Greenhouse Cafes Are Trending In Seoul
Trends can come and go pretty quickly in Seoul, Korea and they’re often at the whim of whichever K-drama is hot at the moment or a sudden burst of attention on Instagram, but I, for one, am hoping the newest trend of greenhouse cafes continues.
I’m not sure if it’s due to the higher than normal dust levels the city of Seoul has suffered over the past year, or if it’s just an aesthetically pleasing design that was bound to happen at some point, but greenhouse cafes are trending big time around Korea right now. I went to a few last year and now they’re just getting bigger, better, and there are just plain more to find.
If you’re a nature lover, design lover, and coffee lover, then you’ll love this list of cafes set in greenhouses to find around the capital city of Korea. Whenever possible, I’ve added directions via public transportation. Remember to take your T-Money card to get around the city easily.
Jump on this trend in Seoul, Korea while you can and visit these gorgeous greenhouse cafes… oh and there are more greenhouses at the end because they’re beautiful too.
Here are the greenhouse cafes you can find around Seoul:
- Sikmulgwan Seoul (식물관ph)
- Bilugae (비루개)
- Orangerie (오랑주리)
- Baobab Bakery Cafe (바오밥식물원베이커리&카페)
- Rose Stella Garden (로즈스텔라정원)
- Alex The Coffee (알렉스더커피 고양점)
Other greenhouses that may not be cafes, but you should see:
- Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원)
- Ilsan Lake Park Cactus Greenhouse (고양 선인장전시관)
- Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁)
- Bucheon Eco Park (부천자연생태공원)
- Bucheon Lake Botanical Garden’s Supia (부천호수식물원 수피아)
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Sikmulgwan Seoul (식물관ph)
Sikmulgwan is one of the newest greenhouse cafes on the scene just opening in April of this year in the Gangnam area of Seoul. Sikmulgwan is both a gallery and a cafe which means unlike the other greenhouses on this list, there is an entrance fee BUT that includes a drink so it’s not so outlandish. This is one of the most modern and prettiest of the greenhouse cafes I’ve visited so far.
Enter the door and visit the counter to pay the W10,000 entrance fee and pick out a drink and find a seat in the spacious interior. The main space has tables and chairs just next to a beautiful glass enclosed room with plants and books on display. Walk further in to the left and find a tall space with tons of potted greenery that towers above. We sat in this space and quite enjoyed being surrounded by the palm leaves and gigantic plants.
From the green space, make sure to walk through a door out into a small courtyard with a great modern design. This is one of the more popular photo-ops in this location where you sit on the opposite side of a cement wall with a circular cut out. There is more seating upstairs and all of it is provides a few of the spaces below on the second floor and then a quiet gallery up on the third floor.
Be sure to walk around the entire space and don’t miss a step into the glass enclosure. This cafe/gallery has a beautiful modern aesthetic that is softened by the numerous leafy plants taking over the galleries and spaces.
- Address: 590-1 Suseo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 수서동 590-1)
- How To Get There: Go to Irwon Subway Station, and go out of exit 4 and walk straight to bus stop #23384. Take bus #4419 and get off at the second stop, Suseo 119. Walk straight in the same direction the bus was headed and turn right at the first street and you’ll find the cafe less than 300 meters up on the right.
- Hours: 9:00am ~ 9:00pm
- Days: Closed Mondays
- Admission: W10,000
Bilugae (비루개)
비루개 was one of the first greenhouse cafes that I visited a couple years ago and it was the first I’d ever heard about. It’s not the easiest to find, but the trek out to a mountainside sort of makes it even better. This was an additional stop after a visit to the gorgeous Yangju Nari flower fields and it was the perfect supplement to the day.
This complex features THREE greenhouses that are combined into one giant cafe with seating options up, down, and all around. There are hammocks to sit in, rocks to lounge on, rocking chairs, bean bags, and of course some standard seating options too. The plants take over the space so it’s like walking through a jungle to find everything which makes this one of the most adventurous feeling greenhouse cafes I’ve visited.
- Address: 227 Yongam-ri, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기 남양주시 용암리 227)
- Hours: 1:00pm ~ 11:00pm
- Days: Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Orangerie (오랑주리)
Orangerie is a really interesting space that was seemingly built right on the side of a mountain. The back wall of the greenhouse is rock face and the plants and water flow from the rocks down beneath the cafe outer walls to the stream that is in front of this greenhouse cafe. This cafe really takes advantage of the waterway and streams on the mountain which makes this greenhouse one of the more humid spaces we visited.
