At Bukchon Hanok Village and Insa-dong in downtown Seoul, there are a number of coffee shops and tea houses renovated in hanok (traditional Korean house style). These hanok cafés serve a variety of delicious drinks from coffee to traditional Korean tea, but what sets them apart from standard coffeehouses is their beautiful architecture. Some even have jangdokdae (traditional Korean earthenware pots), daecheong maru (wooden-floors) and giwa (traditional roof tiles), all of which come together to create a unique traditional ambience. Read on to learn more about hanok coffee shops in downtown Seoul.

 

Café LN(카페LN)

 

 

Close to Jeongdok Library is Café LN, housed in an elegant hanok. It has a traditional exterior façade, but the interior is distinctly modern. The name LN is an abbreviation of Luden Loquen, a combination of homo ludens (meaning "playing man") and homo loquens (meaning "talking man"). The building had originally been used as an office space but it was renovated into its current state and reopened in September 2010.
The courtyard, which resembles the box shape character of the Korean character "ㅁ", is the most popular space in the shop. It features a nice pine tree and several tables and chairs, creating an inviting ambiance for visitors. In one corner of the place, lies a section that displays t-shirts, books, diaries, and other stationery and items unique to Luden Loquen. These items are all available for purchase. On the basement floor, there is a space where visitors can organize exhibits and events. The menu consists of healthy beverages like a Korean black raspberry latte and black sesame latte, as well as the glutinous rice cake waffle, which is unique to Café LN.
More info
☞ Address: 5, Bukchon-ro Na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Operating hours: 10:00–22:00 (10:00–21:30 on Sundays)
☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 1. 
Walk straight from the exit and take your second right onto Yulgok-ro 3-gil. 
☞ Inquiries: +82-2-722-7597 (Korean, English)
☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)​

 

 

Gahwadang(카페 가화당)

 

 

Meaning "a home with a beautiful picture," Gahwadang is a traditional Korean teahouse situated in a quiet alley off Samcheongdong-gil Road. From the moment you step inside through the stairway entrance, you are welcomed with Gahwadang's traditional feel thanks to its classic roof tiles and earthenware pots.
This small café is housed in a horseshoe shaped building that resembles the Korean alphabet character "ㄷ". Customers are required to take their shoes off before entering. It has about five tables and the inside of the café is decorated with beautiful Korean items. The menu consists of traditional Korean teas, grilled garae-tteok (long, round rice cakes), hangwa (traditional Korean cookies), and other traditional snacks. In the summer, they also offer refreshing bingsu, a Korean dessert still very popular today.
More info
☞ Address: 16-1 Samcheong-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Operating Hours: 13:00–20:00 on weekends / 13:00–21:00 on weekdays (closed on Mondays)
☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 1.
Walk straight from the exit and turn right onto Samcheong-ro. 
Follow it about 550 m and veer right and after about 150 m, turn right into Samcheong-ro 4-gil. 
☞ Inquiries: +82-2-738-2460 (Korean, Japanese)
☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

 

 

Yeon(카페 연)

 

 

Yeon is a popular hanok café in Samcheong-dong. It is housed in a hanok building that has retained its original structure through its renovation. In the big room, there is a world map on the wall. You will also find travel guidebooks throughout the establishment. Yeon offers a variety of traditional Korean teas and snacks, but you can also order coffee, Indian chai tea and lassi, and Thai banana pancakes, which give the place an international feel. Also on the menu are cocktails, beer, other types of alcoholic drinks, and appetizers. At Yeon, you will not only experience the elegance of Korean tradition but the elegance of the world's ethnic foods as well.
More info
☞ Address: 84-3, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Operating hours: 12:00–23:00 (closed on Seollal Day and Chuseok Day)
☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 1. 
Walk straight from the exit and turn right onto Samcheong-ro. 
Follow it about 550 m and veer right. 
☞ Inquiries: +82-2-734-3009 (Korean, English)
☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

 

 

The Moonbird Only Thinks of the Moon(달새는 달만 생각한다)

 

 

 

Dalsaeneun Dalman Saenggakhanda (meaning "the moonbird only thinks of the moon") is a traditional teahouse in Insa-dong. Some people call the tea house by the name Dalsae (meaning "moonbird") for short. Opened in 1996, this establishment does not stand out as it is located in a small alley near the busy Ssamzie-gil. Nonetheless, it is popular among people who are attracted to the charms of traditional tea houses. Through word of mouth, the teahouse has also drawn a lot of international visitors. The interior is decorated with various masks, straw shoes, and paintings to enhance its traditional Korean style. It is fun to find messages or drawings on napkins left by visitors from all over the world.
The tea house offers teas made of a variety of homemade fermented ingredients. Order tea and you will be served with a Thermos flask so you can steep it yourself. The tea is also served with assorted Korean snacks. When the days get chilly, the tea house offers up some nutritious jujube tea. In the scorching summer months, they serve sour omija tea over ice or refreshing sujeonggwa tea.
More info
☞ Address: 14-3, Insadong 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Operating Hours: 10:00–23:00 (Closed on Seollal and Chuseok holidays)
☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 6. 
Walk straight from the exit and turn left onto Insadong-gil. 
Turn left onto Insadong 12-gil (before Ssamziegil). 
☞ Inquiries: +82-2-720-6229 (Korean)
☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)​

 

 

Dawon(Traditional Tea Garden) 경인미술관 전통다원

 

 

 

 

Take Exit 6 from Anguk Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 and walk through the streets of the bustling Insa-dong area until you come to a less populated alley on your right that is lined with small galleries. As you walk in this alley, you will see a sign for Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art to the left. Follow the sign and enter the museum. You will be greeted with earthenware pots followed by a wooden hanok building and a large tree-lined large courtyard.
Dawon (Traditional Tea Garden) is a tea house operated by the Kyung-in Museum of Fine Arts. The hanok building is in an "L" shape and visitors can either sit on the floor or sit at a table. The tea house offers 15 types of traditional teas, all of which are homemade. The deep-brewed jujube tea is especially popular. In the summer months, their omija punch is a top seller. Order tea and you will be served with a traditional yugwa cookie. If you are hungry, you can also order grilled garae-tteok rice cakes or assorted rice cakes on the side. It is also fun to browse the shelves of various colorful tea cups, the antique dressers and decorative folding screens. This is a nice place to relax after visiting the museum or having browsed around the streets of Insa-dong.
More info
☞ Address: 11-4, Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Operating Hours: 10:30–22:50 (Open all year round)
*Kyung-in Museum of Fine Arts: 10:30 – 18:00 (Free Admission)
☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 6. 
Walk straight from the exit and turn left onto Insadong-gil. 
Walk about 230 m and turn left onto Insadong 10-gil. 
☞ Inquiries: +82-2-730-6305 (Korean)
☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)​

*source : KTO(Korea Tourism Organization) www.visitkorea.or.kr


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