15 Cafes Making A Statement in Hongdae

Café hopping is one of the ultimate past times to have if you visit or live in Seoul, Korea. It’s just utterly amazing how many interesting and new cafes there are are ALWAYS! Korea has unique design concepts and quirky fun cafes too.

If you’re visiting Seoul, every day should have at least one interesting cafe stop. If you live in Seoul, then you KNOW you have to get out to see a cool cafe once awhile if not more. Here is a list of the coolest and best cafes to check out in the Hongdae / Hapjeong area of Seoul. This district is known for the young college crowd and the live music and arts and lots and lots of cool cafes. Don’t miss them!

There are some great cafes in Hongdae and plenty of things to do in Hongdae too. Here are the ones you can’t miss:

1. Perception
2. Sin Lee Doga (신이도가)
3. Cong Caphe (콩카페)
4. Sanrio Lover’s Club Pop-Up (산리오 러버스 클럽)
5. Cinnamoroll Sweet Cafe (시나모롤 스위트카페)
6. Four B Basic (포비베이직)
7. StyleNanda Pink Pool Cafe (스타일난다 핑크풀카페)
8. Thanks Nature Cafe (땡스네이쳐카페)
9. caFACE
10. Bamvoo (밤부 베이커리&브루잉)
11. Musinsa Terrace (무신사 테라스)
12. Anthracite (앤트러사이트 합정점)
13. Colline (콜린)
14. 943 King’s Cross Harry Potter Cafe (943 킹스크로스)
15. Greem (그림카페)

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1. Perception

This is one of the most well designed cafes I’ve seen in awhile. The undulating ceiling is interesting from every angle. You’ll want to sit in every corner of this small cafe to see how the waves move and groove. It’s really a beautiful space with great coffee and caramel made in house. This is definitely one of those must visit cafes in the Hongdae/Hapjeong area of Seoul.

• Address: Mapo-gu Hapjeong-dong 355-2 (마포구 합정동 355-2)
• Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 10:00pm

2. Sin Lee Doga (신이도가)

This cafe is a surprising find in Hongdae because it’s partially in a traditional Korean Hanok. You don’t find too many traditional Hanoks in Hongdae, but this cafe is a beautiful one that is also connected to a more modern industrial space. There’s also a fire pit and if you buy marshmallows, you can cook them yourself. Beware though, it’s in the central garden area so everyone sitting in the Hanok will be watching you. 

• Address: 20-12 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 잔다리로 20-12)
• Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 10:00pm

3. Cong Caphe (콩카페)

If you’ve been to Vietnam or just love Vietnamese coffee, then definitely go to Cong Caphe. Enjoy the cool design with Vietnamese military decor and then order your favorite Vietnamese coffee drink. It will definitely hit the spot.

• Address: 161-14 Seongmisan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 성미산로 161-14)
• Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 11:00pm

4. Sanrio Lover’s Club Pop-Up (산리오 러버스 클럽)

 Sanrio is a Japanese company that designs, licenses, and produces products focusing on their characters. Their best known character is the super cute Hello Kitty. Other well-known characters include My Melody, Keroppi, Bad Badtz-Maru, Cinnamoroll, Jewelpet, Gudetama, and Aggressive Retsuko.

What was just supposed to be a pop-up but was so popular, it’s still standing. The Sanrio Cafe is pink, whimsical, and has all of your favorite Sanrio characters. You’ll find just as many children as adults enjoying this space on a hill in central Hongdae area.

The first floor of the café features photo-op spots to the left, the café to purchase drinks and food, and a shop which is bustling. There is also a second floor of photo-ops but a reservation is required to sit there… or even go up to see it.

• Address: 18 Wausan-ro 19-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 와우산로19길 18)
• Hours: Every day: 12:00pm ~ 9:00pm

5. Cinnamoroll Sweet Cafe (시나모롤 스위트카페)

If you love Sanrio, don’t miss the OTHER Sanrio cafe in the area. Devoted to Sanrio’s character Cinnamoroll specifically, there are cute photo-op spots and of course cute sweet treats too. The drinks and food are specific to this one as well and different from what is offered at Sanrio Lover’s Club. They were surprisingly good though. I’ve often found that drinks and food at pop-ups is all about being cute and not so much about the taste, but these were quite nice.

• Address: Hongdae AK&, 188 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 양화로 188 홍대 AK&)
• Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 10:00pm

6. Four B Basic (포비베이직)

Get your bagels, smears and coffees and sit downstairs in the rocky corridors and green space or head upstairs to the white walled spaces. There’s also a rooftop for a view of the area. The entire building is designed beautifully, if a bit oddly, and is just cool not to mention the best place in the area to get a good bagel and topping.

• Address: 426-18 Hapjeong-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 합정동 426-18)
• Hours: Every day: 10:30am ~ 9:00pm

7. StyleNanda Pink Pool Cafe (스타일난다 핑크풀카페)

StyleNanda Pink Pool Cafe is another Instagrammer’s paradise with pink pink pink and a random pool inside too. Get ready to dive into a beach-themed cafe and drink up on the refreshing coffees. This is a very popular cafe consistently and for good reason.