Walk through the greenhouse following the paths up down and all around and breathe in the fresh air. There is some seating inside the greenhouse space, but since it is quite humid, most of it is on an exterior space that features glass walls on either side to see in and out. The enclosed space isn’t humid as the air is ventilated and controlled so it is a bit more comfortable to take a rest and drink a latte there.
If you visit this cool greenhouse cafe, don’t miss a visit to nearby Majang Reservoir which features the Majang Suspension Bridge which is 220 meters long and was the longest when it was built… though isn’t so anymore, but no less fun to walk across.
This suspension bridge is also great for families and people that aren’t really interested in a hike to get to it. The pathway that leads to it surrounds the man-made reservoir and is pretty flat the entire way with a wooden boardwalk to make walking even easier. This is a great addition to an adventure out into the area north of Seoul.
- Address: 414-1 Gisan-ri, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기 양주시 기산리 414-1)
- Hours: 1:00pm ~ 9:00pm
- Days: Open every day
Baobab Bakery Cafe (바오밥식물원베이커리&카페)
We recently stopped in here after a visit to a nearby outdoor gallery and had a fabulous time. This is a large arboretum that actually features a bakery/cafe just outside and then a gigantic interior area where all of the seating surrounds a huge baobab tree. Purchase some drinks and a bakery treat that add up to more than W8,000 and entrance to the greenhouse is free otherwise there’s a small admissions fee.
Walk around the paths and find various seating options some under trees and hidden between bushes and then there is a more common seating space in the center. Choose to have a more private experience or something more public.
Walk up the steps and then there is more seating on a circular platform that surrounds the tree. In the back is a koi pond and further on still in another back space is a huge bird cage which our kids really enjoyed. They sat and watched the birds fly this way and that, chirp and chatter.
- Address: 110-1 Cheoncheon-ri Maesong-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기 화성시 매송면 천천리 110-1)
- Hours: 10:00am ~ 9:00pm
- Days: Open every day
Rose Stella Garden (로즈스텔라정원)
After visiting the Ara Skywalk, we headed down the road to garden cafe that features a small but very cozy greenhouse. This is the smallest of the ones we’ve visited but so quaint and lovely. There’s also outdoor and indoor seating in a space that has been lovingly decorated. If you’re lucky, you’ll be the only ones around and can enjoy the space to yourselves like we did.
We initially took our beverages and snacks into the greenhouse seating space but even in the early spring, it was getting far too hot far too fast for us to stay. Great for pics, but not to actually hang out in unfortunately but the cafe was cozy so it worked out so that we could enjoy every space of this off the beaten path cafe.
- Address: 12 Danam-ro 143 beon-gil, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon (인천 계양구 다남로143번길 12)
- Hours: Weekdays 11:00am ~ 7:00pm; Weekends 11:00am ~ 8:00pm
- Days: Closed Mondays
Alex The Coffee (알렉스더커피 고양점)
[[The name has changed, but there is still a great cafe in the garden here.]] Alex the Coffee is a brand that has a few cafes around the city so don’t be confused, this the branch out in the Goyang area just northeast of the city of Seoul. They are not all greenhouse cafes though they are well designed and chic spots to get drinks. This cafe in Goyang sits next to a nice park and camping grounds which you can also walk around on your visit.
This greenhouse space is more planned and features more seating and air-con than the other greenhouses that are more focused on the plants inside, but it’s a beautiful space with some great baked goods.
While they were less plants inside than the other cafes I’ve talked about, there was plenty to see nearby so it makes the list for being a beautiful greenhouse cafe that focused on the consumer. Chic seating and rustic details abound here. Don’t miss this stop out near First Garden which is also a must visit.
- Address: 309-4 Sinwon-dong Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기 고양시 덕양구 신원동 309-4)
- Hours: Weekdays 12:00pm ~ 8:00pm; Weekends 11:00pm ~ 9:00pm
- Days: Open every day
If greenhouses are your jam, then you should also have these on your must-see list in Seoul. These aren’t greenhouse cafes, but these are some stunning greenhouses to check out.
Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원)
Don’t miss out on a visit to one of the newest greenhouses in Seoul at the Seoul Botanic Park. The greenhouse on the grounds of this gorgeous park is stunning and huge. It was just opened last year and exceeded all of my expectations. The Seoul Botanic Park is a must see if you like nature and natural wonder.
