A hanok café is the perfect place to enjoy the blend of Korea’s traditional mood and modern amenities with a coffee in hand. Enjoy the cozy and authentic Korean atmosphere at a hanok café with the subtle scent of wood while relaxing to the sound of raindrops falling from the roof and gazing at the outside view through the picture frame-like windows.

Seoul ┃ Teumari

Introduction ┃ A three-story hanok café with a rooftop view of Jongmyo Shrine, where all the spiritual tablets of the kings and queens of Joseon dynasty are enshrined.

Hanok characteristics ┃ The café was renovated from a peasant’s house of the Joseon dynasty. A rooftop was added to offer a view of Jongmyo Shrine while preserving the building’s original form. The glimpse of Jongmyo Shrine among the tall trees behind the shrine’s stonewall seems even more beautiful.

Drinks & desserts ┃ The café specializes in pour-over coffee. They also serve beer and wine along with desserts and appetizers to pair with the drinks.

Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do ┃Saridang

Introduction ┃ A hanok café that uses nature and windows to show the true beauty of chagyeong.

Hanok characteristics ┃ Saridang Café was renovated from an old hanok house that was resided by five generations. The café displays an excellent example of chagyeong, a concept in traditional Korean architecture of enjoying the outside view from a window as if it were a painting in a frame. Saridang has large windows on all sides with seats facing the windows, enabling all their customers to enjoy the outside view.

Drinks & desserts ┃ Saridang offers traditional Korean desserts like yakgwa (honey cookie) and juak (chewy rice cake with filling). The café mostly uses ingredients from crops that are grown by the café’s owner, who is also a young farmer, and local crops.

Gangneung, Gangwon-do ┃ Griuni

Introduction ┃ A hanok dessert café located near Gangneung’s popular attraction Chodang Sundubu Village.

Hanok characteristics ┃ Griuni is a modern hanok building with roof eaves that demonstrate graceful curves. The café also has a mini table set up on toetmaru (outdoor wooden veranda) so that visitors may enjoy the view from under the eaves. The place is filled with a cozy ambiance that cannot be hindered even by sudden rain shower.

Drinks & desserts ┃ The café’s signature drink is a rich espresso topped with cream made with Chodang soft bean curd.

Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do ┃ Yangleem & Humanitas

Introduction ┃ A hanok book café as big as a library with about 30,000 books.

Hanok characteristics ┃ Filled with the scent of wood and books, this 4-story building cunningly blends the features of traditional and modern-day hanok architecture. The straight entrance resemble that of a contemporary museum, while the wooden-framed basement floor built by an Intangible Cultural Heritage master exhibits the dignity of a classic traditional building. The sight of Jubong Reservoir covered with lotus leaves seen from the café’s balcony is quite a view.

Drinks & desserts ┃ The café’s signature menu is “yeonnimspänner,” a green tea latte that uses Jeju green tea and Korean lotus leaf powders that give off a hint of bitter after taste.

Daegu ┃ Myoun

Introduction ┃ A café that inherits the authentic beauty and charms of a traditional hanok.

Hanok characteristics ┃ Myoun is the perfect place for those who are interested in observing a traditional hanok house of an aristocrat of the Joseon dynasty. The building of which is now a popular café in Daegu used to be a house owned by a wealthy household for hundreds of years. The café is decorated with exhibition of potteries, calligraphy brushes, and books and has an annex called Chunghyodang that demonstrates the antique charms of Korea.

Drinks & desserts ┃ Myoun serves desserts that mix Korea’s traditional desserts with Western desserts such as corn cheese jeolpyeon (patterned rice cake), steamed rice cake, and nurungji (scorched rice) financier. The desserts taste as great as they look as the recipes were made with the help of a Korean cuisine master.

Damyang, Jeollanam-do ┃ Seuldam

Introduction ┃ A hanok café nestled away in a rural village of Damyang, Seuldam defines “rest.”

Hanok characteristics ┃ Seuldam was opened by a young couple who purchased a 50-year-old hanok building. The building was personally cleaned and furnished by the couple themselves. Signs of wear and tear can no longer be found at this cozy, wooden theme café.

Drinks & desserts ┃ The café offers healthy juice that uses seasonal fruits like watermelons and strawberries as well as floral teas brewed from locally grown flowers.

Busan ┃ Tobuk Bakery

Introduction ┃ A bakery café owned by a Korean confectionery master.

Hanok characteristics ┃ Tobuk Bakery is a two-story hanok café characterized by its roof that exposes its rafters, which are usually hidden under the roof tiles. The café also has large windows, where one can look at the small yard garden while enjoying delicacies.

Drinks & desserts ┃ In Korea, there are only 15 confectionery and baking masters recognized by the country. Tobuk Bakery is owned by one of the fifteen, Master Kim Deok-gyu. This café receives excellent reviews for its baked goods, the most popular sells being salted butter roll, Tobuk bread, and garlic cream bread.

* This column was last updated in February 2023, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.