As far as cafes in Seoul go, the options are limitless. So, let’s start with regular cafes. Compared to other countries, I really feel as though South Korea raises the stakes when it comes to coffee shops. Around every corner and down every quirky alleyway, you’ll find a ton of stunning coffee shops, and I mean STUNNING.
Whatever your personal style is, there will be a ton of coffee shops to complement you. During my time there, I found it so challenging to visit the same coffee shop twice. There were so many enticing options. In the winter months, when the cold is biting outside, this is definitely one of my favorite pastimes. However, I’m not here to tell you about ‘normal’ coffee shops, so keep reading to find out about unique cafes to visit in Seoul, South Korea.
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Animal Cafes in Seoul.
Now, South Korea certainly offers a wide range of unique themed cafes. If you want to meet some furry friends, you can visit the dog/cat/sheep/raccoon-themed cafes, to name a few. Some places require a small fee for you to see the animals or will add a little extra onto the prices of the drinks. Though more often than not, this is an inexpensive pastime.
If you are interested in seeing some dogs, try Kara Adoption Cafe in Seoul. It houses rescue dogs that are all up for adoption, so you can play with some lovely dogs who could have a chance of going home with you.
- Seoul, Mapo-gu, Seogyo-dong, 457-5 1st Fl.
- 서울특별시 마포구 서교동 457-5 1층
Art Cafes.
If you’re an allergy sufferer (the only reason I can conjure up that you wouldn’t want to go hang out with some beautiful doggos) or just more creatively inclined, South Korea is also home to art cafes. Cafe’s like the beautiful Peach Grey and Hongdae’s Dohwa Seoga (if you don’t read Korean, you can recognize it as the ‘Drawing and Books Cafe’) allow customers to sit up in a cozy corner with hot tea and a sweet treat which is served on an easel. You are provided with everything you need to create a masterpiece.
Namely, a pencil, rubber, brushes, paints, and cloths to clean your brushes. I really loved going to this kind of cafe in Korea. It’s so relaxing and such a lovely way to spend an afternoon and it certainly makes a unique date idea. Dohwa Seoga (drawing and books), specifically, has a ton of art books showing different styles, how-to guides, and books about artists. So even if you’re not someone who is creatively inclined, still go! Pick up a how-to guide and give it a go!
This kind of coffee operates in the same way as animal cafes. You either pay a larger fee for your food and drinks, or they add a separate fee. Dohwa charges 3,500 won. For this, you can stay and draw as long as you like on weekdays. However, on the weekend they ask you to stay no longer than two hours.
Peach Gray 피치그레이 (Image on left)
Address : 14-1, Garak-ro 21-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Get there via : Line 8, Seokchon station
Opening Hours : 11:00 – 21:00
Gamer Cafes.
This option is not exactly a Cafe, though you can get a drink and a snack! So, I’ve listed it under unique cafes to visit in Seoul, South Korea. Pulsa Bangs or Playstation cafes or PCBang’s/PCrooms, or even multibang’s are a fun way to spend an afternoon in Korea. Maybe you enjoy gaming, but you’re on vacation or living in Korea for a short while; you may not want to invest in a console, not to worry! You can pay around 3000 won an hour to play games in a cafe!
If you’re on a budget, maybe set a timer, as it’s so easy to let an afternoon run away with you. We visited a Pulsa Bang in Hongdae and played Mario party on Nintendo Switch and Sonic Racing on PS4. You don’t need to buy a drink to play, though they do have a selection of drinks and snacks to indulge in while you play: mostly crisps, ice creams, and ramen!
Themed Cafes.
Themed cafes are another popular cafe attraction you MUST see in South Korea. They are so unique and often very cute! There are Moomin, Hello Kitty, and Line Friends-themed cafes. The exterior and interior boast the theme; then you can buy drinks and desserts in the likeness of your favorite characters.
If those options are a little too cute for you, try the poop cafe! A whole cafe dedicated to poop! You can drink a coffee or eat a meal out of a toilet bowl and enjoy poop-shaped chocolate or red bean-filled pancake! This is certainly unique and not something you would find anywhere else! Another amazing themed cafe is the Harry Potter cafe, which I will write about in more detail as it deserves its own moment.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about some of the Unique Cafes to visit in Seoul. Let me know in the comments if you have visited any of the cafes mentioned. Still looking for more cafe inspo? Read about my visit to Zapanji, the hidden vending machine cafe HERE.