• Address: 335-21 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 서교동 335-21)
• Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 10:00pm

8. Thanks Nature Cafe (땡스네이쳐카페)

Thanks Nature Cafe, also known as the sheep cafe in Hongdae, is the most popular animal cafe in the area. There is always something interesting and quirky to find in Hongdae. Visit it and then head out to some of the other fun and cool things to do in Hongdae.

The cafe is set down a flight of steps. The steps lead to an area that has been cordoned off where two sheep make their home. The sheep are Maengu, or if you’re like my little one and just learned the word mango then his name will sound more like Mango probably, and Jjangu.

Maengu is the bigger one and seems to be the go-getter of the pair confidently walking right over to introduce himself and see what sundries we had for him to chew on. The smaller one is Jjangu and once he got an eyeful of the little one traipsing into the pen, he skedaddled to the safety of his smaller pen which has a sign that asks that people don’t enter. I think it’s their safe place and respecting that is always a good thing. They are basically outside except that they are covered by the floor above so they are protected from inclement weather.

The sheep are friendly and the staff in the cafe is ever watchful and will come and sweep away the poo pellets and put sawdust on the pee so that no one is getting dirty. There is a bench around the pen area that people can sit on to hang around the sheep for some time if they like as well or if you want a different vantage point like our little one, then the bench is the place to go.

The sheep seem to be well taken care of and are used to the poking and prodding of little ones. The cafe, where there are food and drinks, is housed inside separated from the sheep by a glass wall so no food or drink can be contaminated.

• Address: Mapo-gu Seoggyo-dong 486 (서울시 마포구 서교동 486)
• Hours: Every day: 12:00pm ~ 9:00pm

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9. caFACE

Living in a selfie world, it’s no wonder that this cafe exists. Have you ever wanted to turn your selfie into a latte? Well you can at caFACE! (Aptly named) I literally took a selfie of me sipping a cafe latte with a selfie of me on it. Where else can you even do that?? This is just the quirky kind of cafe you need to visit while you’re in Hongdae.

• Address: Mapo-gu Hongik-ro 3-gil 20 B2 (마포구 홍익로3길 20 B2)
• Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 9:00pm

10. Bamvoo (밤부 베이커리&브루잉)

The croissants are delicious and the orange lattes really hit the spot. Chic and delicious. The two best traits a cafe can have in my opinion. A cafe that is more than just looks, but the chandelier outside is a beautiful touch, but serves up good eats and drinks too.

• Address: 386-11 Hapjeong-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 합정동 386-11)
• Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 10:30pm

11. Musinsa Terrace (무신사 테라스)

While most cafes are down in the midst of the bustle, there are a few that stand above the rest… far above the rest. Musinsa is the cafe to find in Hongdae if you want one with all of the views. There is indoor an outdoor seating. The space is also where various fashion events, pop-ups, and other cool events take place so hopefully you can visit for one of those too. It’s a beautiful place to take in the views.

• Address: 17th floor, 188 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 양화로 188 17층)
• Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 9:00pm

12. Anthracite (앤트러사이트 합정점)

Set in an old shoe factory, this Anthracite in Hapjeong is just one of five that the Anthracite brand has created from unique spaces. This Anthracite is dark and moody with all of the mismatched appeal it could muster. The ceilings are high, the coffee and desserts delicious and there are plenty of places to sit and hide away to get work done or have a serious conversation.

This factory turned cafe is giant so if you want a spot you’ll be almost assured to find seating in, then head here. Each Anthracite has a different vibe and aesthetic.

• Address: Mapo-gu Hapjeong-dong 357-6 (서울특별시 마포구 합정동 357-6)
• Hours: Every day: 9:00am ~ 10:00pm

13. Colline (콜린)

If you’ve spent any time in Hongdae, you’ve probably walked past Colline when you were headed in or out. It’s sits on the busy parking street near the Hapjeong Sangsu end and is gorgeous. Flowers flowers everywhere and windows too. Sit downstairs in the greenhouse area surrounded by flowers or upstairs for a quieter space.

Get your hands on some of their DELICIOUS cakes and sweets and don’t forget that latte with a cotton candy cloud to bring it all together. This is also a great place to start your day if you’re in the area early too and they have flowers year round!

• Address: 403-13 Soegyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서교동 403-13)
• Hours: Every day: 10:30am ~ 11:00pm

14. 943 King’s Cross Harry Potter Cafe (943 킹스크로스)

This Harry Potter-themed cafe has been a fan favorite since it opened. With a range of Harry Potter-inspired goods and five floors of photo-ops, it’s everything any Harry Potter fan could want. Use the props, take some fun photos, drink the specialty coffees, the Harry Potter-inspired cocktails, or choose a tea.

• Address: 24 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 양화로16길 24)
• Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30am ~ 8:30pm; Friday – Sunday: 10:00am ~ 9:30pm

15. Greem (그림카페)

One of the most popular cafes in the area is Greem. Featured in news articles, movies including To All The Boys: Always and Forever. This 2D cafe created with just some white paint and black lines is quirky and fascinating all at the same time. Even the mugs that are used are 2D designed. It’s cool and super Instagram-worthy.

• Address: 161-10 Seongmisan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울시 마포구 성미산로 161-10)
• Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 12:00pm ~ 9:00pm

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Cafe hunting is one of my favorite things to do. You definitely don’t have to go to the same cafe twice in Seoul. What’s the best cafe you’ve found around?

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