Inside, there are twelve international cities represented through flora and fauna. The architecture is beautiful and the outdoor park is immense and a great place to take a stroll, have a picnic and just enjoy the green space.
- Address: 812 Magok-dong Gangseo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강서구 마곡동 812)
- How To Get There: Go to Magongnaru Subway Station and go out via exit 3 or 4 to find the park directly.
- Hours: March – October: 9:30am ~ 6:00pm; November – February: 9:30am ~ 5:00pm
- Days: Closed Mondays
- Admission: W5,000
Ilsan Lake Park Cactus Greenhouse (고양 선인장전시관)
If you’re ever out visiting the Ilsan Lake Park, and you definitely should go when the Ilsan Flower Festival is being held in the spring and then again in the autumn, don’t miss the Cactus Greenhouse. Unlike the other greenhouses I’ve mentioned, this one is entirely filled with cacti and some of them are just gigantic. I’ve never seen these prickly plants in such immensity.
Make sure to walk around the lake to find this greenhouse on the backside in the park in a part that is a bit off the beaten path for most visitors.
- Address: 906 Janghang-dong Ilsandong -gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 고양시 일산동구 장항동 906)
- How To Get There: Jeongbalsan Subway Station, exit 1 or 2. Walk away from the street into the park. You’ll have to walk around the lake once you get there to find this greenhouse.
Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁)
Another greenhouse that is rather unique to the city of Seoul is the one that sits on the grounds of Changgyeonggung Palace in downtown Seoul. This greenhouse called Daeonshil, or the Great Greenhouse, was originally built in 1909 in a white Renaissance style and was built when the Japanese converted the palace into a zoo and botanical garden.
The greenhouse is the only remnant on the grounds from that time. It’s not huge, but is a beautiful piece of history and it’s something quite different from every other palace in Seoul. Walk into the palace and head around the lake to find this beautiful structure that most visitors miss.
- Address: 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 185 (와룡동))
- How To Get There: Outside of Anguk Subway Station, exit 6, find the bus stop and take bus 272, 151, 171, or 172. Take the bus two stops approximately 7 minutes to be dropped right across the street from the palace.
- Hours: February – May, September – October: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm; June – August: 9:00am ~ 6:30pm; November – January: 9:00am ~ 5:30pm
- Days: Closed Mondays
Bucheon Eco Park (부천자연생태공원)
The Bucheon Eco Park features a a botanic garden, natural ecology museum and arboretum and the beautiful peach flower shaped greenhouse. The peach flower is the symbol of Bucheon City and the five petals each feature a different theme.
It’s a beautiful collection of spaces to walk around and enjoy especially as it’s such a unique shape. Walk through the beautiful greenhouse but do NOT miss the beautiful gardens further in the park.
- Address: 660 Gilju-ro Bucheon-si Gyeonggi-do (경기도 부천시 길주로 660)
- How To Get There: Kkachiul Subway Station, exit 1. Walk straight a little over 500 meters to find the entrance to this park.
- Hours: March – October 9:30am ~ 6:00pm; November – February 9:30am ~ 5:00pm
- Days: Closed Mondays
Bucheon Lake Botanical Garden’s Supia (부천호수식물원 수피아)
The Bucheon Lake Botanical Garden just opened their greenhouse called Supia in June of this year, 2022. The space is meant to be not only a greenhouse to see plants, but also a “clean resting place where citizens can visit and rest at any time” according to their site.
There are 28,000 plants of 430 species in 8 themed gardens with everything from houseplants to a baobab garden, insectivorous plants, and more. The greenhouse also has a spacious two floor cafe on one side with every seat enjoying beautiful green views.
- Address: 15 Jomaru-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기 부천시 조마루로 15 상동호수공원)
- Directions: Go to Samsan Gymnasium Subway Station and out of exit 5 or 1 go across the street. You should see the park after exiting.
- Days: Closed Mondays
- Hours: March – November: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm; December – February: 10:00am ~ 5:00pm
- Admission: Adults: W3,000*
- Reservations are required for entrance, however, if the maximum slots haven’t been filled, then walk-ins are welcome.
I love visiting greenhouses and greenhouse cafes combine the flora and fauna with some delicious coffee and design making for some great afternoons. Don’t miss these stops when you’re headed to Seoul, Korea.
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2 Comments
fee
Wonderful! Can I share this?
Hallie
Yes, definitely. ^^