Situated in Anguk, the cafe has a neat hanbok (traditional Korean house) design.
Resembling a home from the Joseon dynasty, you can expect a traditional roof, open windows, floor seats, and traditional wooden tiles.
If you seek an authentic Korean experience, this is the place to go.
When it comes to food and drink, Cafe Onion has it all. There are fresh cakes and pastries, hot fresh coffee, and traditional Korean dishes.
The avocado pollack roe baguette is particularly popular.
7. Moon Cafe
Another cafe you’ll find near Gyeongbokgung Palace is Moon Cafe. The Moon Cafe features a similar theme to Cafe Onion but offers extra entertainment.
In an attempt to offer a one-of-a-kind experience, this cafe regularly treats customers to traditional Korean music.
To top the experience off, the cafe serves classic Korean desserts and drinks as you sit back and relax.
A fresh cup of coffee, waffles, or an authentic patbingsu should be on your list of things to try.
You’ll leave the cafe feeling refreshed, full, and with memories to last a lifetime.
READ MORE: Fancy getting out of the city?
Here are the best day trips from Seoul to enjoy.
8. ACOFFEE Seoul
The next Seoul cafe on this list is ACOFFEE Seoul. ACOFFEE Seoul is the sister of the original Melbourne ACOFFEE branch. This is the perfect cafe in Seoul to visit if you simply seek a good coffee.
Featuring a minimalist design, the cafe handpicks the beans from the brand’s headquarters.
As a result, the beans change from one season to the next, offering a different flavour every time you visit.
The coffee is roasted in small batches so that the most can be made of each variety. This results in a super delicious cup of coffee, oozing quality and natural flavours.
9. Cerulean
Located in the creative Insa-Dong, Cerulean is a cafe best known for its eatery, teahouse, gallery, and traditional craft shop. You can pick up some great Korean souvenirs here!
Half of the cafe is taken up by the hanbok-style seating area, whilst the other half consists of a sleek glass structure.
This creates a unique coffee experience that blends the past with the future. This is easily one of the best places in Seoul to enjoy a coffee.
Alongside your fresh coffee, you can enjoy a variety of snacks including home baked cookies.
Cerulean is a cool place to buy quirkier drinks too. The baristas are known for making a wide range of weird and wonderful concoctions that look great and taste even better.
10. Coffee Nap Roasters
Coffee Nap Roasters is a popular Seoul cafe and coffee shop that can be found in the Yeonnam-dong area. This cafe makes our list for a number of reasons.
First of all, Coffee Nap Roasters sell a variety of impressive monster-sized cakes and pastries. Secondly, the cafe uses its own brand of coffee to make your drink.
Finally, Coffee Nap Roasters has one of the quirkiest interior designs you’ll ever see.
The cafe was built around a mound that was covered in brick. Therefore, the floor in the cafe rises higher and higher the further in you get. This creates an utterly bonkers design.
11. Cong Caphe
It’s also possible to experience a Vietnamese-style cafe during a trip to South Korea.
Cong Caphe offers the best experience. Cong Caphe is a popular cafe franchise that has coffee shops across Vietnam.
The franchise has now started opening cafes in Seoul too.
To date, there are a handful of Cong Caphe’s in Seoul, so make sure you pay one of them a visit.
Inside a Cong Caphe, you’ll find a simple, yet sophisticated interior, Vietnamese food, and classic Vietnamese drinks.
One of the most popular drinks to try is ca phe cot dua, which is a frozen coconut drink that many would argue is a dessert.
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12. Ongozisin
Ongozisin is regarded by many as the best cafe in Seoul. Famous for its scenic views and awesome coffee, this is a must-visit cafe during your trip to Seoul.
Aside from selling what is arguably the best coffee in Seoul, Ongozisin has the best views of the Gwanak District.
Therefore, if you want to kick back and relax, enjoy a fresh coffee, and take in some of the city’s best views, you need to visit.
That’s not all this cafe has to offer either.
The cafe also has a wonderful menu that features interesting snacks and lunches. Two foods you have to try are the monggo buns and the paprika ice cream.
13. The Royal Food And Drink
The penultimate Seoul cafe on this list is the Royal Food and Drink. The Royal Food and Drink is widely believed to be the best coffee shop in the city for brunch.
The cafe offers a staggering range of hearty dishes that will fill your belly and satisfy your soul.
While you enjoy a fresh sandwich, salad, or bagel, you’ll also be treated to impressive views of the city.
In fact, the cafe actually has a scenic rooftop view that offers unparalleled views of Namsan Tower.
Best cafes in Seoul
Seoul is blessed with thousands of epic cafes and coffee shops that offer locals and tourists the chance to enjoy a fresh drink, delicious food, and something new.
While it’s impossible to list all the cafes in Seoul, I’ve listed the ones generally considered to be the best.
Now you have this list at your fingertips, you should be able to find somewhere great to grab a coffee and a bite to eat. And if you want to experience more of South Korea’s cool cafe culture, there are some great places to visit on Jeju Island. I loved it so much I hired a car and drove round Jeju Island!