Sanmotungi • 산모퉁이

Sanmotungi (산모퉁이) is a mountainside cafe in Buam-dong (부암동) that offers the view of Inwangsan (인왕산), Bugaksan (북악산) and a glimpse of the Seoul Fortress Wall (서울 한양도성) in the distance. The spacious cafe is also well known as one of the filming location of the famous K-drama “Coffee Prince” which attracts a lot of fans of the drama to come visit this place.

Getting to the cafe wasn’t that easy. I remembered taking a bus and then transferring to a village bus before having to trekked up the hill to get to the cafe. It was quite a journey. If you’re planning to visit here with friends, taking a taxi might be worth avoiding the hassle, especially during a hot summer day or a cold winter day. Or if you don’t mind the hike, just make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

The cafe is housed in a building that looks like someone’s house whose owner perhaps has a hobby of collecting vintage items seeing all the different things scattered around the front yard. One of the most eye-catching item’s probably the yellow Volkswagen that’s parked near the gate, which I have to say, definitely adds to the charm of the place.

The cafe itself is divided into a couple of different areas since the place is quite big. The first area that you’ll step into has this one corner decorated with paintings of the casts of “Coffee Prince”.

Then there’s this deck area where you can sit outside and enjoy the view of the mountains, some fresh air, as well as looking down to the backyard of the cafe where there are more outdoor seatings available.

There are a couple of areas for the indoor seatings as well, which is nice because you get a lot of options depending on where you want to sit.

I moved around quite a bit but ended up sitting at this spot the longest because this was the quietest spot that still has the view (there were quite a lot of people when I got there but the crowd kind of dissipated after the lunch hour rush has passed).

The backyard area on the lower ground is nice as well. They have plenty of seats that are spread out around the space. Although seeing the view from here while sitting down might be a little hard since you’re almost eye level with the bushes surrounding the area (or maybe I’m just short). I personally think the upper deck is a better spot to enjoy the view.

The menu of the cafe itself is nothing special, but I mainly came here to check out the view so I just considered buying a drink as an admission fee to the place. If you’re looking for an outdoor cafe with a mountain view and fresh air, this place is worth checking out. It’s pretty calm and serene out here. Also, I saw some photos online that they have cherry blossoms too during spring. So maybe if you visit in spring, the view might be prettier.

 

Sanmotungi • 산모퉁이

Address: 서울 종로구 백석동길 153
Telephone: 0507-1354-4737
Hours: Daily 11:00-19:00

Instagram: @sanmotungi.coffee

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Cafe Gongmyeong • 카페 공명

With the abundance of cafes in Hongdae (홍대), you would think that finding a spacious and comfortable cafe to catch up with your friends or do some work at will be easy. But no. Based on my experience, finding a spacious cafe with the right vibe (which for me means a place with nice interior, at least decent if not good non-coffee drink options, plenty of seatings, ample breathing space and moderate noise level) in Hongdae is actually pretty hard.

Since most cafes in Hongdae are small or medium sized and usually have more of a hip vibe, I was actually pleasantly surprised when I first came across Cafe Gongmyeong (카페 공명). This cafe is actually spacious and has the right vibe. I first saw this place when I accidentally saw a glimpse of their coffee bar through the window of the bus I was riding when it passed by this place at night. If it weren’t for the bright yellow lights emitting from the coffee bar, I wouldn’t even noticed that there’s a cafe there because the exterior of the building just seems like any other building in Korea.

After I looked up what’s actually inside that building and found out that Cafe Gongmyeong (카페 공명) occupied the space, I initially visited the place days later solely to check out their intriguing coffee bar. The canopy like structure that houses the coffee bar is made out of wide horizontal wood panels that are lined with lights emitting from the edge of each panels, creating a feeling of being inside some sort of a wooden spaceship (at least for me). There are also a couple of different things that are pretty cool inside this cafe including a projector that is set up facing the wall next to the coffee bar that plays old movies and two big book shelves next to the front windows that definitely add more character to the interior of the space.

They printed their menu items on the spine of books that are displayed in front of the cashier and I have to say this is probably one of the most creative and memorable menu display I’ve seen (took me a second though to realize that the book titles are actually the menu). I ordered their Cacao Latte (카카오 라떼) which was pretty solid. I came only a couple of weeks after their grand opening so their dessert selections were still limited. Although looking at their Instagram, it seems like they have now expanded their dessert menu and definitely have more selections compared to my last visit. And it seems like people are giving good reviews about them so maybe I’ll try their desserts on my next visit.

