10 cafes worth the trip across South Korea, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Korea guides.
Fritz Coffee Company (Dohwa) ★ 4.7 · Seoul
Hongdae and Yeonnam · 17 Saechang-ro 2-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Fritz Coffee Company in Dohwa is the roaster that reshaped Seoul's specialty coffee culture, serving own-roasted single-origins in a converted factory.
Anthracite Coffee Hapjeong ★ 4.6 · Seoul
Hongdae and Yeonnam · 10 Tojeong-ro 5-gil, Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Anthracite converted a 1970s shoe factory on the Hapjeong waterway into Seoul's most atmospheric specialty cafe with single-origin pour-overs.
gml Coffee Hannam ★ 4.6 · Seoul
Itaewon and Hannam · 22 Hannam-daero 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
gml Hannam runs an espresso-free filter-only program with more than 20 single-origin pour-overs from roasters like Prodigal, Dak Amsterdam and Hatch Ontario, written up with tasting notes on a chalkboard wall.
Center Coffee Seoul Forest ★ 4.6 · Seoul
Seongsu and Dongdaemun · 28-11 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Center Coffee sits at the Seoul Forest edge of Seongsu, a three-floor specialty cafe from past UK Barista Champion Sang Ho Park, pouring single-origin Geisha and Esmeralda on the rooftop with park views.
Cha Masineun Tteul ★ 4.5 · Seoul
Bukchon and Samcheong · 26 Bukchon-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Cha Masineun Tteul (the tea-drinking garden) is a traditional hanok teahouse in Bukchon with a courtyard view of the Samcheong rooftops, serving a long Korean tea list with steamed rice cakes and red bean soup.
Cafe Layered Anguk ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Bukchon and Samcheong · 2-3 Bukchon-ro 2-gil, Jae-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Cafe Layered's Anguk branch sits a minute from Bukchon Hanok Village with an English country-kitchen counter heaped with scones, tea cakes and a properly built earl grey latte.
Cafe Onion Seongsu ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Seongsu and Dongdaemun · 8 Achasan-ro 11-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Cafe Onion turned a crumbling concrete warehouse in Seongsu into one of Seoul's most-photographed spaces, with a thick-cut honey butter toast counter.
Tea Therapy ★ 4.3 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 35 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tea Therapy is the most design-conscious teahouse on the Insadong strip, selling hand-blended teas named after Korean folklore characters in ceramic.
Thanks Nature Cafe ★ 3.9 · Seoul
Hongdae and Yeonnam · B1-121 Seogyo Prugio Shopping Mall, 10 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Seoul's original sheep cafe (2011) near Hongik University: resident sheep in a garden pen have become a Hongdae landmark alongside waffles and fruit drinks.
Holly's Coffee Insadong ★ 3.8 · Seoul
Jongno and Insadong · 168-5 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Holly's is a Korean-born cafe chain that has held its audience while Starbucks expanded, with its vanilla latte and toasted sandwiches as the reliable menu.