When you think of cafe, you will think of good coffee. However, Seoul is one of those cities with the quirkiest cafes instead. There are many themed cafes around and here are 12 of those that we went!
说到咖啡厅，是否连接到一杯好咖啡？然而，首尔的咖啡厅大多数以另类为主。这里有许多主题咖啡厅，而以下是我们选去的 12 间咖啡厅！
Alegria Coffee Roasters 알레그리아 커피 로스터스는
Common Ground is one of those places people like to go for some outfit shots. We thought we arrived early to avoid the crowd, but there was already quite a number of people there despite the mall opening only about an hour later. At the top floor lies Alegria Coffee Roasters, one of the coffee academies in Seoul. We tried their affogatos of original (coffee) and matcha versions and they were really good! I as a coffee lover preferred the original, and my friend, a matcha lover, preferred the matcha version. It was a great treat and great place to chill to escape from that burning heat of 42degC.
想拍些正点全身照，就得来 Common Ground。我们为了避开人群，在营业时间开始前的 1 小时就到这，可是还是蛮多人的。在顶楼是 Alegria Coffee Roasters，首尔咖啡学院之一。我们试了原味（咖啡）阿芙佳朵和抹茶阿芙佳朵，超棒的！我本身爱喝咖啡，所以比较偏爱原味。我的朋友，抹茶爱好者，就比较喜欢抹茶版本。夏天的首尔，天气温度高达 42 度，超热的，像在烤炉里似的。来这吃一下雪糕，享受音乐，避开太阳。
Matcha Affogato KRW5,800. Affogato KRW6,500. 抹茶阿芙佳朵韩币5，800，阿芙佳朵韩币 6，5000
Alegria Coffee Roasters 알레그리아 커피 로스터스는: Common Ground 3F, 200 Achasan-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul | Instagram | Website | Opening hrs: 1100-2200hrs (daily) | Subway: Konkuk University Station Exit 6 (line 2), (line 7)
Mr Holmes Bakehouse
Mr Holmes Bakehouse originated from Los Angeles. It specializes in Cruffins (croissants baked like muffins), Croissants and Brioche Donuts; in alternating flavours. One of the popular cafes amongst the young Koreans and many can be seen posting with the shop's iconic 'I Got Baked in Seoul' neon pink wall decor. I love how the cafe is designed in one of the lastest trending interior concept - cement, marble and brass gold. We tried the Matcha Cruffin and Chocolate Brioche Donut. Love the cruffin but the donut was average. Do not really like the milky chocolate filling, kind of preferred it to be of dark chocolate. The matcha filling of the cruffin on the other hand was great! Kind of disappointed that there was not much exciting croissant flavours to try, so we gave it a miss, and they came out when we were leaving! ☹️
Mr Holmes Bakehouse 来自于洛杉矶，专卖杯子羊角面包，羊角面包和布里欧修甜甜圈，定期更换口味。这咖啡厅相当受韩国青少年的欢迎，大家都爱和店里的招牌霓虹粉红 ‘I Got Baked in Seoul’ 墙壁装饰合照。我喜欢这咖啡厅的设计 - 水泥，大理石，铜黄金。我们尝了抹茶杯子羊角面包和巧克力布里欧修甜甜圈。羊角面包还挺不错，不过甜甜圈就还好。觉得以牛奶巧克力为馅不是很搭，黑巧克力会比较好。抹茶卡仕达馅就非常好！
Matcha Cruffin KRW5,500. 抹茶杯子羊角面包韩币 5，500
Iced Matcha Latte KRW6,000. 冰抹茶拿铁韩币 6，000
Mr Holmes Bakehouse: 34 Apgujeong-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | Instagram | Website | Opening hrs: 1000-2200hrs (Mon-Fri), 1000-2300hrs (Sat, Sun) | Subway: Sinsa Station Exit 8 (line 3)
Sona Café 소나카페
A street away from Mr Holmes Bakehouse is Sona Cafe, one of those to-go cafes for some element-surprise desserts. Kind of reminds me of Singapore's Non Entrée Dessert Cafe. Sona Cafe offers a small range of pretty desserts and drinks. We wanted to try the Champagne Sugar Ball, which mainly consists of a sphere filled with champagne foam, panna cotta and edible flowers. However, due to the humidity and heat as it is summer, they temporary stop making it. We tried the Vacherin instead, which is an ice cream cake with raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream and dry meringue. Minimum purchase of one item per person, so we got the Cherry Blossom Pink Lemonade as well. One word - amazing! Really.