The place has plenty of seatings that have a good distance from one to the other, which works very well if you want some privacy while talking to your friends. It also has a big long communal table with power plugs that’s perfect for people who come to the cafe to study or to do some work. I originally wasn’t planning to stay for long, but after I finished taking some pictures and sit around for a while, I actually enjoyed the vibe of this place and ended up staying for almost two hours longer sitting there sipping my hot cocoa while reading. 

Note: These photos were taken before the pandemic.

A little fun fact, this cafe is also one of the shooting locations of the Korean drama Thirty-Nine (서른, 아홉) starring Son Ye-Jin. You can see the appearance of the place in episode 3, where Son Ye-Jin’s character, Cha Mi-Jo, visited the cafe with her love interest, Kim Seon-U.

Korean Drama: Thirty-Nine (서른, 아홉) Ep.03 | Photo Courtesy: JTBC/Netflix

Korean Drama: Thirty-Nine (서른, 아홉) Ep.03 | Photo Courtesy: JTBC/Netflix

 

Cafe Gongmyeong • 카페 공명

Address: 서울 마포구 연희로 11 1층 카페 공명
Telephone: 070-8869-6304
Hours: Everyday 10:00 - 22:00

Instagram: @cafegm_

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Ovadoz • 오바도즈

Ovadoz (오바도즈) is a cafe located in one of the quiet alleyways off of the main road between Hapjeong station (합정역) and Sangsu station (상수역). Honestly, if it wasn't for Instagram, I probably wouldn't even know that there's a cafe in this location (but I believe they have now put up signs that make it more obvious for people who passes by the main road). I remember when it first opened, there were lots of posts on Instagram of people taking ootd shots in front of their cafe and those posts made me aware of their cafe.

So then during one of my Sangsu exploration days, I decided to check the place out. The cafe itself is pretty spacious with lots of natural light coming in from the windows. The fairly neutral colored interior of Ovadoz is decorated with eclectic modern furnitures made from different materials that give the place different accents of colors. The cafe definitely is not one of those places where you can study or work at because most of the tables are so low. The mascot of the cafe, Genji the Shiba Inu, was also there when I visited. It's pretty cute to see Genji just laying and chilling on the floor before perking up every time somebody walks into the cafe.

I ordered their matcha latte when I was there. It was okay. They also have selections of cakes and other baked goods that I didn't get to try because I was there right after I had lunch. But it seems like their baked goods have good reviews online. Maybe I'll try them on my next visit.

Note: These photos were taken before the pandemic.

 

Ovadoz • 오바도즈

Address: 서울 마포구 독막로9길 3-4
Telephone: 0507-1393-3366
Hours: Monday-Thursday 12:00 - 22:00 | Friday-Sunday 13:00 - 22:00

Instagram: @coffee_ovadoz

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Pison Coffee Petitenget

Known for its good coffee, Pison Coffee is one of the go-to spots for locals, out-of-town visitors as well as tourists who are looking for a solid caffeine fix. Occupying a two-story red-brick building, Pison Coffee Petitenget went with the industrial look theme with high ceilings, exposed beams, dark wood panels and brick and grunge walls for their interior.

“Pison Coffee first opened its doors in 2014. Our focus has always been simple:
Good Coffee & Good Food.

Everything on our menu highlights Indonesia’s abundant resources from locally sourced coffee beans to locally sourced ingredients.

Have a sip of our house blends and maybe a bite of our carefully curated fusion dishes. All in the backdrop of calming Asian-Western fusion inspired ambiance!”

—Pison Coffee

On top of serving excellent coffee, they also have a wide variety of food menu options ranging from Asian to Western dishes. Two things that I always heard rave reviews about from my friends who have visited this place are their Crispy Pork Belly Fried Rice (Chinese style fried rice with garlic, ginger, and chopped coriander) and their Espresso Avocado (avocado juice, chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream poured with espresso). And so of course I ordered those two to try.

The Crispy Pork Belly Fried Rice was great. It was well-seasoned and they use long grains rice so the rice wasn't sticky. The pork belly was really crispy and cut in perfect bite size. I only tried a little of the Espresso Avocado because I don't really drink coffee but it was good. The sweetness of the avocado juice, chocolate syrup and ice cream was balanced well with the bitterness of the espresso when you have it mixed together.

