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Cafés in Seoul iced, even in January

Warehouse cafés in Seongsu, hanok teahouses in Bukchon, late-night cafés around Hongik University and coffee bars up the stairs of Euljiro's print-shop buildings.

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Photo: Constantine Kim, Pexels License

4593Cafés listed
5Open by 6am
105Open past 10pm
170Specialty & roasters

Korea had 106,452 coffee shops in 2023, 13.4% of all its food-service businesses, by the agriculture ministry's count.1 The tax office's register of coffee and beverage shops, which more than doubled from 45,203 in early 2018, fell for the first time in the first quarter of 2025, to 95,337.2 Starbucks alone had 2,050 Korean stores in August 2025, more than in Japan, and its first opened in 1999 in Edae, the student quarter around Ewha Womans University.3

The earliest recorded Korean coffee drinker is King Gojong, who was served it in 1896 while sheltering in the Russian legation.4 The dabang (다방, tearoom) became a meeting place for writers and poets in the 1930s, and the number of dabang peaked at about 45,000 in 1992 before chains and better coffee replaced them.45 The oldest still running in Seoul is Hakrim Dabang on Daehak-ro, founded in 1956 and named a Seoul Future Heritage in 2013.6

Desserts carry much of the menu. Bingsu (빙수), shaved milk ice with sweet toppings, is most often patbingsu, topped with red beans.15 The croffle, a croissant-waffle hybrid, was introduced in Seoul by the café Aufglet in November 2018 and spread across the city in 2019.16

New in Seoul

Recently opened and recently added

Seochon 107 cafés

Buam-dong 19 cafés

Seongbuk-dong 23 cafés

Bukchon & Samcheong-dong 114 cafés

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Ikseon-dong & Insadong 106 cafés

Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 95 cafés

Euljiro & Chungmuro 120 cafés

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Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 31 cafés

Myeong-dong & City Hall 171 cafés

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Gwanghwamun 74 cafés

Huam-dong & Haebangchon 84 cafés

Mangwon-dong 115 cafés

Yeonhui-dong 58 cafés

Sinchon & Ewha 113 cafés

Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 585 cafés

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Gongdeok & Mapo 73 cafés

Itaewon & Hannam-dong 133 cafés

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Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 82 cafés

Seongsu-dong 213 cafés

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Yeouido 54 cafés

Sinsa & Garosu-gil 116 cafés

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Apgujeong & Cheongdam 148 cafés

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Seocho & Seorae Village 95 cafés

Gangnam & Yeoksam 287 cafés

Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 99 cafés

Wangsimni & Hanyang University 38 cafés

Konkuk University & Gunja 107 cafés

Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 52 cafés

Anam & Jegi-dong 65 cafés

Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 32 cafés

Hoegi & Imun-dong 67 cafés

Junghwa & Myeonmok-dong 13 cafés

Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 29 cafés

카페니트

Cafe NEAT

  • 도신로25길 15-2
  • Daily 09:00–20:00
  • Wi-Fi
  • Air-con
  • Partial wheelchair access
  • Toilets
  • Smoke-free indoors

Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 42 cafés

Hongje & Hongeun-dong 13 cafés

Eungam & Gajwa 50 cafés

Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 51 cafés

Pyeongchang-dong 17 cafés

Gireum & Mia 61 cafés

Wolgye & Gongneung 65 cafés

Sangbong & Mangu 78 cafés

Junggok & Yongmasan 41 cafés

Guui & Gwangnaru 63 cafés

Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 132 cafés

Yangjae & Dogok 100 cafés

Bangbae-dong & Sadang 105 cafés

Sillim & Nakseongdae 89 cafés

Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 29 cafés

Mullae-dong & Sindorim 69 cafés

Mok-dong 35 cafés

Yangpyeong & Seonyudo 15 cafés

Sangam & DMC 20 cafés

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Coffee chains in Seoul

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Chain

Mega MGC Coffee 메가커피

Show 654 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 8
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 11
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 18
  • Buam-dong 1
  • Bukchon & Samcheong-dong 1
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 17
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 7
  • Eungam & Gajwa 13
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 45
  • Gireum & Mia 28
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 26
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 13
  • Gwanghwamun 7
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 9
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 20
  • Hongje & Hongeun-dong 6
  • Huam-dong & Haebangchon 4
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 7
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 5
  • Itaewon & Hannam-dong 3
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 37
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 16
  • Junggok & Yongmasan 12
  • Junghwa & Myeonmok-dong 3
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 13
  • Mangwon-dong 8
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 10
  • Mok-dong 16
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 23
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 12
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 13
  • Pyeongchang-dong 3
  • Sangam & DMC 8
  • Sangbong & Mangu 21
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 15
  • Seochon 1
  • Seongsu-dong 11
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 6
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 32
  • Sinchon & Ewha 10
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 7
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 13
  • Wolgye & Gongneung 26
  • Yangjae & Dogok 18
  • Yangpyeong & Seonyudo 3
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 16
  • Yeonhui-dong 1
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 23
  • Yeouido 8
  • Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 12
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 8
Chain

Starbucks

Show 517 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 6
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 16
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 17
  • Bukchon & Samcheong-dong 3
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 15
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 8
  • Eungam & Gajwa 5
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 70
  • Gireum & Mia 9
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 14
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 9
  • Gwanghwamun 13
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 6
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 14
  • Hongje & Hongeun-dong 1
  • Huam-dong & Haebangchon 3
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 9
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 8
  • Itaewon & Hannam-dong 9
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 25
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 4
  • Junggok & Yongmasan 2
  • Junghwa & Myeonmok-dong 1
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 12
  • Mangwon-dong 3
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 10
  • Mok-dong 12
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 10
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 27
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 10
  • Pyeongchang-dong 1
  • Sangam & DMC 10
  • Sangbong & Mangu 7
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 18
  • Seochon 5
  • Seongsu-dong 6
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 9
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 13
  • Sinchon & Ewha 15
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 11
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 6
  • Wolgye & Gongneung 9
  • Yangjae & Dogok 8
  • Yangpyeong & Seonyudo 4
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 6
  • Yeonhui-dong 3
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 7
  • Yeouido 16
  • Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 3
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 9
Chain

Ediya Coffee 이디야커피

Show 267 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 4
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 2
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 6
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 10
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 5
  • Eungam & Gajwa 3
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 20
  • Gireum & Mia 6
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 9
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 6
  • Gwanghwamun 4
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 5
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 12
  • Hongje & Hongeun-dong 1
  • Huam-dong & Haebangchon 1
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 7
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 4
  • Itaewon & Hannam-dong 2
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 14
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 6
  • Junggok & Yongmasan 4
  • Junghwa & Myeonmok-dong 2
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 4
  • Mangwon-dong 4
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 9
  • Mok-dong 4
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 9
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 15
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 5
  • Sangam & DMC 1
  • Sangbong & Mangu 9
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 6
  • Seochon 4
  • Seongsu-dong 3
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 4
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 6
  • Sinchon & Ewha 4
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 4
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 7
  • Wolgye & Gongneung 6
  • Yangjae & Dogok 1
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 5
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 6
  • Yeouido 8
  • Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 7
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 3
Chain

A Twosome Place 투썸플레이스

Show 264 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 5
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 9
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 8
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 7
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 7
  • Eungam & Gajwa 2
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 36
  • Gireum & Mia 4
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 7
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 6
  • Gwanghwamun 5
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 3
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 10
  • Huam-dong & Haebangchon 2
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 4
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 3
  • Itaewon & Hannam-dong 2
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 19
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 2
  • Junggok & Yongmasan 2
  • Junghwa & Myeonmok-dong 1
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 5
  • Mangwon-dong 3
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 6
  • Mok-dong 5
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 7
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 15
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 1
  • Sangam & DMC 3
  • Sangbong & Mangu 3
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 7
  • Seongsu-dong 3
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 6
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 5
  • Sinchon & Ewha 7
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 5
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 4
  • Wolgye & Gongneung 3
  • Yangjae & Dogok 9
  • Yangpyeong & Seonyudo 1
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 5
  • Yeonhui-dong 1
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 1
  • Yeouido 6
  • Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 3
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 6
Chain

