The best part about studying in South Korea is the cafés in Seoul.
Take it from me: I studied at the University of Utah’s Asia Campus as an exchange student and lived in Seoul and Incheon for three years.
I was surrounded by cafes, and as a financially irresponsible young adult, I’d frequent them almost every day and spend half my weekly allowance on cakes and matcha lattes.
There are so many that you’re spoiled for choice.You’ll find everything from sleek, minimalist spaces perfect for studying to themed cafés that will make you feel like you’re stepping into another world.
That’s why I, a self-professed connoisseur, put together a list of the nine best cafés in Seoul for studying and hanging out.
Need a quick summary? Here’s the TL;DR:
- The writer visited cafés in Seoul nearly every day as an international student.
- The café “Another Side” (KRW 2,000 – KRW 23,900/US$1.34 – US$16) offers both the cheapest and most expensive treats on the menu.
- Mapo-gu, or Mapo District, has a particularly vibrant café scene in Seoul, with three featured on this list.
9 best cafés in Seoul perfect for studying or hanging out
1. Ugly Bakery (어글리베이커리)
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
Google reviews: 4 Stars (483 reviews)
Location: Mapo-gu, Worldcup-ro 13-gil 73, Level 1 (서울 마포구 월드컵로13길 73 1층 어글리 베이커리)
If you love bread as much as I do, this is one of the best cafés in Seoul for it.
The café offers a variety of Korean-inspired cream breads, bagels, and ciabatta. However, I recommend the mammoth buns (맘모스빵), a fluffy, brioche-like bun filled with a combination of sweet and savoury ingredients. It’s so good that it makes people flock to its doors.
Price range: Between 3,000 Korean won (US$2.01) and KRW 7,200 (US$4.82).
2. Onion Anguk (어니언 안국)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday to Sunday (9 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.2 stars (4,465 reviews)
Location: Jongro-gu Gyedong-gil 5, Cafe Onion (서울 종로구 계동길 5 카페 어니언)
Combining the traditional aspects of South Korea with the modern-day cafe culture of today’s generation, Onion Anguk is one of the few cafés in Seoul that offers just that.
The café is situated in a traditional Korean house (hanok) surrounded by tall modern buildings, close to the famous Bukchon Hanok Village. Their fandor (팡도르), strawberry baragi (딸기바라기), and angbutter (앙버터) are among their popular desserts, as well as their milk tea, seasonal ade, and Americano.
Price range: from KRW 3,000 (US$2.01) to KRW 8,000 (US$5.36)
3. HIDDEN CAFE AND BAR (히든 카페 & 바)
Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Friday to Sunday (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Google reviews: Not available
Location: Mapo-gu, Dongmak-ro 19-gil, 42-22 (서울 마포구 독막로19길 42-22)
If you’re familiar with Produce 101, then you may know the owner of this café in Seoul — Roh Tae-hyun, the former member of HOTSHOT and JBJ.
Tucked away in a little alleyway in Sangsu-dong, the café serves both aesthetics and coffee that will satisfy your caffeine needs. It’s HIDDEN latte (HIDDEN 라떼) and HIDDEN hwa kwaja of flower cakes (Hidden 화과자) are the top picks by customers.
I highly recommend their strawberry aide, sandwiches, and croffle for those who aren’t into coffee or cakes (like myself).
That’s not all; if you’re looking for a sneaky drink, HIDDEN CAFE AND BAR offers highballs, wine, and beer. It was the perfect place for my friends and me to hang out at.
Price range:From KRW 3,000 (US$2.01) to KRW 11,000 (US$7.37).
4. Rain Report (레인리포트)
Opening hours: Daily (10:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.4 stars (516 reviews)
Location: Yongsan-gu, Sowol-rol 40-gil 85-1, 2nd floor (서울 용산구 소월로40길 85 1, 2층)
Like the sound of rain? Rain Report is the place for you.
The café is famous for its all-black interior and rain theme, which creates a rain effect both indoors and outdoors, all day, every day.
Rain Report pays special attention to what they serve, making sure it’s all of top quality. They’re famous for their cream mango cake (생 망고 케이크), dessert platter (디저트 플레이트), black cloud cage (블랙 클라우드), sesame cloud coffee (세서미클라우드), and peper cloud (페퍼클라우드).
While Rain Report is one of the best cafés in Seoul, it may make a dent in your bank account.
Price range:Between KRW 5,000 (US$3.35) and KRW 15,800 (US$10.58).
5. 1in1jan (1인1잔)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday (10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.2 stars (1,545 Google reviews)
Location: Eunpyeong-gu, Yeonseo-ro 534 (서울 은평구 연서로 534)
Nestled against the backdrop of Bukhansan, the Eunpyeong Hanok Village multi-storey café has been making its rounds on social media as one of the most beautiful cafés in Seoul — and I highly recommend visiting this place (it’s lowkey better than Insadong and the Bukchon Hanok Village).