和 Mr Holmes Bakehouse 隔一条街的是 Sona Cafe，必去的咖啡厅之一。类似想新加坡的 Non Entrée Dessert Cafe。Sona Cafe 专卖创意甜点与饮料。我们其实想试它们的 Champagne Sugar Ball。它基本上是个糖球，然后内里是香饼沫，意式奶冻和可食花。但由于夏天炎热，潮湿，所以暂时停卖。有点小失望！所以我们点了雪白色的 Vacherin - 覆盆子冰糕，香草雪糕，蛋白甜饼，做成个蛋糕的形状，外层是奶油。每人必须至少点一样，所以也点了杯樱花粉红柠檬水。
Cherry Blossom Pink Lemonade KRW7,000. 樱桃花粉红柠檬汁韩币 7，000
Vacherin KRW13,000.
Sona Café 소나카페: 40 Gangnam-daero, 162-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | Facebook | Website | Opening hrs: 1230-2200hrs (Tue-Sun), Closed on Mondays | Subway: Sinsa Station Exit 8 (line 3)
Sulbing (Dongdaemun, Time Castle) 설빙-동대문, 타임캐슬
Sulbing is said to be the brand that started the Korean ice flake - bingsu - craze. Well, I did not know much about Sulbing but it seems to be quite popular in Seoul; and since there is one located just at the second level of the building we are staying at, which opens till 1am, we definitely had to give it a try! The place was still pretty crowded despite us visiting the store at about 11pm, this shows the real popularity of it, wow! Googled a little about Sulbing and found out that they quickly opened up to 500 outlets in just a year's time! We tried the Matcha Chocolate Bingsu and it was really good and worth it. For KRW9,900, it was quite a huge portion. It is a matcha bingsu dusted with cocoa powder, with matcha ice cream, chocolate sauce and nama chocolate squares. Shall be back to try their Tiramisu Bingsu which comes served with a piece of tiramisu right on top of the bingsu!
据说 Sulbing 是开始韩式冰沙风潮的品牌店。对于 Sulbing 没什么多了解，但看起来在首尔非常受欢迎。和我们的住宿同一栋楼，在 2 楼也有一间，营业至临晨 1 店，所以决定试试！我们是晚上 11 点去 Sulbing，这么迟了，店里还是挺热闹的，看来 Sulbing 真的非常受欢迎！在网上查了一下才得知原来 Sulbing 在一年内开了 500 间分行！我们试了抹茶巧克力口味，真的很好吃，很值得。以韩币 9，000 来算，分量算大。它是抹茶冰沙，沙上可可粉，配上抹茶雪糕，巧克力酱和巧克力方块。这地方值得回来！下次想试提拉米苏口味，因为冰沙上直接放了块提拉米苏！
Matcha Chocolate Bingsu KRW9,900. 抹茶巧克力冰沙韩币 9，900
Sulbing (Dongdaemun, Time Castle) 설빙-동대문, 타임캐슬: Time Castle L2, 23 Euljiro 6(yuk)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | Instagram | Website | Opening hrs: 1100-0100hrs (daily) | Subway: Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station Exit 12 (line 2)
Innisfree Green Cafe 이니스프리 카페
This cafe was not planned for. While we were walking around Myeongdong, munching on those yummy street snacks; we walked pass this huge Innisfree outlet, which was pretty crowded, and realised there was a cafe upstairs! So we decide to check it out and take a rest. My goodness, the cafe is so so pretty! Really love how Innisfree chose the nature concept and incorporates lots of natural plant elements into their products. The cafe is filled with lots of plants and greens. It even has a 'pond' with water plants! Do not miss this place if you are in Myeongdong! Apparently it is pretty new and opened just this year if I am not wrong.
