Cover Café Layered in Seoul (Photo: Katelyn Tan)
Café Layered in Seoul (Photo: Katelyn Tan)
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Here are our picks of coffee and pastry havens in the vibrant city of Seoul
If there is one thing Seoul is not short of, it is cafés, each with its own unique interior. During a recent visit, I was astounded by the number of themed cafés, from cheese-themed bakeries with mechanical cows to traditional hanoks housing vintage treats, and purveyors of baked goods that resemble modern art.
Though there are many more to explore, listed below are eight of my most unique finds. Alternatively, if you’re looking for street food, restaurants, and bars, this food lover’s guide to the vibrant city will serve you well.
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Café Knotted
Doughnut fans rejoice—Café Knotted is an eatery dedicated to the sugary confection. With nine locations across Seoul, finding one of its signature pastel-themed stores is not difficult. While known for its doughnuts, which come piped with flavours such as milk cream, earl grey, and raspberry, also available are vintage cakes and pastries.
Cafe Knotted, Multiple locations
Soha Salt Pond
Living up to its name, Soha Salt Pond serves the iconic Korean salt bread in a cosy corner shop surrounded by a salt pond in its outdoor courtyard. The signature bread comes in flavours such as truffle and onion cream cheese.
Soha Salt Pond
Address: 21-5 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. +82 50 71353 8215
Café Layered
Rustic and quaint, walk through one of Café Layered’s vintage storefronts and you’ll be welcomed by an array of tea cakes, and sweet and savoury bakes. Known best for its scones, available in store are over 10 different varieties of the buttery bake.
Café Layered, Multiple locations
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Cheese Industry
Moving mechanical cows and milk churners attract guests into Cheese Industry, located within the lively neighbourhood of Ikseon-dong. Inside, the dairy theme continues with cakes that resemble cheese-wheels and cheese-forward pastries such as Espresso and Mascarpone, Berries and Brie, Emmental Focaccia and more.
Cheese Industry
Address: 33-7 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. +82 50 71363 1722
Café Onion Anguk
Hanok-themed Café Onion Anguk has gone viral for its cosy yet modern interior and trays bursting with pastries that are swiped by customers as soon as they are placed down. Most popular is the Pandoro, the fluffy bread-like creation topped with a mountain of powdered sugar.
Café Onion Anguk
Address: 5 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. +82 70 7543 2123
Greem Café
With a striking black and white interior made to look two-dimensional, it is no wonder that Greem Café's popularity has resulted in the owner implementing a one-purchase-per-customer rule before photography is allowed. Based in Hongdae, even the cafés cutlery is made to look 2D.
Greem Café
Address: 223-14 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Instagram.com/@greem_cafe
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Nudake
Step into Nudake, and you might mistake its pastries for modern art. A concept by Gentle Monster, the Korean eyewear company, Nudake’s seasonally-changing, minimalistic pastries range from micro-croissants to pitch black desserts made with squid ink.
Nudake
Address: 50 Apgujeong-ro 46-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. +82 70 4128 2125
Cheongsudang Café
Tranquil and serene, Cheongsudang Café is another café located in Ikseon-dong. Walk across the stepping stones through a pathway decorated with bamboo and lanterns to enter the forest-themed interior. Try the varieties of cakes baked in pottery squares.
Cheongsudang Café
Address: 31-9 Donhwamun-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. +82 2 747 8215
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About
Katelyn is the dining and travel editor of Malaysia and Indonesia. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she offers readers an inside look at the movers and shakers in Asia’s growing food and beverage industry.
