You already know of Seoul’s great love affair with cafes: the city is ripping at the seams with them. In fact, it’s hard to find a cafe that lasts for more than a year in this coffee-crazed city. You’ve probably visited some of these incredible coffee shops yourself, especially if you’re an avid Moon Bear Travel reader. But have you ever heard of Songnidan-gil (송리단길)? It’s one of the best secrets Seoul has to offer: a coffee street near the beautiful Seokcheon Lake that’s void of crowds. We wish we had the time and energy to introduce all of these incredible cafes to you, but we thought the top 8 was a good place to start. Read on to learn about our top Songnidan-gil picks and what you should order when you’re there.
1. Into Jeju
Living or visiting Seoul and missing that taste of Jeju? Look no further than this simple, single-room cafe offering up some of the best drinks in the area. Their extensive menu includes coffee, tea, ice cream, gelato, cocktails, and waffles among other delicacies. We ordered our fair share of food: cream cheese and passionfruit gelato, hallabong (citrus) latte, and the hallabong mojito. All were out of this world, but we’ll be rushing back for that hallabong mojito in particular.
Address: Door 101, Ogeum-ro 16-gil 9, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 오금로 16길 9 101호
Telephone: 0507-1357-9679
Opening Hours: Daily 12:00 – 23:00
Parking: N/A
Accessibility: Small entrance, small cafe (one outdoor seating table available)
2. La La Bread
Well-known in the northern district of Hannam but lesser-known around Songpa-gu is La La Bread. The menu varies from branch to branch, so if you think you’ve been here before, there’s a chance you actually haven’t. While the Hannam branch shows off its hearty lunch menu, Songpa is all about light brunches and beautiful salads. The price tag is set around 15,000 won and includes some of the best sandwiches you can get in the area, alongside a lush salad with salsa dressing. There are also incredible desserts here and a bakery serving up unique treats like sweet potato bread and a milk tea spread.
Address: Ogeum-ro 16gil 4, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 오금로 16길 4
Telephone: 1800-1990
Opening Hours: Weekdays – 10:00 – 21:00 (15:00 – 16:00 Breaktime) / Weekends: No Breaktime*
Parking: N/A
Accessibility: No available seating on the first floor, 2nd and 3rd floor seating with no lift, outdoor seating (3 tables) available
*Brunch orders finish at 19:00
3. Bjorklunds Kafferosteri
A friend of mine stumbled on Bjorklunds by accident and ever since she showed me these lush wooden walls, I was hooked. I finally made my way there and buried it into their bitter Americano and salty chocolate pretzel cake. You read that right. There’s only one thing that may put people off of this Sweden-theme cafe: it’s a quiet zone, and they ask customers to keep their voices at a minimum. For those traveling with kids, they may not be as friendly. That being said, the desserts here are to die for and you can also check out their small book collection for sale.
Address: Baekjegobun-ro 43gil 10, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 백제고분로 43길 10 1층
Telephone: 070-4065-4860
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 22:00
Parking: N/A
Accessibility: Small indoor space, stairway to the entrance, outdoor seating not available (takeout delivery is available and there is a small park next to the cafe)
4. Grim Factory (Jamsil Branch)
Although the photos above are from the Hyehwa branch, the two share a similar look. That’s because this is the style of the famous chain: Grim Factory art cafe. It’s exactly as you read it: an art cafe – a painting cafe to be more specific.
It was started by a professional artist who wanted to share his love for his craft. For an incredible price of less than 30,000 won per person, you can sit here for 2 hours and paint in various fashions. Not a pro? Try their massive coloring sheets. Want to see what your mind comes up with? You can buy one of three canvas sizes and give it a go. Not interested in getting your hands dirty? Try out their oil pastel option. The payment doesn’t include a drink, but their coffees all range around 5,000 won and below. To top it all off, they offer finger-sized desserts like tiny macaroons and smores. Painting supplies, easels, aprons, and adorable French berets are all available for free to customers.
Address: Seokchonhosu-ro 290, 3rd Floor, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 석촌호수로 290 3층
Telephone: 070-8846-0082
Opening Hours: Weekdays 12:00 – 21:00 / Weekends 11:00 – 21:00
Parking: Nearby lots available
Accessibility: Lift available, spacious seating indoors
5. Frederic Bakery
This cozy little cafe is just off of the main street and offers up famous ice cream bar coffees and waffle sandwiches. That’s right – an actual ice cream bar in your coffee and a gooey, cheesy waffle. During these hot summer months in Seoul, what more could you be looking for? There’s a Korean tradition that suggests you should eat something hot in the summer, so the waffle sandwiches fit in just right. There’s something for everyone: cherry blossom, green tea, and s’more flavored popsicles are just the beginning.
Address: Ogeum-ro 137, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 오금로 137
Telephone: 0507-1365-2114
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Parking: Yes
Accessibility: Accessible
6. Cafe Kohiru
I spotted this cafe long ago on Instagram and was immediately drawn to its vintage vibes. The cafe has echos of both European and Japanese heritage with its unique woodwork and tapestry decorations. The atmosphere is spacious enough to welcome larger groups but quiet enough for those looking to bury their head in a book. This cafe is most famous for its signature dessert, Terrine, which you can get in green tea, chocolate, sweet pumpkin, and chestnut flavor.
Address: 2nd Floor, 148 Ogeum-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 오금로 148 2층
Telephone: 070-8834-5252
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 22:00
Parking: N/A
Accessibility: 2nd floor access, no elevator
7. Cafe Danji
Cute desserts are not few and far between in Seoul. But what if they’re so simplistic that they happen to be the cuter than all the rest? That’s where Cafe Danji’s magic lies. Order a cheesecake and top it off with two tiny black dots – you’ve got yourself a little bear face. Get an ice cream latte with an itty-bitty nose and we have an adorable seal face staring back at us. It’s basically the perfect Instagram cafe – and oh, it’s delicious too. What’s not to love?
Address: 1st Floor, 12 Baekjegobun-ro 45gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 백제고분로 45길 12
Telephone: 070-8888-1412
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 21:00 (Closed Monday, Tuesday)
Parking: N/A
Accessibility: Accessible
8. Pres Coffee
If you’ve heard of Songnidan-gil, you’ve likely heard of various rooftop cafes looking out towards the famous Lotte Tower. They’ve likely appeared on your Instagram (Seoulism, anyone?). To avoid large crowds and capturing the same photograph as everyone else, we found the best-kept secret: Pres Coffee. This rooftop cafe is spacious, with soft chairs and a cosmopolitan view overlooking one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Of course, we’re in Songpa-gu, so the quality of the menu matches the setting.
Address: 4th Floor, 42-6 Songpa-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul | 서울시 송파구 송파동 42-6 4층
Telephone: 02-424-0426
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 22:00 (Closed Mondays)
Parking: N/A
Accessibility: No elevator access, spacious rooftop
If you’ve never been to Songnidan-gil, which cafe featured above most suits your taste? If you’ve been there and we’ve missed something, please leave a comment below!