这咖啡厅其实没安排在行程中。但在明洞闲逛时，巧遇了这件超大 Innisfree 分行，又还蛮多人，而且发现楼上还有咖啡厅，所以决定进去看看，歇一歇。天啊，他们的咖啡厅好漂亮！超爱超爱他们以大自然作为主概念，到处都是漂亮的植物品！其中还有个人造小水池和水植物！到明洞时，千万不能错过这里！没错的话，这间分行还挺新，应该是近年所开。
Matcha Latte KRW6,000. 抹茶拿铁韩币 6，000
Innisfree Green Cafe 이니스프리 카페: 64-2 Myeongdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | Instagram | Website | Opening hrs: 0900-2300hrs (daily) | Subway: Euljiro 1-ga Exit 6 (line 2)
LINE Friends Store and Cafe (Itaewon flagship store)
This flagship store is huge! LINE had three flagship stores in Seoul - Garosugil, Myeongdong and Itaewon; the rest are just regular stores within shopping malls and department stores. I went to the Garosugil outlet on my previous trip and passed by Myeongdong outlet during our cosmetics shopping. I would say Itaewon's is the biggest! If you want to visit a LINE store in Seoul, don't waste your time, just come to this store. It is a three-storey building on its own, with a cafe at the top floor. The store sells lots of merchandises and consists of many LINE friends set-ups for you to take great photos with! My friend just totally had a photoshoot session with all the amazing set-ups, goodness; and poor me became her part-time photographer. 😅😂 My bias is Brown. For those that are not familiar with LINE, it is a chat app that has cute characters associated to it. Brown is the brown bear. Just feel like buying everything that has Brown on it! Controlled myself and bought a few notebooks, pens, plasters and a mason jar. Shall returned to get those prettily designed beer and drink bottles!
Their cafe is not to be missed as well. Located at the top floor, they served various drinks, snacks and desserts in LINE theme. We wanted to try an item of each character, but many were in Brown and Cony theme, and a few in Sally theme. In the end, we decided to get a Cony Matcha Roll Cake, Sally Pumpkin Cookie and Brown Mini Custard Hotcakes (basically Manjoo but Brown-shaped).
LINE 在首尔有 3 间 flagship store - Garosugil，Myeongdong（明洞）和 Itaewon，其他的都是在商场或百货公司之内。前一趟去了 Garosugil 那间，也在明洞买化妆品时，经过明洞那间。所以来到了 Itaewon 这间。爱 LINE 的朋友们，要去就得来 Itaewon 这间，超大！3 层自占楼，做后一层是 LINE 主题咖啡厅。店内也有许多设计好的小角落，能和 LINE 朋友们相照作纪念。我，就一直不停的帮我朋友拍，似乎想是在拍写真集似的。我的最爱是 Brown，买他的商品买到疯了，什么都想买！
也不能错过在顶楼的咖啡厅，卖各式各样 LINE 主题的小吃，饮料。很多产品都已 Brown 和 Cony 为主。选了很久，最后决定买Brown（熊）形煎饼，Sally（小鸡）南瓜饼干和 Cony（兔）抹茶蛋糕卷。煎饼里还有卡仕达馅，超好吃！
Sally Pumpkin Cookie KRW2,500. 南瓜饼干韩币 2，500
Cony Matcha Roll Cake KRW4,500. 抹茶蛋糕卷韩币 4，500
Brown Mini Custard Hotcake KRW3,000 (6pcs). 卡仕达煎饼韩币 3，000（6 块）
LINE Friends Store and Cafe (Itaewon Flagship Store): 126 Hangangno-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | Website | Opening hrs: 1130-2200hrs (daily) | Subway: Itaewon Station Exit 3 (line 6)
Anthracite Coffee Roasters 앤트러사이트
Anthracite Coffee Roasters is one of those must-visit cafes for some chill vibes. I believed there is more than one outlet in Seoul, but this one that I visited consists of three stories. Coffee bean roasting and ordering on the first level and baking of the cakes and pastries on the third level. The whole idea of Anthracite is so rustic and effortless. It has this industrial concept to it, probably being converted from an abandoned building, leaving how it originally looked as much as possible. Walls are not painted, floors are not tiled. Wires and cables of the in-house lighting are hanging freely along the ceiling. Coffee was good. We tried the Matcha Adzuki Tiramisu and was marvellous. Right notes of sweetness and bitterness of the matcha.
