The best cafes in Seongsu-dong

During a warmer season, the wide open rooftop terrace of Café Onion is popular spot for the trendy Seoulites enjoying coffee and the wind blowing through the area. It isn’t much of a view, actually, as the rooftop is located only on the second floor of the building. Still, it’s enough to watch the scenes filled with surrounding factories and people walking by, while listening to the not-so-distant, strangely calming tunes of that trains passing by.  The building in which the café's located has a long history of its own; built in 1970's, it was previously a supermarket, a restaurant, a repair shop and most recently, a metal factory. While the whole space has indeed been restored with ultra-modern features like wide windows, minimalistic furniture, and a well-curated garden, the café's wide-open interior retains all of its old, rustic and broken-down elements. Just like any trending spot in Seoul, Onion is often seen on the social media and usually busy with young crowds. But because it's got so much space and many available seatings, you won’t have to worry about waiting to get a table (even if you do end up waiting a little, there's a bit of atmosphere you can enjoy in the meanwhile).  Their most popular drink is the Flat White. It might not be as strong as you'd expect, but it's certainly smooth. There are also good pastries, which are all made in-house, at the newer branch of Bread 05 located on the second floor (many of those who stop by the café are only here to pick up

This is the spot that started all the changes in Seongsudong. Zagmachi fulfilled its goal to attract people from both inside and outside the neighborhood. The café still uses the cabinets from the old publishing house that used to be housed here, and they made their own red and blue tables and chairs. Fresh and dry flowers as well as unique lightings give this locale an extra cozy feel, and the large, comfy chairs are perfect for those who need to get some work done on their laptops. It also offers cultural events, like exhibitions and lectures, such as “Customer’s Stuff,” where customers share stories related to their profession.

During the early ‘70s, this place was a rice mill, and in 1990, it was storage space. This past May, CO:LUMN opened as a gallery/café without any changes being made to the building’s exterior. This old, red-brick building has its own unique vibe. As you enter through the large, heavy doors, you’ll pass by Yang Jeong-uk’s works that look like the skeletons of huge animals from the ice age, after which you’ll step into a wide open space. The ceiling beams are exposed and the hall, which is always packed with people, is surrounded by rough, grey walls. The sunlight that streams down from above combined with the trees planted inside make the whole space feel rather surreal. I recommend that you soak in the ambiance whilst enjoying a cup of coffee or a pint of beer. On weekends, there’s an entrance fee of 10,000, which includes one drink.

This café is Zagmachi’s second branch, and it opened this May. People in the neighborhood are almost amazed by the young, well-dressed groups of people who visit this spot. Orer’s wooden furniture, curtains and wallpaper somehow make the café look like a home from the ‘70s or ‘80s. But Orer’s greatest appeal is its garden. A team of staff, who used to work for Aus Petits Verres, a famous tart place in Seochon, is in charge of creating the café’s desserts, which are sublime. Now that the heat of summer has somewhat abated, you can enjoy coffee and cake in their garden, whilst listening to classical music. At the moment, the basement of the building is serving as a gallery and the first floor as a café. There are plans to host exhibitions, speeches and seminars on the second floor in the near future.

At Coffee Table you’ll hear bossa nova music playing, and take in the subtle scents of lemongrass candles and matcha chocolate cake. Two sisters, who truly adore each other, run this small café. The inspiration behind the name of the place is simple—the sisters wanted to have a table to talk at over a coffee. They use beans from Raw Stuff, a well-known roaster in Daegu, and bake cakes on the premises every morning. Among their three kinds of cakes, the soft carrot cake is the most popular. The sisters take care of this place with much love and care, and have decorated it with white tiles, plant pots and small knick-knacks.

Despite its spaciousness and sophisticated interior, this is not exactly a date spot. It doesn’t literally mean “cow and dog” either. Its name comes from the phrase “co-work and do good,” because that’s what this work-café is all about.Outlets are placed at every full-length table for the many developers and entrepreneurs in the neighborhood. Accordingly, you will spot many serious professionals on their laptops or groups of people participating in heated discussions. Unlike the open-space cafe on the first floor, the second floor is constructed with big and small meeting rooms, which can only be used after prior reservations. Keep in mind that this is a strictly work-only environment.