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Where to Eat and Drink in Hongdae's Cafe District

Hongdae in Seoul is not merely a hub of clubs and bars. If you just walk away from the hustling and bustling club area and go to the area nearby Hongik University Station Exit 8, you can find the quiet cafe district. In the alleys of this cafe district, there are fabulously atmospheric restaurants and cafes. There are two main cafe streets, one nearby Seogyo Elementary School, and the other (usually called the Coffee Prince Street) stretching out till Sanwoollim Sogeukjang. If you want to find somewhere quiet and calm in Hongdae, this cafe district is exactly where you are looking for! Here, we have selected the best, hot places for you to visit!

願望清單

Cafe Bomnal 카페 봄날

"Cafe Bomnal" is located in the small alley filled with semi-underground cafes, shops, and bars in Hongdae. Cafe Bomnal is a house remodeled into a cafe with wide windows. It provides a smoking area as well. The popular menu at "Cafe Bomnal" is a Ciabatta Sandwich. For your additional information, you can refill Americano, too!

Cuba Wang 쿠바왕

"Cuba Wang", meaning Cuba King in Korean, located in Hongdae, Seoul, is an extraordinary, characterful bar that is popular for a creamy beer with a soft foam. In a concept of reggae style interior where reggae music is played, you can enjoy various dishes from Cuba, India, and England. In "Cuba Wang", you can also meet an exclusive beer called "Cannabia" or Cannabis beer.

Uzu 우주

"Uzu" is a pub with a mystic, dreamy atmosphere located in Hongdae's cafe district. "Uzu" is a Korean word for a universe, which goes well with the pub's sign that looks like Saturn. In "Uzu," they sell special beer called "Andromeda beer" to match their concept as well.

Churro 101 츄로 101

"Churro 101", located in Hongdae, is a specialty store for original Spanish churros. In Spain, the way people eat churros is by dipping them into a hot, dark chocolate. Just like its slogan, "It's a place where everything is better than a boyfriend," you will be able to experience something sweeter than your boyfriend!

La Tupina 라튜피나

"La Tupina", a deluxe Italian bistro located in Hongdae, always offers the best taste of food. It is acknowledged for its steaks and red wine. Enjoy your food in the cozy and romantic atmosphere of "La Tupina".

Cafe Pattern Ethiopia 카페 패턴 에티오피아

"Cafe Pattern Ethiopia", located in the Hongdae, is a gallery cafe with more than 100 books where its bright, green entrance welcomes the visitors. The photographs of Ethiopia and its people adds to the ambiance of the cafe. Cookies, scones, waffles, and other dessert menus are served. Anyone who makes reservation can hold his or her own exhibition as well.

Cafe Sukara 카페 수카라

"Cafe Sukara" is a cafe that offers meals made out of organic recipes. "Sukara" comes from the Japanese way of pronouncing "Sutgarak", or a spoon in Korean. "Cafe Sukara" is opened up by a Korean Japanese owner who used to work for Korean magazine publishing company in Japan. For this reason, you can find the library-like interior filled with Japanese books and novels.

Cafe Berlin 카페 베를린

"Cafe Berlin", located in the quiet part of Hongdae. It has a wide space with a beautiful interior, plenty of seats, and a quiet atmosphere perfect for studying. "Cafe Berlin" displays several black and white photographs of Berlin on its walls, taken by a photographer Shin Mi Sik. Vintage interior items and antique furniture give pleasure to the eyes as well.

Molly's Pops 몰리스팝스

In "Molly's Pops," you can taste special flavors that you have not tasted from other ice cream shops, such as Kahlua Makgeolli (Korean rice wine) flavor, "Injeolmi" (Korean traditional rice cake made from the glutinous rice and coated with bean flour) flavor, Wasabi flavor, Erdinger Beer flavor, and Wine & Strawberry flavor, etc.

Montfort 몽포르

"Montfort" is a semi-underground cafe located in the cafe alley of Hongdae. It is known for a dessert cafe and its brunch set menu. "Montfort" offers a hand drip coffee and homemade cookies. Other menus like Fondant Chocolat and cheese cakes are also popular.

Pub One 펍 원

"Pub One", a hot pub in the quiet district of Hongdae, is popular for its cool, fresh draft beer. At "Pub One," you can taste the delicate flavor of malt and an angel ring, the symbol of freshness of the draft beer. "Pub One" has only 3 side dishes, very simple, but enough for the beer. Like cappuccino, the foam is very smooth and the beer leaves a clean, pleasant aftertaste.