Anthracite Coffee Roasters 是必去的咖啡厅之一。我相信在首尔有多过一间。我去的那间分三层，一楼是柜台和自考咖啡豆区，三楼是糕点厨房。整个 Anthracite 的概念非常质朴，轻松，类似想产业设计概念。墙壁没粉刷，地也没铺砖，电线都空中吊着。这间店的咖啡和甜品都很不错。我们试了抹茶红豆提拉米苏，超好吃。甜度刚好，抹茶苦度刚好。
Anthracite Coffee Roasters 앤트러사이트: 738-20 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | Facebook | Website | Opening hrs: 0900-1800hrs (Mon-Fri), Closed on weekends | Subway: Itaewon Station Exit 2 (line 6)
Matcha Adzuki Tiramisu KRW6,000. 抹茶红豆提拉米苏韩币 6，000
FRANK's Cafe
One of those highly recommended cafes by Daniel Food Diary. Spent so much time and effort looking for it and it was actually on the hill. Took a bus up and from the bus stop, we have to walk through steep slopes, and finally arrived at the cafe. Tried the top favourite of the cafe - Rainbow Honey Cream Cake - such a disappointment. Oh my goodness, why are we even wasting our time here? Sigh, should had just totally skipped this cafe out. Dessert was average and the cafe was rundown and crappy. Anyways, if you really want to try their desserts, just get them at the basement of Lotte Department Store (Myeongdong). Just not foolishly waste your time finding the place like we did.
网上大力推荐的咖啡厅之一。花了很长的时间寻找，原来它在个小山上。搭了巴士，走了许多斜波，终于到了。试了店里超好卖的产品之一 - 彩虹蜜糖奶油蛋糕，真令人失望。天啊，我们为何在这浪费我们的时间呢？嗨，早就应该别浪费时间来这里。甜品还好，地方也很简陋。如果真的很想试他们的产品的话，其实在明洞的乐天百货地下层就能买得到。总之就不要像我们这么傻浪费时间来找这个地方。
Rainbow Honey Cream Cake KRW7,500. 彩虹蜜糖奶油蛋糕韩币 7，500
FRANK's Cafe: 258-228 Itaewon 2(i)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul | Facebook | Opening hrs: 1200-2200hrs (daily) | Subway: Itaewon Station Exit 1 or 4 (line 6)
Thanks Nature Cafe
Thanks Nature Cafe is a simple cafe that houses two sheeps - Anna and Sam. The barn is only open to customers of the cafe, so be sure to get something to enter. The cafe offers waffles and drinks. The waffles look really good, but we did not try it as we were saving our tummy space for dinner. In the midst of taking photos with them, they started peeing and pooping! Scare the hell out of us. You can also purchase sheep food from the cafe to feed them.
Thanks Nature Cafe 是养了两只可爱绵羊的咖啡厅 - 安娜和山姆。它们住的地方只开放与咖啡厅的顾客。所以想和安娜，山姆照相的话，必须点些东西。咖啡厅只售卖煎饼和饮料。和它们照相时，它们突然又小便，又大便，吓死我们了！你也可以在咖啡厅里购买羊食喂它们。
Thanks Nature Cafe: 486 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul | Facebook | Opening hrs: 1100-2200hrs (daily) | Subway: Hongik University Station Exit 9 (line 2)
Bau House Dog Cafe 바우하웅스
Dog cafe, how can you miss it! Bau House Dog Cafe is basically a place with lots of dogs to mingle with, not an actual cafe. Minimum purchase of one drink each for a 30mins interaction with the dogs, which are priced around KRW6,000. Extended interaction at KRW1,500. The drinks offered are really simple. If it is not for the dog interaction, it is actually quite expensive as you can get something similar at KRW1,000 instead. But since there is no entrance fee, I think the price is reasonable, at least you get something to drink. Besides, that is the only way they are earning to feed the dogs and maintain the place.
The cafe is separated into two sections - small dogs and big dogs. They are all so cute and obedient, oh my goodness, probably about 30 of them? You can also buy treats to feed them. It is such a happy place. Children will love this place! And if you are feeling a little down, this is a great place to chill and lift up your spirits!
