Seoul’s Top Coffee Shops
September 17, 2007
I am writing this in the hopes that people will see their favorites missing from the list, and write comments letting me know what I’m missing out on. I definately have not tried enough of the small, independent coffee shops/chains around, partly because rent prices are so ridiculously expensive that they can’t get good locations. Sidenote: although I’ve made it clear that I have no problem with Starbucks politically, I did hear something a couple months ago I found rather unfair; Starbucks doesn’t have to pay rent for its shops in Korea because every big building that goes up wants it in their building to attract companies to buy office space there.
Unfair, yes, but a good strategy on the part of developers.
Without further adieu, here’s my list:
I’m just curious about people’s top 5 coffee shops in Seoul. Actually I haven’t been to that many small shops so I’ll have to include some (gasp) franchise stores. I’ll start. It’s my top seven shops, simply because that’s the most I can think of off the top of my head.
7. Cafe Pascucci. Overpriced. Overcrowded. The only positive thing in my book is that they have a reasonable morning set. 5 bucks for coffee of the day and a panini. Not bad. Coffee is decent, but I generally can’t stand the place.
6. Cafe Ediya. They get a lot of points for their cheap prices and lots of locations, but the shops are cramped and coffee is just adequate. I hear it’s even cheaper if you use one of your plethora of discount cards (hey we should do a post on that…)
5. Starbucks I view Starbucks as the workhorse of coffee chains. They’re everywhere. Any time I get a craving for an espresso, there’s surely one within view. Starbucks is reliable and consistent, and I greatly respect their business model (though I’m not sure if the branches in Korea are as generous to their workers as in the U.S.). That being said, simply because it is everywhere you look, I generally look for other places first.
4. Coffee Bean. Easily my most frequented coffee shop. Decent coffee, but it irritates me to no end how noisy it gets inside. Virtually impossible to sit and enjoy a good book there for any length of time. They do have a point and membership card which earns you free coffee and merchandise. Not easy to sign up for though. You’ll have to enlist the help of the one thing that expats in Korea cannot live without: the ubiquitous “Korean Friend.” Also, for this coming winter, Coffee Bean has the best hot cocoa, IMHO.
3. Segfredi (sp?). Not sure I have the name right but a new one opened down the street from me (around the backside of the new Hooters building in Gangnam). Supposedly it’s direct from Italy (though I couldn’t verify this on the Internet, probably because I’m not spelling it correctly) and has started adding a few Seoul locations. Nice atmosphere, quiet, and very good espresso.
2. Holly’s Coffee. Holly’s is a nice place. Good coffee, atmosphere is decent. Here’s where Holly’s gets MAJOR points: Refills on any large drink for 500 won. If I am sitting down for a whole afternoon to read or work on the laptop, Holly’s is where I go.
And finally, Skinny Steve’s #1 coffee shop in Seoul:
1. Buccella (부첼라) Independently owned sandwich shop/cafe. I’ve made it to this place exactly one time, when a coworker drove me there in his car. I tried unsuccessfully to find it again last weekend on foot. It’s in the back-streets near Apgujeong Exit five along a tree-lined street with several little boutique stores and a funky-looking Chinese restaraunt that I’d like to try. They roast their own beans, bake their own bread, etc, etc (there’s a patissiere certificate written in French on the wall implying that someone there’s a French-trained baker. I believe it). The best sandwich I’ve ever had in Korea. Maybe the best sandwich I’ve had ever except for one I had at a microbrewery in Anchorage, Alaska a couple years ago. I only hope I can find my way back there some day. It’s like my Narnia.
Update: I found websites (in Korean) for Buchella featuring a nice little map to help you find the place. Also, I found out there are two locations. Sinsa-dong and near Daecheong Station on the Yellow Bundang line and Orange Line 3.
So there you go. I hope you disagree with me. If you do, please write a comment and tell me the places that I need to check out!!!!!
I love ARA Cafe. Go there whenever i’m in Seoul but don’t know the street address. It is in a backstreet between the City Hall and Lotte Hotel. Barista is cheerful and coffee is good.
Skinny,
You know, i don’t like to admit it, but i thought that Krispy Kreme had a halfway decent cuppa..or maybe it was the allure of the free donut–but, they do actually have whipping cream(unwhipped)laying out to put into your coffee.
Here’s a few not on your list
Angel in Us, Pascuchi, Prowstar, Dunkin Donuts
You know what? I’ll be at City Hall almost every day next week, so I’ll look for ANA. Thanks for the tip! It came right on time as I am usually almost never up in that area.
Yes, I’ve had Krispy Kreme and found it decent. Also McDonald’s has a surprisingly decent cup of Joe. In fact I read an article in another blog just yesterday about how McDonald’s thinks their coffee is on par with Starbucks and opinion polls tend to agree.
Angel in Us used to be Java City and is okay, but usually pretty crowded. Also Gloria Jeans is okay but they are usually crammed into a building lobby or something. I forgot about those two when making my list. I guess I’d put Angel in the middle and Gloria Jeans towards the bottom.
