Cafe Culture in Seoul

Authored By:

CIEE Seoul

After landing from your flight and having a good night's sleep, you may wander from your hotel or dormitory and see a plethora of coffee shops and cafes wherever you walk. You also might wonder why there are so many!

Cafes in Seoul are considered a "third space" for many people. Between your home and work, people use cafes as a place to socialize, get work done, or to enjoy the atmosphere. The usual cafe that you might see is a relaxing storefront where the owner makes the coffee their own way for people to enjoy, or they might have a special type of tea that they might recommend.

There are also other types of cafes, which might come off as a surprise to people- theme cafes. Ranging from cute animal cafes, board game cafes, or even experiencing a sport like archery, finding a niche cafe to explore with your friends can be the best way to spend an open afternoon.