Hollys 할리스

Show 157 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 1
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 1
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 6
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 2
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 3
  • Eungam & Gajwa 3
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 18
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 7
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 4
  • Gwanghwamun 4
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 9
  • Hongje & Hongeun-dong 1
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 3
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 3
  • Itaewon & Hannam-dong 3
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 7
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 1
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 4
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 4
  • Mok-dong 4
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 3
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 10
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 2
  • Sangam & DMC 2
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 6
  • Seochon 2
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 5
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 7
  • Sinchon & Ewha 4
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 4
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 3
  • Wolgye & Gongneung 1
  • Yangjae & Dogok 5
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 2
  • Yeonhui-dong 1
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 3
  • Yeouido 4
  • Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 1
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 4
Chain

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 커피빈

Show 147 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 1
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 10
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 3
  • Bukchon & Samcheong-dong 1
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 2
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 1
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 37
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 2
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 3
  • Gwanghwamun 3
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 2
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 7
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 3
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 4
  • Itaewon & Hannam-dong 3
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 6
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 1
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 1
  • Mangwon-dong 1
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 1
  • Mok-dong 1
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 2
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 12
  • Sangam & DMC 2
  • Sangbong & Mangu 1
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 7
  • Seochon 2
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 2
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 1
  • Sinchon & Ewha 4
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 6
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 1
  • Yangjae & Dogok 4
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 1
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 1
  • Yeouido 7
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 1
Chain

Paik's Coffee 빽다방

Show 86 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 1
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 1
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 1
  • Bukchon & Samcheong-dong 1
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 2
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 1
  • Eungam & Gajwa 2
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 5
  • Gireum & Mia 6
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 4
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 2
  • Gwanghwamun 5
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 1
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 2
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 1
  • Itaewon & Hannam-dong 1
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 3
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 2
  • Junggok & Yongmasan 2
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 2
  • Mangwon-dong 1
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 4
  • Mok-dong 1
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 5
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 3
  • Sangbong & Mangu 3
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 4
  • Seongsu-dong 2
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 2
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 1
  • Sinchon & Ewha 1
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 1
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 1
  • Wolgye & Gongneung 5
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 3
  • Yeouido 1
  • Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 2
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 1
Chain

Compose Coffee 컴포즈커피

Show 84 locations
  • Anam & Jegi-dong 1
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 2
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 1
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 4
  • Euljiro & Chungmuro 2
  • Eungam & Gajwa 1
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 4
  • Gireum & Mia 2
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 4
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 2
  • Gwanghwamun 2
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 5
  • Huam-dong & Haebangchon 1
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 1
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 2
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 5
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 4
  • Junggok & Yongmasan 1
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 4
  • Mangwon-dong 3
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 2
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 2
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 3
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 1
  • Sangam & DMC 2
  • Sangbong & Mangu 2
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 3
  • Seochon 1
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 1
  • Sinchon & Ewha 2
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 3
  • Wolgye & Gongneung 1
  • Yangpyeong & Seonyudo 1
  • Yeonsinnae & Bulgwang 3
  • Yeouido 3
  • Yongdu-dong & Sinseol-dong 1
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 2
Chain

Mammoth Coffee 매머드커피

Show 81 locations
Chain

Tom N Toms 탐앤탐스

Show 74 locations
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 9
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 4
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 1
  • Eungam & Gajwa 2
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 9
  • Gireum & Mia 1
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 1
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 1
  • Gwanghwamun 1
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 1
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 2
  • Hongje & Hongeun-dong 1
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 1
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 3
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 4
  • Jangan-dong & Dapsimni 1
  • Junggok & Yongmasan 1
  • Junghwa & Myeonmok-dong 1
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 3
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 1
  • Mok-dong 3
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 2
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 2
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 2
  • Sangbong & Mangu 1
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 3
  • Seongsu-dong 1
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 1
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 1
  • Sinchon & Ewha 1
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 4
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 1
  • Yangjae & Dogok 1
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 1
  • Yeouido 1
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 1
Chain

Paul Bassett 폴바셋

Show 58 locations
Chain

Caffè Pascucci 파스쿠찌

Show 38 locations
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 1
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 2
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 5
  • Guui & Gwangnaru 1
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 2
  • Hongje & Hongeun-dong 1
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 1
  • Ikseon-dong & Insadong 1
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 4
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 1
  • Mok-dong 1
  • Mullae-dong & Sindorim 1
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 1
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 2
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 1
  • Sinchon & Ewha 2
  • Sinsa & Garosu-gil 1
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 1
  • Yangjae & Dogok 3
  • Yeouido 3
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 3
Chain