Good post.
The Gloria Jean’s in Sadang changed it’s name recently (a week ago, if I understood the girl’s Korean right)to something like “Hannar Coffee Cafe.” Is there another Gloria Jean’s anywhere?
I posted awhile back about my impressions of various Starbucks locations in Seoul. You might like reading it:
http://throughwhiteyseyes.blogspot.com/2007/04/mug-cup.html
I can never get past the lame name “Angel-in-Us” when I go there.
The street that Buccella is on is called “Ga-Ro-Soo-Gil.” I can find it from Sinsa Station, but don’t know how to find it from Apkujeong.
I don’t know where the new Hooters is in Gangnam. What exit would I use to find Segfredi? I’ve had enough of the salsa music at the Starbucks behind Pagoda and would like to try Segfredi as a place to spend time on Saturday mornings.
Finally, the Coffee Bean down towards the Kyobo bookstore in Gangnam plays “smooth jazz,” so try that location if you are annoyed with other, noisier spots.
Between my one morning class and my afternoon job I’ve got a few hours to myself and thus have been to a fair share of Seoul’s coffee shops. Like you I’m a stickler for atmosphere and coffee.
I read through the post. Good stuff! You know, I forgot to mention the Facebook group I found dedicated to finding the best coffee shops around Seoul. If you’re on facebook, check out http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5569145946
It seems like it’s not very active though, unfortunately.
There’s a joint called “Kaldi” in Hongdae. They do siphon drip coffee, a fad that will surely catch on elsewhere, just wait and see. Anyways…. the best coffee I’ve ever had, not just in Korea, anywhere. Plus, their barista Seon-hee is the coolest cat in Hongdae….
Interesting… a quick Google search just turned up this site, in my home state of Missouri, in the US: http://www.kaldiscoffee.com/
I doubt they’re affiliated… “Kaldi” must mean something to people in the coffee trade.
Aha, I remember now. Kaldi is the name of the Ethiopian goat herder that, according to legend, discovered coffee beans when he saw his goats chewing on them.
You think I’m making this up, but I’m being serious. I remember reading it now in the book Uncommon Grounds (which wasn’t nearly as interesting as I thought it was gonna be). I saw a little bit of the story in some of the google website summaries and it all came flooding back to back to me.
In the mean time, I’ll keep an eye out for it. Thanks!
I forgot to mention, yes there are a few Gloria Jeans’ around. Also, the Hooters is Exit 3 from Gangnam Station. It’ll be a 5-10 minute walk from there though.
[…] keeping me from continuing to study Korean), so over Chuseok I plan to put in some quality time at my favorite coffee shops sipping espresso and reading. I need to hurry and finish up Uncommon Grounds so that I can read […]
Does holly’s have free wi-fi?
As far as I know, it does, but the last time I was there with my laptop it was back in the Spring.
Two things…. There is a little independent place on the street down the hill from the Hyatt Hotel (up from the Kimchi pots of Haebangchon) called “Jules”. She has really great lattes. She special orders her coffee. She also makes her own homemade American style desserts. Carrot cake to die for. Although we do have arguements to whether her chocolate cake is better….
Now, I also am a regular at Starbucks. I went there so often in the summer, that I divided the change from my change jar into the exact amount needed for the tall-sized lattes, in ziplock bags just to save counting it out in the mornings… Pathetic, you say, yeah well well, saved me thinking in the morning… and I also knew exactly what I was going to get at each one, HOWEVER… the one I did frequent most often was right at Daechi subway station… and they had the WORST service I had ever experienced at any Starbucks in the world… literally… Even though, Starbucks would be near the top of my list, for the lattes AND the cinnamons scones, the one at Daechi station, would not make ANY of my lists period…
Oh, and unfortunately… to all of you who went to Kripie Kremes for the free donuts, they only give those out anymore if you buy something….
Apologies to those who realize that my previous post included three topics and not the two as initially promised… you’ll get over it…
Hmmm… I haven’t had good carrot cake in forever… I’m pretty sure I’ve been to that Daechi Starbucks you’re referring to. I remember that I didn’t like it and avoided it whenever I was in the area, but I don’t remember why. Maybe it’s because of the service like you said.
[…] about trying to find a decent cup of Joe in Seoul before is an understatement (just here, here, here, and […]
you can find ‘gloria jean’s coffee’ in ‘yeoksam station’ street.
Hey there Skinny Steve and all the coffee drinkers,
Does anyone know where to get a cup of good fair trade coffee in this town?
j.
Oh man, I have no idea where to even start on that one. You might be able to find it at Starbucks, as I think they have their own line of fair trade coffee anyway, but it is probably just as stale as all the other coffee.
Hi, I am going to Seoul in just a weeks time and will probably have the need for a Latte at Starbucks every now and then… Would you mind giving me a hint of where to find a store? Are they “everywhere” or just in specific places (specific subway stations?) Close to Itaewon or Dongdaemon?
Thanks
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