Tailor Coffee 테일러커피

"Tailor Coffee", located nearby Airport Subway station in Hongdae, is both a cafe and a lab for coffee roasting. Roasted with fresh coffee beans, you can taste perfect espresso and coffee blending. The first and the basement floors are coffee store. The recommended menu is "Purple Rain" coffee blending. With state-of-the-art coffee blending machine, you can taste all sorts of coffee at "Tailor Coffee."

The Gamja Pub (Hongdae) 더감자 홍대 2호점

"The Gamja" located in Hongdae on the "Cafe Coffee Prince" street. The main store is in Dongkyodong, and this is the second store. "Gamja" is a Korean word for a potato. The owner opened up his own store because he loves french fries and potato chips. From 20:00 p.m. to 24:00 a.m., the pub is crowded with people. Taste the harmony between "gamja" and a beer at "The Gamja"!

Cacao Boom 카카오봄

"Cacao Boom" is located at the end of the cafe street of Hongdae. It is a specialty store for hand-dipped Belgian chocolates. Many visitors come and look for the smooth, deep flavor of the hot chocolate at "Cacao Boom". There are other menus such as Pralines, Hot chocolate, Iced chocolate, Brownies. "Cacao Boom" also offers packages of chocolates for sale that you could buy as a present!

Standard Identity 스탠다드 아이덴티티

"Standard Identity", a hidden spot in Hongdae, is where you should go when you want to get away from crowded streets of Hongdae. On the 4th floor of the building is "Standard Identity", which has a modern interior and an outdoor terrace equipped with a tent, table, a BBQ grill, and camping chairs. You can relax, looking down at the view of bustling Hongdae. You can also enjoy a barbecue party by making reservation for 4 or more people 5 days in advance.

Poly Cafe and Tea 폴리카페 앤 티

"Poly Cafe" is a quiet cafe with a cozy atmosphere like a studio, located nearby the entrance of the cafe district in Hongdae, Seoul. In "Poly Cafe" you can taste Dutch Baby, a German-style pancake, which is baked in an oven. No other place could follow such soft and delicious dutch babies like "Poly Cafe." You can also enjoy homemade lemonade, which is another popular menu in "Poly Cafe".

King of Blues 킹오브블루스

"King of Blues" is where you can enjoy live music and culture in Hongdae, Seoul. Recently, its performance stage on the second floor has been changed to a cafe and bar, "Noritor Place." "Noritor Place" offers a space for diverse cultural contents, such as performances, exhibition, independent films, label market, and flea market. Every Wednesday, from 20:00 p.m. to 23:00 p.m. they hold a jam session on blues. Enjoy the music and wine, beer, tea and coffee at "King of Blues."

Hello Hello Ssul 헬로헬로 쑬

"Hello Hello Ssul" located in a quiet district in Hongdae, sells various bottles of beer from all around the world, vodka, cocktail, to wine. It is small and petite, but many would feel cozy and fall for the atmosphere of this place once they visit. There are many regular visitors because it feels like a safe house as well. In a room illuminating with an orange light, "Ssul" is perfect dating place as well as chilling out with your friends.

Cafe Orda Salon 카페 오르다 살롱

"Cafe Orda Salon" is a beautiful cafe hidden in Hongdae. As soon as you enter "Cafe Orda Salon", there is a stairway, which leads you into the remarkably beautiful gallery space where a pink neon sign welcomes the visitors and lacquer artworks glowing in gold that give pleasure to the eyes. There is even a terrace decorated as a camping site, with a tent, hammock, and a barbecue grill. Come to "Cafe Orda Salon," the best place to mellow out with friends and relieve stress.

Suave 수아브

"Suave" is a take-out specialty store in Hongdae that serves homemade macarons, pudding, and caramels. The word "suave" means sweet and sound in French, which hits off well with the shop. You cannot enjoy these sweets in the shop, however, you can take them away and as a present in an ice pack. Recommended sweets are Black tea caramel and fig flavor caramel macaron.

Cafe Cook and Book 쿡앤북

"Cafe Cook and Book" located in Hongdae's cafe street, serves creative menus and charming food styling, gaining popularity. Its cookies and cakes are made from vegetable recipes without using butter and egg. Its natural dishes are also made from organic ingredients, which offers both health and taste in all. Like its name, there are books provided for the visitors who can enjoy reading in a quiet, cozy atmosphere at "Cafe Cook and Book".

Coffee Prince 커피프린스 1호점

The first "Coffee Prince" located in Seokyodong, Hongdae, is where a popular Korean drama "Coffee Prince", starred by Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hae, was filmed. Many foreign visitors as well as locals come and look for the seat where Gong Yoo had sat. The second "Coffee Prince" is in Dongkyodong, also in Hongdae, that opened up taking motif from the first one.

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