Kevin 
If youโre looking for a nice coffee shop in Seoul, consider visiting this hanok cafe! (First time to book on WAUG? Youโll get a โฉ3,000 or $3 discount coupon after signing up ๐)
Highlights
- Experience the vibrant cafe scene in Hapjeong when you visit this coffee shop!
- Need to camp out with a friend or two? Visit this study cafe in Hongdae thatโs recommended by locals!
- Other great cafes in Seoul where you can chill are Bluish Brew Coffee and Order Espresso near COEX.
- WAUG (์๊ทธ) is the No. 1 travel and dining activity booking platform from South Korea. If youโre not a user yet, download the app here, sign up, and get the $3 or โฉ3,000 welcome coupon ๐ฅณ)
Explore more: 2 Best Cafes in Jeju That are Totally Instagram-Worthy
Best Neighborhood Cafes in Seoul
Those of us who frequent coffee shops know how frustrating it is to be in a store that fails to meet the standards. We like a place where thereโs good customer service, enough space, a standard number of amenities (like plugs and tables for those who need to work or study), and, of course, great coffee and food. Take away one or two of these elements, and the mood just breaks.
While Seoul has one of the most lauded coffee scenes in the world, some stores can still be amiss. If youโre a resident in Korea whoโs searching for coffee shop recommendations where you can work or study, or if youโre a visitor whoโs looking for the best Insta-worthy spots to chill in, consider visiting the following cafes in Seoul that you can book at a discount:
1. Cafe Nieun in Jongro
Cafe Nieun near Anguk Station is a hanok coffee shop in Seoul that doesnโt fail to impress! With its traditional Korean design and a lawn where you can get laidback, many locals just love to hang out here (usually after visiting the nearby Changdeokgung or Changdeok Palace). Itโs a good alternative to the usually-packed Onion Cafe, especially if you need a table where you can rest your laptop and an area where you can concentrate on reading.
Some of the must-try menu items here are their Cafe Americano, Ginger Latte, sikhye (sweet Korean rice drink), and their carrot cake, which you can book below at a discount.
| MENU | PRICE ON WAUG |
|---|---|
| 2 Hot Americano + 1 Carrot Cake | โฉ13,500 |
| 2 Iced Americano + 1 Carrot Cake | โฉ15,000 |
| 2 Hot Ginger Latte | โฉ10,000 |
| 2 Iced Ginger Latte | โฉ11,000 |
| 2 Iced Sikhye | โฉ10,000 |
This cafe in Seoul is located in 102 Yulgok-ro, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. They are open from 11am-8pm on weekdays and 10am-8pm on weekends.
2. Order Espresso Cafe in Gangnam
If you like spacious and bright coffee shops, Order Espresso in Gangnam is for you! Pop open your laptop in this cafe and enjoy their signature bottled Strawberry Milk (โฉ6,100 or $5), Americano (โฉ 3,800 or $3.6), or French Vanilla Latte (โฉ 5,200 or $4.5). They also serve fresh scones, cookies, and various breads here, so visiting this place will be a very sweet experience!
| MENU | PRICE ON WAUG |
|---|---|
| Americano | โฉ3,800 |
| Latte | โฉ4,700 |
| French Vanilla Latte | โฉ5,200 |
| Bottled Milk Tea | โฉ6,600 |
| Fresh Strawberry Milk | โฉ6,100 |
This cafe in Seoul is located in 27, Bongeunsa-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. They are open from 8:30am-10:30pm on weekdays and 11:30am-9:30pm on weekends.
3. Picky Papa Cafe in Gangnam
Picky Papa Cafe is one of the best community cafes in Seoul for three reasons. First, they make great coffee, pizza, breads, and gelato here. Second, they offer a very conducive place to study and work (Iโm writing this article from here!). Finally, they have a mini garden space thatโs very cozy. Many coffee and gelato lovers often visit this place, but itโs also popular among fans of Kang Daniel, who has a special spot here.
If you come visit Picky Papa Cafe in Gangnam, make sure to try their Red Bean Bread, Gelato, and brick-oven Pizza! You can book one of their vouchers below (the โฉ10,000 voucher is enough if youโll visit alone!):
| OPTIONS | PRICE ON WAUG |
|---|---|
| โฉ10,000 cash coupon | โฉ9,000 |
| โฉ20,000 cash coupon | โฉ18,000 |
| โฉ30,000 cash coupon | โฉ27,000 |
This cafe in Seoul is located in 35, Gangnam-daero 162-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. They are open from 11am-10pm on weekdays and 11am-11pm on weekends.
As a university district, Hongdae has several specialty cafes and a couple of coffee shops that are open 24/7. However, if youโre looking for a really conducive place in the area where you can study or work, youโll find Social Factory a commendable option. Here, you and your study partners will enjoy the room filled with books and homey ornaments. The menu options are budget-friendly too; you can have two Americanos and a slice of cake for only โฉ10,000 by booking below:
This cafe in Seoul is located in 19-19, Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. They are open from 9am-11pm.
5. Bluish Brew Coffee in Bangbae-dong
Not to be confused with Blue Bottle Coffee, Bluish Brew is one of Seoulโs specialty cafes that offer single-origin beans with bold flavors. They source them from Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, and Guatemala, which they roast in varying techniques to achieve the ideal taste and density. They also make Salted Caramel Latte here, which is great if you prefer your coffee sweet.
Interior-wise, Bluish Brew is an eye candy. Its cobalt blue tone is perfect for a date, especially if you want to make a good impression. Check out Bluish Brewโs menu:
This cafe in Seoul is located in Seocho-daero 25-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul. They are open from 10am-10pm on weekdays (except Monday) and 11am-10pm on weekends.