1in1jan blends traditional Korean hanok aesthetics with modern minimalism. The café serves a curated selection of beverages, including coffee blends like “잘 되어 가시나 (jal dwae-eo gasina)”, a fruity, aromatic roast, and “풍요로운 땅 (pungyoroun ttang)”, a deep, earthy brew.
1in1jan has traditional and modern desserts, such as anggumjeolpyeon (앙금절편), banana rice cake (바나나떡), kuropin (크로핀), and cream cheese carrot cake.
Price range:From KRW 6,000 (US$4.02) to KRW 8,000 (US$5.36).
6. London Bagel Museum (런던 베이글 뮤지엄)
Opening hours: Depends on location
Google reviews (Anguk): 4.1 stars (2,190 reviews)
Location: Anguk, Dosan, Jamsil, Suwon, and Jeju
Bagel lovers, it’s time to rejoice. Tucked away in Seoul’s Jongno district, this quirky, “British” bakery café is serving up the best bagels you’ve ever tasted.
London Bagel Museum offers an extensive selection of freshly made bagels, ranging from classics like plain, and sesame to adventurous varieties such as spinach, fig, dark olive, potato cheese, or dark chocolate. I LOVE the blueberry bagels, and their bacon potato sandwich is to die for.
The café’s so good that they have opened several branches across South Korea.
Price range:From KRW 3,800 (US$2.54) to KRW 14,800 (US$9.91) — making it extremely affordable and one of the best cafés in Seoul for students to visit.
7. Sinidoga (신이도가)
Opening hours: Daily (11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
Naver reviews: 4.9 stars (2,147 reviews)
Location: Mapo-gu, Jandari-ro 20-12 (서울 마포구 잔다리로 20-12)
Situated in the always-bustling Hongdae district, Sinidoga is a hanok-style café that serves a mix of traditional and modern drinks and desserts.
You can find beverages such as black sesame lattes, omija (five-flavour berry) drinks, and the “Shini” tropical tea, along with unique Korean-inspired desserts, including yakgwa ice cream, salt bread, and red bean mochi tarts.
As it’s open every day and into the late night, it’s one of the perfect cafés in Seoul for students to hang out or study at.
An appearance by the Hongdae Guy is possible, but not guaranteed.
Price range: From KRW 5,400 (US$3.62) to KRW 11,900 (US$7.97).
8. Another Side (어나더사이드)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (9 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
Google reviews: 4.5 stars (306 reviews)
Location: Gangseo-gu, Gangseo-ro 318, Level 1 (서울 강서구 강서로 318 1층)
Another Side is a forest-themed café located in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and it’s one of the best cafes in Seoul to visit if you’re looking for a quick nature escape.
The café menu features signature aged milk lattes, dark blend espresso, and creamy lattes, such as the Dirty Cream Spanner (거품 크림) and Black Sesame Spanner. As for desserts, they offer freshly baked croffles, tiramisu, cookies, and bingsu, with their corn bingsu (초당 옥수수 빙수) making waves online.
Price range:From as low as KRW 2,000 (US$1.34) to KRW 23,900 (US$16), making it an affordable option, even for students.
9. N’d More (앤드모어)
Operating hours: Daily (10 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.)
Google reviews: Not available
Location: 5, Bugaksan-ro 29-gil, Seongbuk-gu (성북구 북악산로 29길 5)
If you are studying at Korea University, N’d More is the perfect cafe to lock in and get some studying done.
This student-friendly cafe is known for its affordable coffee, delicious sandwiches and desserts.
YouTuber @colinesdiaries, who documents her study abroad journey in Korea, also says N’d More is one of the best and most underrated cafes in Seoul for studying.
Price range: From as low as KRW3,900 (US$1.94) for an espresso.
The best cafés in Seoul, at a glance
| Cafe | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Ugly Bakery | ₩3,000 – ₩7,200 (US$2.01 – US$4.82) |
| Onion Anguk | ₩3,000 – ₩8,000 (US$2.01 – US$5.36) |
| HIDDEN CAFE AND BAR | ₩3,000 – ₩11,000 (US$2.01 – US$7.37) |
| Rain Report | ₩5,000 – ₩15,800 (US$3.35 – US$10.58) |
| 1in1jan | ₩6,000 – ₩8,000 (US$4.02 – US$5.36) |
| London Bagel Museum | ₩3,800 – ₩14,800 (US$2.54 – US$9.91) |
| Sinidoga | ₩5,400 – ₩11,900 (US$3.62 – US$7.97) |
| Another Side | ₩2,000 – ₩23,900 (US$1.34 – US$16) |
| N’d More | ₩3,900 – ₩4,800 (US$1.94 – US$3.21) |
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on May 14, 2026.
