Korea's cafes bring joy to coffee lovers with special menus, concepts

My journey of embracing Korean cafe culture's unique varieties, beautiful interiors and amazing concepts has been a fascinating experience. When I first came to Korea, I was taken aback by the widespread presence of cafes and their role ...

Soha Salt Pond has a small ornamental pond in the courtyard with what looks like a heap of salt, immediately attracting the guests' attention. [LHAKPA DOLMA LAMA]

My journey of embracing Korean cafe culture's unique varieties, beautiful interiors and amazing concepts has been a fascinating experience.

When I first came to Korea, I was taken aback by the widespread presence of cafes and their role in the country's social life.

Coming from a small district in the central region of Nepal, which is just a few kilometers away from the country's tea capital Ilam, a typical conversation with almost anyone begins with "Chiya Khanu Bhayo?" which translates to "Have you had tea yet?" in English. People prefer drinking tea at home or at specific tea houses. But in Korea, cafes serve as meeting places for friends and family.

After living in Korea for more than three years, I am very used to going to cafes and have been enjoying the experience. But my introductory days to cafe and coffee culture were full of curiosity and surprises.

One of the exciting things about cafes in Korea is how some cafes have specific themes, such as cat cafes, which, when I first heard, made me wonder how a cafe with animals even has business.

A cafe, in general, is a place that typically sells coffee or other beverages. But when it comes to themed cafes, the main focus is generally on the atmosphere and experience rather than the menu, which I find unique about Korean cafe culture.

Many cafes with exciting themes have recently been popping up in many parts of Korea, and here are some I found while learning and exploring Korean cafe culture.

Cafe design: aesthetic pleasure

Dotori Cafe in Yongsan District, central Seoul [DOTORI CAFE]

Korean cafes are not just about coffee. They are an experience. Coffee-drinking experiences are elevated to new heights with carefully curated interior designs that are often incorporated with minimalist aesthetics and cozy seating arrangements.

Tori, the cafe's mascot, welcomes guests at the entrance of the cafe. [DOTORI CAFE]

From vintage-themed ones and even fairytale-like spaces to ones with modern and sleek designs, each cafe has a story to tell and creates a unique ambiance that differentiates itself from the average coffee-drinking experience. With meticulously crafted desserts and bakery items, these cafes are must-visits for Instagrammers and art enthusiasts alike.

Dotori Cafe in Yongsan District, central Seoul, is a perfect example.

It is a Ghibli studio-themed cafe with a mysterious and abandoned-looking blue cottage-style building amid tall modern buildings. This cafe is an experience from the moment you step onto its boundaries as you see Tori, the mascot, welcoming you by the blue wooden door at the entrance. The old, rustic furniture, roots, dry branches and weeds hanging out from the ceiling, and the blue walls in the interiors make you feel like you are in a fairy tale house.

Yogurt bowls are their specialty menu, but they also have pastries and drinks in their menu category. The bakery options available at the cafe include an acorn-shaped madeleine, black-colored cheese bread and fruit-shaped cakes. They add to the experience by making you feel like you are looking for desserts in a fairy-tale forest.

25-6, Hangang-daero 52-gil, Yongsan District, central SeoulBusiness hours: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.0507-1498-0225

Specialty menus

While traditional coffee options are readily available, some Korean cafes take their cafe culture a step ahead by pushing the boundaries of creativity and flavor combinations. Some cafes have unique ways of serving their beverages and food items, making them attractive and grammable, while some cafes offer original bakery items with unexpected flavor that attracts customers.

One such cafe known for its specialty menu is Soha Salt Pond. It is a cozy cafe located in Ikseon-dong in Jongno District, central Seoul. The cafe resembles a hanok, or a traditional Korean-style home.

Soha Salt Pond's salt bread and coffee that comes with salt on the rim of the cup. The cream on top of the coconut cream pastry is also shaped like a pile of salt. [SOHA SALT POND]

The cafe is famous for its special Korean-style salted butter rolls and its signature salt coffee which comes with chunky salt on the rim.

It has a small ornamental pond in the courtyard with what looks like a heap of salt, immediately attracting the guests' attention. And the inside atmosphere makes you feel like you are at a saltern with stacks of salt sacks in one corner and a salt pond in the inner courtyard.

21-5, Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno District, central SeoulBusiness hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.0507-1353-8215

Cafe culture expanding through social media

Nakwon Station Cafe's entrance [LHAKPA DOLMA LAMA]

Social media has also helped cafes in Korea become more than just a coffee-drinking places. The trend of visiting cute cafes and sharing videos and photos of them on social media has been creating a virtual community of cafe lovers. This also enables more people to discover new cafes, exchange recommendations and have discussions centered around cafe culture.

Nakwon Station Cafe is one such cafe I discovered on social media.

The cafe is built like a railway station with tracks running through the entrance, and its exterior resembles a hanok. The cafe became a trendy destination among cafe enthusiasts when a video of its cakes displayed on a conveyer belt went viral.

43, Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno District, central SeoulBusiness hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.02-763-1112

BY STUDENT REPORTER LHAKPA DOLMA LAMA [kjd.kcampus@joongang.co.kr]