Angel-in-us Coffee 엔제리너스

Show 32 locations
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 2
  • Dongdaemun & Sindang-dong 2
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 2
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 2
  • Gwanghwamun 1
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 2
  • Hongje & Hongeun-dong 1
  • Huam-dong & Haebangchon 1
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 4
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 1
  • Mangwon-dong 1
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 1
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 4
  • Noryangjin & Sangdo-dong 1
  • Seoul Station & Jungnim-dong 1
  • Sillim & Nakseongdae 1
  • Wangsimni & Hanyang University 1
  • Yangpyeong & Seonyudo 1
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 2
  • Yeouido 1
Chain

Artisée 아티제

Show 32 locations
  • Apgujeong & Cheongdam 2
  • Bangbae-dong & Sadang 1
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 8
  • Gireum & Mia 1
  • Gwanghwamun 2
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 1
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 2
  • Konkuk University & Gunja 1
  • Myeong-dong & City Hall 4
  • Seocho & Seorae Village 2
  • Sinchon & Ewha 1
  • Yangpyeong & Seonyudo 1
  • Yeongdeungpo & Dangsan 1
  • Yeouido 2
  • Yongsan & Yongridan-gil 3
Chain

Caffé Bene 카페베네

Show 32 locations
Chain

Oozy Coffee 우지커피

Show 13 locations
  • Eungam & Gajwa 1
  • Gangnam & Yeoksam 2
  • Gireum & Mia 2
  • Guro & Gasan Digital Complex 1
  • Hoegi & Imun-dong 1
  • Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong 1
  • Hyehwa & Daehak-ro 1
  • Jamsil & Seokchon Lake 1
  • Gongdeok & Mapo 1
  • Sangbong & Mangu 2
Chain

Coffee Bay 커피베이

Show 11 locations
Chain

Coffine Gurunaru 커핀그루나루

Show 11 locations
Chain

The Venti 더벤티

Show 11 locations
Chain

cafe IMT 카페아이엠티

Show 10 locations
Chain

Coffeesmith 커피스미스

Show 9 locations
Chain

Eslow Coffee

Show 9 locations
Chain

illy Caffè 일리카페

Show 8 locations
Chain

Ten Percent Coffee 텐퍼센트커피

Show 8 locations
Chain

Vienna Coffee House 비엔나커피하우스

Show 8 locations
Chain

Coffee Nine 커피나인

Show 7 locations
Chain

Coffee Sapiens 커피사피엔스

Show 6 locations
Before you sit down

How coffee works in Seoul

The default order is an americano, and for many people it is iced all year. The iced version is shortened to ah-ah (아아, from 아이스 아메리카노), and its most loyal drinkers are eoljuka (얼죽아), from the saying "even if I freeze to death, iced americano".7 Iced drinks made up 76% of Starbucks Korea's sales in 2022, and during the January 2023 cold snap, with temperatures down to −17 °C, iced americanos still outsold hot ones.7

Prices come in two tiers. Budget chains such as Mega MGC Coffee sell an iced americano for ₩2,000 and, since April 2025, a hot one for ₩1,700, while a tall americano at Starbucks rose to ₩4,700 in January 2025.89 In a 2024 Korea Consumer Agency survey of 25 franchise chains in the capital region, the average americano cost ₩3,001 and the average café latte ₩3,978.10

Plastic cups are not allowed for customers who drink in, and chains that joined a reuse scheme in September 2026 serve every drink to stay in a reusable cup.11 Bringing a tumbler usually takes ₩300–400 off; at Ediya, Paris Baguette, Starbucks and the more than 150 independent cafés in that scheme, government carbon points can raise the saving to ₩800 a drink.11

Tipping is not expected anywhere in South Korea, and many cafés do not open until around 10:00; Koreans generally eat breakfast at home.12 Long laptop sessions have a name, cagongjok (카공족, the café-study tribe), and Starbucks Korea asked customers in August 2025 to leave desktop computers and printers at home while keeping laptops welcome.3

What coffee costs in Seoul

DrinkTypical price
아이스 아메리카노 (ah-ah)
Iced americano, budget chain
₩2,000
Mega MGC Coffee, 2025
아메리카노
Americano, tall
₩4,700
Starbucks Korea, from January 2025
카페라떼
Café latte, franchise average
₩3,978
25 chains, capital region, 2024
애플망고빙수
Apple mango bingsu (shaved ice), hotel lounge
₩95,000–149,000
Seoul hotels, May 2026

