Korean Job Discussion Forums

[edmiller2b]

wondering if you folks wouldn't mind sharing your
favorite spots to sit for awhile with a great cup
of coffee in the Seoul area?

when you mention your favs, if you wouldn't mind,
please include the vibe of the place (music and decor),
how expensive it is, and location via subway.

thanks so much!

[Hollywoodaction]

Well, Starbucks and the Coffee Bean seem to be the favourites. If you're a bit adventurous, you might want to try to roast coffee at home. It's quite easy and cheap...plus your home will smell like a coffee house for a week.

[lostinseoul77777]

Since I drink way too much coffee for anyone's good, I could provide some useful info

My favorites tend to be Coffee Bean and Java City. I like Java City because it's usually not as crowded as Coffee Bean or Starbucks for that matter, and also because it plays mellow jazz music on the background. My favorite one is one near the Hyundai Dept. Store in Samsung-dong. PM me if you want detailed directions.

[Sofa_King]

One of my favorite places to have coffee is a little book store located behind the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, across from a Greek restaurant on the second floor of it's building. It is a used book store and a small business. The lady who runs the store is kind and she sells great books for a reasonable price. Also, she buys old books from you once you're done. It's not a chatting coffee house, but a great place to go to get a coffee and read your book. A coffee costs 2,000 Won (I think).

Look for a little circular sign that says English Book's on it. The place is called "Books by Abbey" or something like that. Also, she plays really good music (in English).

[paperbag princess]

gloria jean's is the international "second cup" if you're from canada and missing espresso that doesn't taste over extracted.

[Harpeau]

Coffee Bean in Hongdae is very nice.

My favorite though is Kaldi Cafe. They have awesome strong coffee that they make with a bunsen burner. I like to go there with my guitar and torture the owner & clientell by playing old Lightfoot tunes on my guitar.

[lostinseoul77777]

Where is Kaldi Cafe? Sounds like coffee there is quite good. As for taste alone, I like Coffee Bean the best.

[beekeeper3000]

i'm into cafe mix & bake. i usually drink tea since i'm trying to lay off the caffeine, but the coffee there is pretty decent. they also have a ton of baked goods and even caesar salads and sandwiches. also looks like they'll make you a plate of past if you ask. ice cream as well.

the vibe is modern. all the furniture is slick and they have a separate room in the back for - come to think of it i don't know, but there are always people relaxing back there. it says "sweets room" on the wall.

there are probably more than one, but the one i go to is right off the monchontoseong (olympic park) stop on the pink line (8 i think). a door or two down from burger king.

[Harpeau]

It's just kitty corner from where the building congnamul is.

Yes, it is awesome coffee. They roast and brew it there. They even offer courses in coffeemaking, etc. The owner is so cool. Nice ambience, too.

[Swiss James]

they've just opened another "A Twosome Place" in Hongdae- just above McDonalds. Good food and beverages in there- if it's like the ones in Sinchon and Gangnam anyway.

There's a nice little independent place on the same street as the Hong-Ik University gates too, I can't remember what its frigging called now, even though I was right outside it 2 days ago.

My memory's shot, I might quit sniffing glue altogether.

[Harpeau]

[discostar23]

Before Korea I considered myself a bit of coffee snob.That was before I started going to starbucks everyday. Anyhoo

If you want to take someone on a nice date to a coffee shop HAGUE (i think) is nice. Its located up the hill towards the hyatt in itaewon or near hard rock cafe in apujeoung. They also make a killer beligum waffle (sorry about my spelling). Its a little pricy but well worth it. Also stay away from the places which are ice cream shops, or bars. They serve one nasty latte and its always over priced.

Good Luck

[Satori]

[seungwun]

[Swiss James]

if you like tea, you can't whack "Tea for Two" at Jongno-3-ga, it's near the TGI Fridays I think. They have about 20 different kinds of brew, cakes, and sometimes a fit girl comes along to play the harp.