Cafés. They’re everywhere. In every city you can find a café. They’re normally pretty standard. In the UK you have your Costas and Starbucks selling your basic hot and cold drinks: lattes, cappuccinos etc. You guys know. Seoul is no different. There are cafes everywhere, however, many cafes in Seoul have a theme or an activity you can do whilst drinking. I’ve decided on my top three and will let you all know what each one of them entails.
Café Neublo
First up, and my personal favourite, is called Café Neublo. My friend and I referred to this as the keyring café, due to this café allowing you to design your very own keyring! We visited this café twice (three times if you include the time we arrived and it was closed), after falling in love the first time and feeling the urge to go back. The store is a hidden gem, and it can be difficult to find. Once you have arrived at the address below, make sure you look out for a blue sloth by some stairs. Up these stairs is the café.
Upon entering, you visit the lovely owner at the till, where you choose your drink of choice. There are both hot and cold options ranging from café lattes to strawberry yogurt (I chose the Rose Ade both times and it is a GORGEOUS, fruity drink). She then provides you with drawing equipment including coloured pencils, paints and pens, as well as paper which you draw on. If, like me, you aren’t blessed with artistic qualities, do not fear. There are plenty of books filled with designs for you to trace! However, if you love drawing and have loads of your own ideas, you can also draw freehand. How does it work? It’s quite simple. You draw onto the paper, then cut it into any shape you desire. Now it’s time for the magic to happen: the shrinking. The storeowner will take your paper and place it into a small oven, and the paper proceeds to shrink into a smaller version.
The owner then punches a hole at the top and adds a keyring and voila! You have your very own, personal keyring.
Address: 2F, 26 Donggyo-ro 51an-gil, Mapo-gu
Café Greem
Next is Café Greem. You may have seen this café before, as it trended on social media in 2023. It’s a café designed to look like its completely 2-D. Everything has been painted white with a black outline, from the tables to the cups, to give a 2-D illusion, making you feel as though you have just walked into a cartoon!
Inspired by the Korean animated series W, locals and tourists come from all over to visit this incredible photo opportunity, and experience 2-D life! There are plenty of drinks to choose from and the staff are very friendly.
There are two rooms, the main room with the till and places to sit, but there is also another room next door, with 2-D sofas and even a 2-D hat. Keep in mind though, photos can only be taken once a purchase has been made.
Address: South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, 연남동 239-20 1층 카페
Café Hyuga
Café Hyuga is perfect for you if you are part of the BTS army, as this café used to be the boy’s dorm up until 2018. It was transformed into a café in March 2022, and since then fans have travelled from all over to relax in and explore an important BTS landmark.
Upon entering, you are greeted with a mirror and a large pencil drawing of BTS.
After going up some stairs, you are then in the dorms living room, now the cashier area, where you can choose from an incredible choice of pastries, cakes and drinks. There is various fan art and pictures of the members across the café, as well as a Post-it notes wall covered with messages from fans showing their love and support, and you can add you own!
You are free to look around the café, entering all the rooms at your own pace. The other rooms used to be the members bedrooms, and each room will have fanart of whoever stayed in that room.
This café is definitely one to add to the itinerary if you are part of the BTS army!
Address: 16 Nonhyeon-ro 119-gil, Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Great information. Am going to South Korea soon so will check these out