6 cafes to get COFFEE in SEOUL!

Getting coffee in the morning has become a ritual for many individuals. It offers us the energy we need to get the day started. When I'm in Seoul on vacation, I make it a point to stop by some of the city's most Instagrammable coffee shops.

Seoul's coffee experience is made interesting by dining in converted Hanok to repurposed factories to themed coffee places. It was announced on October 8 that Singapore and South Korea have agreed to Launch Vaccinated travel lanes from Nov 15 onwards.

It is time for those that are planning to have their long-awaited holiday out of Singapore to start planning their itinerary!

Anthracite Coffee Roasters (Seoul)

Once a shoe factory, but now a coffee shop. Anthracite coffee roasters converted to become a cafe with modern industrial-chic designs. To achieve an industrial feel, A mix of greys, neutrals, and rustic colors can be seen throughout. Some of the key elements for this cafe include stone flooring and large windows.  The centerpiece for the second floor of this cafe is a green space in the middle. This is by far one of the most instagrammable cafes in Seoul that I have been to. 

I ordered a cup of latte that comes with a simple latte art heart. Medium-bodied and smooth with a nutty aroma. There is nothing like a cup of coffee ☕ to warm up my soul and start my day right! 

Address: 240 Itaewon-ro, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: Mon -Thurs 9am - 10pm

Fri - Sun 10am - 11pm

Contempo (Seoul)

I passed by Contempo when I was on the way to Matchacha. They are located in Seongsu-dong.

The room is outfitted with couches and side tables by Jackson Chameleon, a local design furniture firm. The seating arrangement varies on a regular basis.

The decor is really cool, with blue couches taking up the majority of the room, creating a very peaceful mood in the café. I couldn't stop myself from ordering a cup of coffee.

Address: 301-72 Seongsu-dong 2(i)-ga, Seoul

Opening Hours: 11am - 8pm (Closed on Monday)

Daelim Changgo Gallery COLUMN (Seoul)

Daelim Changgo Gallery COLUMN is a cafe cum art gallery located in Seongsu-dong. It is located in a red brick building that was used to be a factory and is now a warehouse.

The café is rather large, so there will be plenty of room for conversing or admiring the artwork.

Address: 78 Seongsui-ro, Seongsu 2(i)-ga 1(il)-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm

Seoul Coffee 1945 (Seoul)

They are located in one of the happiest neighborhoods in Seoul which is Ikseon-dong. It is packed with people when I was there. Seoul Coffee 1945 is a minimalistic hanok-style cafe that blends harmoniously with traditional Korean architecture.

They offer great coffee selections, bakeries, and ice cream. 

Their signature bakeries are the ang butter bread (a sliced block of butter and red bean paste stuffed in the bread). 

Is there anything better than butter bread than freshly baked bread with blocks of butter? This bread is not only Instagram-worthy, but it's also pillowy soft! I went with the squid ink flavor. Red bean paste was packed into the two slits, and a huge slab of butter was placed on top of each crack!

Address: 166-31 Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: 11am - 10.30pm

Anguk 153 (Seoul)

This bakery/café includes an open kitchen and a display of white bread. I'm not sure if those are intended to be consumed. The ambiance is fairly simple, with antique chairs and tables, natural hardwood floors, and ceilings that harken back to the past days.

Address: 51 Yulgok-ro, Anguk-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: 8am - 8pm

Café Onion Anguk 

“I judge a cafe by the bread and by the coffee.” Cafe Onion raises the bar by offering a wide range of options and, on top of that, their cafe is pure beauty. What could be better than traveling back in time and dining in a hanok? There's so much feeling here! To go with my coffee, I ordered a BUTTERY flaky croissant and a matcha scone.

Address: South Korea, Seoul, Jongno-gu, Gye-dong, 계동길 5

Opening Hours: 7am - 10pm