If coffee is not your thing, you can always come here to sip on some alcohol while enjoying the live music they have going on every night from 8.30 pm onwards (check their Instagram for updates). They also open 'til midnight which makes this place a good spot for a late night hang.

Note: These photos were taken before the pandemic.

 

Pison Coffee Petitenget

Address: Jl. Petitenget No.19 A, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Telephone: +62821 4456 0066
Hours: 07:00-00:00

Instagram: @pisoncoffee
Menu

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Coffee Nap Roasters • 커피냅로스터스

Famously known for its 7,000-brick hill interior, Coffee Nap Roasters (커피냅로스터스) is a small hip and definitely Instagrammable coffee spot in Yeonnam-dong (얀남동). The images of their unusual interior and seating arrangement soon went viral on Instagram after they opened in April 2018. My first visit to the cafe was three months after their opening and I went there solely because I was curious to see the architecture and interior of the space for myself after seeing the many, many pictures online.

When I arrived, the first thing that threw me off a little was the size of the coffee shop itself. Judging from the photos I’ve seen, I knew that the place isn’t that big but I guess I was expecting it to be slightly bigger than it actually is. But, luckily, I was there on a weekday so the place wasn’t too crowded.

This place is more of a coffee spot, so there’s not a lot of non-coffee options on the menu other than Lemon Ade, Apple Tea, Milk Tea, and Choco Latte. I opted for an Ice Apple Tea since it was a hot summer day.

Sitting inside the cafe was quite an experience in itself. Intended to give the visitors an experience of sitting on a hill surrounded by nature while drinking their coffee, I can understand the concept when I look at the interior of the space. I also really like how they execute ‘The moon hiding behind the hill’ idea with the big round mirror that is placed inside the cafe. The whole concept was definitely unique and well executed. In one article, the architect, Design Studio Maoom, explained:

“Getting rid of the tables and the chairs, and looking up from the low hill, where your sight is, became the space and scenery. Having a diverse way to sit, beyond overcoming uncomfortableness, would mean the beginning of a new experience. This small place is a tiny coffee shop where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with wherever you choose to sit, becomes your space.

The hill is a space where you can sit and relax for a moment. A place where one wants to rest.”
—archdaily.com

Other than the brick hill, the other two indoor seating options were a wooden bench at the bottom of the hill and the seating area in front of the window that is facing directly to the hill.

Although I can understand what the architect’s intentions were, there are several things that me, as a visitor, experience quite differently than what they described. First, personally, having the option of sitting wherever you choose kind of giving me a little anxiety instead of relaxation to be honest. It wasn’t really a problem when I was there since the cafe wasn’t too crowded. But I imagined if the place is packed, I think it could get a little uncomfortable to have to step around people to get to an empty spot or when you want to leave or when you want to use the restroom which is located at the top of the hill. Not to mention the close proximity of the other patrons around you. And if you choose to sit on the seating area in front of the window, you’ll be facing the people who’s sitting on the hill directly or at the very least, you can get that feeling of being watched or stared at. I tried sitting at the seat in front of the window and honestly, it was a little awkward when I made eye contact with the people who were in my line of sight.

Second of all, sitting on the brick hill wasn’t actually comfortable at all. I mean, you probably could’ve guessed by looking at the shape and materials of the hill. But yes, I fell like the hill is definitely not meant to accommodate people for long talks, unless you’re okay with sitting on a hard surface for a long time. Plus, I think for girls, you probably might want to plan your outfit accordingly if you intend to sit on the hill because wearing a short skirt or heels might be a little uncomfortable.

Honestly, I think the outdoor seatings and the flat surface area near the big round mirror probably are the more comfortable seating areas in the cafe.

Even so, this cafe is one of the more interesting cafe I’ve been to and I think it’s worth a visit if you want to check out their interior design or get some coffee. To find out more about the architecture and interior design concept of this place, you can read it here and here.

Note: These pictures were taken before the pandemic.

 

Coffee Nap Roasters • 커피냅로스터스

Address: 서울 마포구 성미산로27길 70
Telephone: 02-332-4131
Hours: Everyday 09:00 - 20:00

Instagram: @coffeenap_roasters

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