If there is one thing Seoul is known for having, it will be a crazy amount of interesting and pretty cafes all around! Pretty much stayed in Seoul after the Incheon trip cos exams were coming up so we couldn't really find a time to venture out. So we decided to do some cafe hopping and this post will be dedicated to those pretty cafes i went!
1. Cheongchun Cat Cafe in Hongdae
My friends love cats, im not a big fan of them but i was okay with going since i like animals in general:) This place was a pleasant surprise! We initially wanted to go to Tom's Cat cafe, but it seems like it has closed down or something? So we went to the nearest possible cat cafe. There are tons of them around hongdae though, so you can just slowly take your pick. We decided on this cos people recommended it online haha. Other than the cafe being pretty small and the drinks a rip off (8,000w= basically paying for entrance into the cat cafe, but this price is similar around all the animal cafes here), it was a really nice place to spend the day!
 |
| hahaha grumpy cat! |
Directions: Take the subway to Sangsu station on line 6. Go out at exit 1
and do a 180 degree turn. Walk along the left hand side footpath of the
road you are now facing. As you walk you’ll cross at one set of lights.
On your left you’ll come to a park at the top of a set of stairs. Take
the stairs up and walk across the park. Between Smoothie King and a Ho
Bar is an alley way, and at the end of the alley is the entrance to the
stairwell which leads up to the cafe which is on the 3rd floor.
So upon reaching we are expected to put our shoes in lockers outside and sanitize our hands before entering. Once inside, we have to order one drink each and leave our belongings all inside a locker there, before playing with the cats. Pretty fun experience there, I wouldn't mind going back there cos the cats are so gentle and tame, they basically just curl in your arms to sleep:)
2. May Island book cafe
So we decided to visit this study cafe to do some productive revision before finals haha. I must say this place is highly recommended if you need a quiet place to do some studying! It basically works like a library, except that you get a drink when you enter, and you are entitled to 5hrs to use a table there. It is very well furnished, complete with table lamps all if you see my pictures below, and it was so quiet that even flipping of book pages seems deafening. I felt kinda stifled cos I couldn't even whisper to my friends there cos I was afraid of bothering the other people studying there haha. But yupp, if you really need a place to concentrate, this is the place to go!
Directions: Closest subway station: Gangnam Station (Line 2), Sinnonhyeon Station (Line 9)
Yongin Building 4F
Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Yeoksam-dong 816-6
3. Capi Capi Loom Loom cafe
Welcome to the world of Rilakkummas!!! haha this cafe is basically themed around Rilakkumas, which is this bear like soft toy(see pictures!) haha not a crazy fan of it as well, but I thought this would be an interesting place to go since we won't ever see this in Singapore! Spammed pictures here cos they were just too cute already haha.
Directions: Nearest train station: Sungshin Women's University Station line 4, exit 1. Turn right into the alley
before KB bank and walk straight until you see a cross junction. Turn
left and keep right. The cafe is on your right.
4. Cafe Comma
Yet another study cafe! haha we were a little obsessed over finding study cafes cos we were too bored with studying in our rooms and needed some fresh air! This cafe is really good for studying too! But I think it gets a little crowded cos it is located in the central area (Hongdae), and so it is definitely not quiet like May Island. Nevertheless, I was quite productive that day cos I was pretty comfortable in my own corner with a huge study table! The drinks were pretty good too, i had some chocomint drink!:)
Directions: Exit 5, Hongik University Station. Come out of the exit and just turn and walk behind in the opposite direction. It is just beside the exit!
5. Cafe The Bridge
So we happened to chance upon this cafe cos like May Island cafe, cafe comma only allows a maximum of 5 hours to a table. I went there earlier by myself to study, and by the time my friends came, I was only left with about 20mins to 5hrs before I had to leave and let other people have the space. So we decided to just leave anyway and find another cafe to study at. This cafe is pretty rad!! It is kinda like a dungeon, there are many different rooms inside and upon entering the servers there will allocate you to your own private room! Pretty interesting cos we have to take out our shoes and leave them in the locker, and climb this narrow stairs and low ceilings to get to our room! Not recommended for studying though. It was good in a sense that we got our own room, but the lights there were too dim and our eyes got very irritated after awhile!
Directions: Exit 9, Hongik University Station.
