Jongno and InsadongDaily 08:00-23:00Work-friendlyWifi
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.
Signature drink: Vanilla latte
Hongdae and YeonnamDaily 11:00-21:00
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.
Signature drink: Waffles with fresh fruit ade
Hongdae and YeonnamMon-Sun 09:00-22:00Work-friendlyWifi
Anthracite converted a 1970s shoe factory on the Hapjeong waterway into Seoul's most atmospheric specialty cafe with single-origin pour-overs.
Signature drink: Single-origin pour-over
Bukchon and SamcheongMon-Fri 08:00-20:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-20:00
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.
Signature drink: Earl grey latte with plain scone
Hongdae and YeonnamMon-Fri 08:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-21:00Work-friendlyWifi
Fritz Coffee Company in Dohwa is the roaster that reshaped Seoul's specialty coffee culture, serving own-roasted single-origins in a converted factory.
Signature drink: Fritz house espresso blend
Itaewon and HannamDaily 09:00-22:00Work-friendlyWifi
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.
Signature drink: Filter pour-over from rotating single-origin board