Menu prices, as of 2024–2026. Mega MGC Coffee's are from SBS Biz (March 2025), Starbucks Korea's from The Korea Times (January 2025), and the latte average from the Korea Consumer Agency's survey of 125 franchise cafés, reported in November 2024.8910 Hotel bingsu prices are as of 9 May 2026, from the Seoul Economic Daily; the Four Seasons charged ₩149,000 and Walkerhill ₩95,000.13

Sources

  1. Korea's Coffee Industry Surges to Over KRW 3.7 Trillion, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, accessed October 2026
  2. Korean cafe boom reverses as market saturation bites, Inside Retail Asia (May 27, 2025, citing National Tax Service data), accessed October 2026
  3. Starbucks asks customers in South Korea to stop bringing printers and desktop computers into stores, Fortune (August 11, 2025), accessed October 2026
  4. Percolating through the history of Korean cafes, Korea JoongAng Daily (March 2, 2006), accessed October 2026
  5. Dabang, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  6. Hakrim Dabang, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  7. Coffee so cold it's hot: Korea's love of iced Americano, The Korea Times (February 11, 2023), accessed October 2026
  8. '저가커피' 메가커피도 오른다…아메리카노 1700원, SBS Biz (March 31, 2025), accessed October 2026
  9. Starbucks Korea to raise prices of 22 beverages, The Korea Times (January 20, 2025), accessed October 2026
  10. "커피 한 잔 2600원이 적당"…제일 비싼 프랜차이즈는 어디?, Seoul Shinmun (November 5, 2024, citing the Korea Consumer Agency), accessed October 2026
  11. South Korea's largest coffee chains join fresh government action to cut disposable cup waste, World Coffee Portal (July 16, 2026), accessed October 2026
  12. South Korea, Wikivoyage, accessed October 2026
  13. Hotel Mango Bingsu Prices Near 150,000 Won as Summer Dessert War Heats Up, Seoul Economic Daily (May 10, 2026), accessed October 2026
  14. Seoul, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  15. Bingsu, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  16. Croffle, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
FAQ

Cafés in Seoul: common questions

How much does a coffee cost in Seoul?

An iced americano costs ₩2,000 at the budget chain Mega MGC Coffee, and a tall americano at Starbucks Korea has cost ₩4,700 since January 2025. In a 2024 Korea Consumer Agency survey of franchise cafés in the capital region, the average americano was ₩3,001 and the average café latte ₩3,978. Apple mango bingsu in Seoul hotel lounges ran from ₩95,000 to ₩149,000 in May 2026.

Which neighborhood of Seoul has the most cafés?

Hongdae & Yeonnam-dong and Gangnam & Yeoksam have the most cafés, followed by Seongsu-dong. Hongdae's cafés spread north from Hongik University into Yeonnam-dong along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, and Seongsu's fill former factories and warehouses between Seongsu station and Seoul Forest.

What does ah-ah mean in a Seoul café?

Ah-ah (아아) is short for 아이스 아메리카노, an iced americano, the standard order in Seoul cafés in any season. Its most loyal drinkers are called eoljuka, from the saying "even if I freeze to death, iced americano". Iced drinks made up 76% of Starbucks Korea's sales in 2022, and iced americanos outsold hot ones even in the January 2023 cold snap.

Can you drink from a plastic cup inside a Seoul café?

No. Plastic cups are not allowed for customers drinking in, and the chains and independent cafés in a reuse scheme that began in September 2026 serve drinks to stay in reusable cups. Bringing your own tumbler usually takes ₩300–400 off, and at cafés in that scheme government carbon points can raise the saving to ₩800 per drink.

Do you tip in Seoul cafés?

No. Tipping is not expected anywhere in South Korea, in cafés or elsewhere, and the price on the menu is what you pay. Many cafés also open later than you might expect, around 10:00, and Koreans generally eat breakfast at home.

What is the oldest café in Seoul?

Hakrim Dabang on Daehak-ro, founded in 1956, is the oldest café still operating in Seoul, and it was named a Seoul Future Heritage in 2013. Dabang, the old Korean tearooms, were meeting places for writers and poets from the 1930s and numbered about 45,000 at their peak in 1992.

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