6. Square Garden in Seocho-gu
A vintage hideaway. This is what Square Garden is all about. If youโre looking for unique cafes in Seoul, then this is the place! Like the previous option, Square Garden offers single-origin coffee (they have bags of beans for sale), but they also have premium coffee blends and delectable bingsu. You can book their menu at a discount on WAUG below, starting at โฉ4,000 or $3.4.
| MENU | PRICE ON WAUG |
|---|---|
| Square Garden Blend (120g) | โฉ7,500 |
| Ethiopia (120g) | โฉ9,500 |
| Brazil (120g) | โฉ8,000 |
| Colombia (120g) | โฉ8,000 |
| Indonesia (120g) | โฉ9,500 |
| Blueberry Red Bean Bingsu | โฉ14,000 |
This coffee shop in Seoul is located in 26, Seorae-ro 5-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. They are open daily from 11:30am-10pm, except on Sundays when they open shop at noon and close at 8pm.
7. Glyn Coffee in Gangnam
Situated in a quiet neighborhood in Gangnam, Glyn provides an intimate place where you and your friends can enjoy some chit-chat and aromatic coffee. Their drip is the best, but you will not regret getting their Flat White and Mocha Latte. They also have delicious French butter cookies here (Sablรฉ Breton), which you can order with your drink of choice below:
| MENU | PRICE ON WAUG |
|---|---|
| Americano + Sable Breton | โฉ7,000 |
| Latte + Sable Breton | โฉ7,500 |
| Flat White + Sable Breton | โฉ7,500 |
| Vanilla Latte + Sable Breton | โฉ8,000 |
| Mocha Latte + Sable Breton | โฉ8,000 |
This cafe in Seoul is located in 101, 7, Gaepo-ro 21-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. They are open from 9am-6pm on weekdays and 11am-7pm on Saturdayโs.
8. Saint Ives Cafe in Hapjeong
St. Ives Cafe in Hapjeong (near Hongdae) is arguably one of the popular coffee shops in the capital. You may find it hard to find a spot here, but if youโre able to, youโd feel most delighted. This is one the cafes in Seoul that are recommended for travelers, and you can book their menu offerings at a discount below:
| MENU | PRICE ON WAUG |
|---|---|
| 3 Bottled Drinks Set | โฉ18,000 |
| Beans & Drip Bag Set | โฉ27,000 |
| 2 Signature Drink | โฉ12,000 |
| Dessert & Bottle Drink | โฉ11,000 |
Saint Ives is located in 23, Dongmak-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul F2. They are open from 11am-11pm daily except Mondays.
9. Eggs:Pot in Gangnam
Another worthwhile cafe to visit in Seoul is Eggs:Pot (์๊ทธ์คํ), a quaint coffee shop in Seoul that serves the best Egg Coffee. This is a Vietnamese kind of coffee that has its origin during the French War. At that time, the country didnโt have much supply of milk, so they used egg cream (basically beaten yolks) instead. This results to a creamier taste and texture, which is comparable to having a liquid tiramisu.
The specialty Egg Coffee at Egg:Spot regularly costs โฉ4,800 or $4.3, but you can book on WAUG here for only โฉ4,600 or $4.1! Other menu options that you can try include Vanilla Latte (โฉ4,100) or Americano + Pound Cake Set (โฉ7,100).
| MENU | PRICE ON WAUG |
|---|---|
| ์๊ทธ ์ปคํผ (Egg Coffee) | โฉ4,600 |
| Vanilla Latte (๋ฐ๋๋ผ ๋ผ๋ผ) | โฉ4,100 |
| ์๋ฉ๋ฆฌ์นด๋
ธ + ๋ฐคํ์ด๋์ผ์ดํฌ SET (Americano + Pound Cake Set) | โฉ7,100 |
| ํ์ฐจ์ท๋ผ๋ผ (Black Tea Latte) | โฉ4,800 |
(TIP: Eggs:Pot in Gangnam is currently only available in WAUGโs Korean platform. To translate the page into your preferred language, you can use your web or mobile browser. ๐)
Eggs:pot is located in 40 Teheran-ro 38-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Yeoksam-dong). They are open on weekdays from 8am-8pm.
10. 943 Kingโs Cross Cafe in Hongdae
Finally, the famous Harry Potter cafe in Seoul! While 943 Kingโs Cross is first and foremost an attraction for fans of the Wizarding World, their 4-story coffeeshop is fully equipped with plugs and WiFi for those who need to get some work done! Since I live very near hear this cafe in Hongdae, I actually pop in whenever I want to organize my thoughts, read a book, or write an article like this one! I usually hang on the 2nd floor, but their 3rd storey (which is designed like the Great Hall) has long tables and plenty of plugs for those who will be coming in as a group. Oh, and if youโll visit, you can make the most of your stay by putting on any of their Hogwarts-inspired uniform sets as well as ordering their 943 Set (worth โฉ15,600 or $14 on WAUG and comes with 1 wizard drink, dessert, and jellybeans worth โฉ15,600 or $14!)
How to Book Cafes in Seoul on WAUG
If youโre unfamiliar with using WAUG to book coffee shops and restaurants in Seoul, just follow these step:
- Log in or sign up for an account here.
- Proceed to the booking page of your preferred cafe in Seoul.
- Choose the date of your visit and provide the other information.
- Check out using your Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX.**
- Wait for your voucher/s that weโll send through the WAUG app, which you can download below:
Is your method-of-payment issued in South Korea? You can switch the pageโs currency to KRW so you can see the other local payment options, like phone payment.
Enjoy you cafe experience in Seoul!
For more dining ideas in Seoul, also check out: Hongdae Restaurants: Discover the Best Dining Spots Right Now