以狗为主的咖啡厅，真么能错过！Bau House Dog Cafe 基本上是让你和狗狗们相处的地方，不是真正的咖啡厅。买一杯饮料就能让你和狗狗相处 30 分钟，大约韩币 6，000。其实售卖的饮料也没什么特别，但既然没收入门费，我觉得价格还算蛮合理。
咖啡厅分两组，小狗区和大狗区。它们都好可爱，好听话。你也可以购买狗食喂养它们，小朋友们一定会很喜欢这里！心情不好时，到这里也能让人瞬间心情好起来！
Bau House Dog Cafe 바우하웅스: 64 Yanghwa-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul | Instagram | Facebook | Opening hrs: 1330-2230hrs (Mon-Fri), 1230-2300hrs (Sat, Sun) | Subway: Hapjeong Station Exit 3 (line 2, 6)
O'sulloc Tea House (Insadong) 오설록티하우스-인사동
O'sulloc Tea House is a matcha themed cafe specialising in Korean green tea (otherwise the Korean version of matcha), and many other forms of tea. In-store specialties are seasonal, and this round of visit, they were promoting a new set of cold brew tea, great for the hot summer! 'Cold brew' is the act of brewing something in cold or room temperature for a period of time. O'sulloc's cold brew tea are individually packed. Submerged each stick of tea leaves in cold water for at least 2hrs, and you have refreshing iced tea ready to go!
Other than the wide selection of teas, O'sulloc has its own range of drinks and desserts, mainly in matcha flavour. We tried the Black Roll Cake - charcoal cake with matcha cream; and seasonal special of Green Grape Matcha Apple Ade. My friend had the Jeju Tangerine Milk Tea as well, that comes served with a cute slice of dried tangerine on it.
O'sulloc 是间韩国绿茶（韩式抹茶）主题连锁店，专卖济州绿茶。他们也售卖其它种优质茶。目前为止有种新潮饮料，冷酿。冷酿做法是让它在冷水里慢慢酝酿。而 O'sulloc 的冷酿茶，只需把茶叶放入冰水酝酿两小时后，便可享用！
除了种类繁多的各式茶以外，O'sulloc 也卖自创的另类饮料和甜点，大多数已抹茶口味为主。我们试了黑色蛋糕卷（竹炭蛋糕，抹茶奶油）和白葡萄抹茶苹果柠檬汁（碎白葡萄，苹果柠檬汁，浓缩抹茶）。我朋友点了济州柳橙奶茶，饮料上还有片可爱的干柳橙做为点缀。
Green Grape Matcha Apple Ade KRW7,800. 白葡萄抹茶苹果柠檬汁韩币 7，800
Black Roll Cake KRW5,500. 黑色蛋糕卷韩币 5，500
Jeju Tangerine Milk Tea KRW8,000. 济州柳橙奶茶韩币 8，000
O'sulloc Tea House (Insadong) 오설록티하우스-인사동: 170 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul | Instagram | Website | Opening hrs: 0900-2230hrs (Mon-Fri), 0900-2300hrs (Sat, Sun) | Subway: Anguk Station Exit 6 (line 3)
Miss Lee Cafe (Insadong) 별다방미스리-인사동
Miss Lee Cafe became famous after celebrities like SNSD's Yoona and variety show 'We Got Married', visited it. It is popular for its shake-bento, 'dosirak' in Korean. It consists of a metal lunchbox, filled with rice, kimchi, spam slices and fried egg; and a side of seaweed soup. Cover and shake well, before consuming it. It was great fun and worth to try it once. Taste wise not really fantastic, but it does feel like home cooked food, something that your mom will prepare for you to bring to school. The cafe also serve a small variety of other food choices.
Miss Lee Cafe 被少女时代的 Yoona 和《We Got Married》的剧组参观后，便大受欢迎。这地方著名于他的 “手摇” 韩式传统便当。便当包括饭，泡菜，午餐肉，煎蛋和紫菜，在一个传统的铁饭盒里。把饭盒盖盖上后，摇之均匀后便能开动！虽然不是超级好吃，但至少有家里妈妈煮了让你带上学的味道。这咖啡厅也有其他选择。
Miss Lee Dosirak KRW6,000. 传统便当韩币 6，500
Miss Lee Cafe (Insadong) 별다방미스리-인사동: 144 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul | Instagram | Website | Opening hrs: 1000-2300hrs (daily) | Subway: Anguk Station Exit 6 (line 3)