6. Thanks Nature Cafe
Sheep themed cafe!!! MEHHHHH MEHHHHHH lollll! So they really have live sheeps living at the cafe haha, pretty cute and interesting theme, but other than that, nothing really special about the cafe. I did not take much pictures there as I wasn't feeling well that day. The waffles were pretty good though! Can try it if you happen to drop by the cafe :)
Directions: 486, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu Seogyo Prugio Apartment store B121
Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 9. Turn left to go
up hill at the first intersection. Walk towards Hongik University’s Main
Gate. Look out for a neon sign that reads the café name and photos of
sheep attached.
7. Cafe Noriter
This is another cafe that is really similar to Cafe The Bridge, we have individual rooms and all, super cool! I think it is way prettier than cafe The Bridge, but the staff were definitely less friendly there and the drinks were pretty sweet! Sadly didn't take as much pictures there too, cos I did not have my dslr with me then as I just arrived in Seoul, hence the pictures are all pretty blur. :/
 |
| My pretty friend:) |
|
|
|
|
|
Directions: Ewha Women's University Exit 1
Walk straight down and turn right on the first turning when you see a huge MISSHA store.
Keep walking straight down and Cafe Noriter will be on your left. (it is on the second level)
8. Cafe Hoho Myoll
This is by far the prettiest cafe I have been in Seoul! Really super pretty and cosy!! I will definitely come back here again before I leave Seoul. The owner( I think hes the owner) is very friendly too, he engages in small conversations with almost every customer that came in. (i was observing the 2 hours i was there lol) and he is cheerful demeanor definitely made the place so much more lively:)
Directions: 서울시 마포구 상수동 93-44 1F
93-44 Mapo-gu, Sangsu-dong, Seoul
Sangsu Station, Line 6, Exit 2. Turn left and walk towards Hongik University.
9. We are here
This cafe was the 1st ever cafe I visited when i arrived in Seoul? It is opened by eatyourkimchi, and my friends wanted to go to this cafe so badly so we decided to make a trip there. Wasn't a disappointment definitely :) It was a very pretty place, found in a quite neighbourhood off Hongdae. Definitely the perfect place to spend a lazy chill afternoon there :)
10. BauHouse cafe
Dog cafe!! Finally I am back here a year later! Came to this cafe when I visited Seoul last year, and fell in love with the dogs here. Decided to bring my parents here when they came to visit me since they love dogs as well, but it seemed they were pretty scared cos big dogs were roaming around freely haha! Definitely a must visit place if you are a dog lover! The dogs here are really so cute, I could spend the whole day just sitting here and playing with them. But my dog is much cuter heehee I miss my oreo can't wait to seem him when I am back! Tip: Buy a small treat there and the dogs will be swarming over to you in no time at all! :)
Directions: Jeil Bldg. 1F 394-44 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu,Seoul, South Korea
394-44 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. (Je-il Building, rear entrance, 1st floor)
서울특별시 마포구 서교동 394-44 제일빌딩 후면 1층
Hapjeong Station, Exit 3. Turn right and walk down the nearest road – Yanghwa-ro 8-gil - and you should see the sign for Bau House on the ground floor window of the building.
11. Cafe Oui
Situated in the area of garousil gil, this cafe is certainly a pretty sight that must not be missed! Garousil gil is famous for its pretty cafes, and just walking along that area alone will leave you awestruck by how pretty the exterior of the cafes look! You definitely won't have the chance to go into every cafe, but if you have to choose one, you got to come here. This cafe is set with a minimalist white theme, really simple but beautiful! The brunch there is really delicious and filling too! *update* I went there a couple of days ago and it seems like the place is under renovation or closed down?! It would really be a pity if it as closed down:( I think there are other outlets in Hongdae? But nowhere near as big as this outlet and i'm not sure if they serve brunch there as well!
Directions: Take Line #3 to Sinsa Station. Take exit 8, and follow the directions
to Garosugil (walk straight for about 5-10 minutes, and turn left onto
the street that says “Garosugil”).
Once you’re on Garosugil, keep walking on the left side until you see
Beans Bins Café. Turn left. Walk straight one block, then turn right at
the mini intersection. Keep walking straight until you see the 7-11,
then turn left. Café Oui will be on your right.
So that's all for now for the cafes and their reviews! I actually visited way more cafes than this, just that I did not take pictures or they were less memorable so I did not list them down here haha. probably will keep updating this post as I go to visit more cafes! :)
