Best Coffee in South Korea

Best Coffee in South Korea

Intro: Coffee, K-Dramas, and You — Let’s Do This

Okay, real talk: Remember that time we binged Coffee Prince and vowed to open a café together? (Spoiler: We still haven’t.) But guess what? South Korea’s coffee scene is even better than the dramas. I’ve been researching nonstop, and I’m 100% sure we need to book a trip ASAP. Think Insta-worthy cafés, drinks that taste like dessert, and vibes so cozy you’ll want to move in. Pack your cutest outfit and a reusable cup—we’re going full coffee tourist. Best Coffee in South Korea

Before we dive into the where, let’s talk why:

Cafés Are Basically Art Gallies

Koreans treat cafés like a lifestyle. You’ll find spots shaped like giant cameras, treehouses in the middle of cities.

Coffee Anytime, Anywhere

Night owl? No problem. Many cafés in Seoul and Busan stay open past midnight or even 24/7. Imagine us debating life at 2 AM over iced americanos.

Drinks That Defy Logic (But Taste Amazing)

Sweet potato lattes. Corn cream coffee. Black sesame cappuccinos. These sound like weird combos, but Koreans nailed it. It’s like they turned dessert into coffee. Best Coffee in South Korea

We’re not here for plain lattes. Here’s the good stuff:

Dalgona Coffee 💥

Whipped sugar + instant coffee + milk = the drink that broke the internet during lockdown. It’s creamy, sweet, and looks like a cloud in a cup. Perfect for our morning café pics.

Jeju Orange Coffee 🍊

Made with tangerines from Jeju Island. Bright, citrusy, and tastes like summer vacation.

Iced Americano (AHT) ❄️

Koreans drink this year-round, even in snowstorms. It’s strong, cheap, and refreshing—like a caffeine slap in the best way.

Sweet Potato Latte 🍠

Roasted sweet potato puree + steamed milk. Sounds odd, tastes like a warm hug. Trust me. Best Coffee in South Korea

Seoul’s café scene is wild. Here’s our hit list:

Café Onion (Anguk) 🏯

A 100-year-old hanok (traditional house) turned industrial-chic café. Their pandoro (Italian sweet bread) is fluffier than your pillow. Pair it with a vanilla latte. Go early—it’s packed by 10 AM!

Fritz Coffee Company 🦭

Famous for their award-winning beans and an adorable seal logo. Their espresso is so smooth, you’ll forget Starbucks exists.

StyleNanda Pink Pool Café 💖

A pink paradise in Myeongdong with a rooftop “pool” (for photos, not swimming). Order the strawberry milk latte and channel your inner Barbie.

Busan’s cafés = coffee + sea views. Let’s hit these:

Waveon Coffee 🏄

A glass-walled café right on the beach. Sip an iced vanilla latte while watching surfers. Golden hour here is magic.

Rooftop Sky Café 🌅

Hidden in Gamcheon Culture Village (the “Santorini of Korea”). Climb the colorful stairs for sunset views and a caramel macchiato.

Books Cooks 📚

A vintage bookstore café with vinyl records and strong brews. Feels like your hipster aunt’s living room.

Jeju’s cafés are all about fresh ingredients and chill vibes:

Hang On Coffee 🍊

Try their hallabong latte (Jeju tangerine) with a slice of orange pound cake. Tastes like sunshine.

Bomnal Café 🌸

A cozy spot by the sea with flower gardens and friendly dogs. Order the peanut latte and pretend we live here.

Premium Coffee Farm 🌱

A coffee plantation where you can tour the fields and sip brews made from beans grown right there. Ugh, so aesthetic.

Ikseon-dong Hanok Cafés (Seoul) 🏮

Cobblestone alleys + traditional houses turned cafés. Tteuran Café has matcha lattes and a zen garden. We’ll feel like K-drama leads.

Cafe Mignon (Busan) 🐇

A bunny-themed café where you can sip lavender lattes and pet rabbits. Yes, this is real life.

Yeonnam-dong Cafe Street (Seoul) 🌙

Quirky cafés open late into the night. Think: neon signs, retro arcade games, and drinks named after memes.

Learn These Phrases:

“Ah-meh-ri-kah-no” = Iced Americano (Korea’s obsession).

“Take-out” = “Tee-keu-uh-wut” (because sometimes you need caffeine on the go).

Dessert Pairings:

Cafés here sell soufflés, butter croissants, and bingsu (shaved ice with toppings). Carbs + caffeine = happiness.

Chill Like a Local

Koreans treat cafés like second homes. Grab a window seat, people-watch, and stay for hours. No one will rush us.

Q: Is coffee expensive there?
A: Nope! Most drinks are ₩5,000–₩8,000 (4–7). Fancy desserts cost extra, but worth it.

Q: Will baristas speak English?
A: In tourist areas,like Myeongdong or Hongdae, yes. Elsewhere, just smile and point. We’ll survive.

Q: What’s the weirdest drink we should try?
A: Corn cream coffee. Sounds bonkers, tastes like sweet, buttery heaven.

Q: Can we visit K-drama filming locations?
A: YES. Many cafés (like Café Dal. in Seoul) were featured in dramas like Itaewon Class. Prepare for fan-girling.

here’s the truth: this trip isn’t about finding the “best coffee in South Korea.” It’s about us. It’s about staying up way too late, giggling over failed coffee art attempts in a tiny Seoul guesthouse. It’s about getting lost in neon-lit alleys, clutching our iced americanos, and realizing we’ve walked in circles for 30 minutes. It’s about that moment when we accidentally order squid ink lattes, take one sip, and burst out laughing—because of course we did.

But it’s also about the quiet stuff. Like when we find that perfect corner table by the window, sunlight streaming in, and you say, “This feels like home.” Or when a barista hands us a drink so good we just sit there, speechless, because words can’t describe it.

South Korea’s coffee culture isn’t just lattes and aesthetics. It’s a reminder to slow down, and laugh at the chaos. And honestly? There’s no one I’d rather get lost-in-the-sauce with than you. Let’s make memories that taste even better than dalgona coffee.

I’ve already started a Google Map with all the cafés. All you need to do is say “YES,” pack your stretchy pants (for all the pastries), and practice your coffee pose.

P.S. If you bail, I’ll send you 100 TikTok reels of dalgona coffee until you cave. ☕💛