11 Best Trending Cafes in Seoul With Instagram-Worthy Meals

Seoul is no short on unique cafes, with the different districts from Myeongdong to Itaewon teeming with all kinds of cafes and bistros.

Get a Klook T-Money Card for seamless public transport travel, and start checking off your food hitlist. There’s nothing like running around a theme park for burning off all that food – head to Lotte World or Everland for your adrenaline fix.

These 11 Seoul cafes aren’t all style and no substance, featuring everything from super-stuffed sandwiches to innovative desserts that taste just as good as they look. You won’t be short on gorgeous close-up shots and table flat lays on your Seoul cafe adventure!

Photo Credit: @c.through on Instagram

If you though latte art was impressive, C. Through Cafe takes the skill several levels up. The owner-barista Lee Kang Bin has a huge social media following, thanks to his incredible skills and creativity displayed in his Cream Art drinks.

Photo Credit: @c.through on Instagram

With a canvas of Dutch coffee layered with velvety sweet cream, Lee draws all his designs by hand. Ranging from life-like blossom trees to incredibly intricate renditions of Van Gough’s Starry Night, these coffee masterpieces are almost too pretty to drink.

You can also request for a custom-made drink with a special message – but you’ll have to secure a reservation on Instagram first, as this is only done once a day.

Photo Credit: @tama9165 on Instagram

Through Cafe also offers a range of unconventional crafted drinks, with the Scotchino being a bestseller. Served in an overflowing ceramic cup, this coffee-based drink is infused with butterscotch candy. It’s topped with both cocoa and coffee powder, resulting in a fragrant drink that’s lightly sweet with a touch of bitterness.

Address: 403-3, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, South Korea

Opening Hours: Daily, 12pm – 10pm

Photo Credit: @oldferrydonut on Instagram

If you’re a self-proclaimed donut connoisseur, put Old Ferry Donut at the top of your cafe wishlist. About five minutes from Hangangjin Station, this nautical wood-accented cafe specialises in all kinds of donut creations, from classic frosted to upsized and superfilled.

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In terms of texture, Old Ferry’s donuts are light and extra-fluffy, rather than dense or doughy. One of the must-tries is the Raspberry Donut. This filled donut is topped with a glossy layer of raspberry frosting, and is stuffed with an insane amount of raspberry jam. The pieces of macerated raspberries add a great pop of tartness and texture. Other bestsellers include Matcha, Coconut and Tiramisu.

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Their signature Tube Latte features a miniature pink-frosted donut floating atop a pillow of milk foam. If you’re wondering why the mini donut looks so familiar, its name – Strawberry Homer Simpson – might give you a clue. Fish out the donut and eat it first, before it soaks up too much coffee.

Address: 66 Hannam daero, 27 gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Opening Hours: Wednesday – Monday, 10am – 10pm. Closed Tuesdays

Photo Credit: @tomodachichingoo on Instagram

Hit up Egg Drop for the ultimate #yolkporn. This shop serves jazzed-up renditions of Korean street toast, which is the local take on the quintessential breakfast egg sandwich.

Egg Drops’s menu consists of different variations on Korean street toast. Made with fluffy slices of sweet brioche toast, most of the sandwiches come with a thick layer of silky scrambled eggs, accompanied with your choice of filling.

The special egg and cream sauce is what makes the sandwich – savory and sweet, with a creaminess that balances out the saltiness of the meat. Some even claim that it’s better than the wildly popular Isaac Toast!

Address: 28 Bukchon-ro 5ga-gil, Dohwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm

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There’s no better place in Seoul to get in touch with your artsy side, than at Peach Grey. With every order of food or drinks, you’ll be provided with a palette of watercolour paints and water brushes, along with a small stack of paper. If you simply want to colour rather than create, they provide templates as well.

The souffle-esque Pancakes, accompanied with fresh cream and a hearty serving of sliced fruit, take about 20 minutes to prepare – the perfect amount of time to get inspired and put watercolour pen to paper.

Address: Songpa-gu, Songpa-dong, 94, 1층, Seoul

Opening Hours: Daily, 11am – 9pm

Photo Credit: @arari_ovene on Instagram

Arari Ovene almost always sees a line out the door in the afternoons, with people queuing up to enjoy the cafe’s creative teatime offerings. An avid baker herself, the cafe’s owner documents all her baking studio creations on her website. Her forte is her gorgeous cakes, cupcakes and tarts, which are available for order in the cafe.

Photo Credit: @arari_ovene on Instagram

If you’re lucky, you can get your hands on some seasonal tart flavours like the spring-inspired Sakura Tart. The Strawberry Green Tea Choux Tart remains an all-time favorite – a perfectly light choux pastry shell filled with green tea cream and a whole strawberry, balanced atop a chocolate ganache tart.

Photo Credit: @jieeeeun_92

Pair it with the signature Strawberry Milk Tea, served in a pink coffee cup and topped with cut strawberries.

Address: 487-375, Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Opening Hours: Daily, 12pm – 9pm

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The bakery offshoot of a designer dog clothing brand, Cafe Promenades D’été’s incredibly life-like Puppy Cupcakes are the very definition of ‘cute enough to eat.’

Photo Credit: @cafe.promenadesdete on Instagram

The bakery typically makes six flavors of cupcakes in six different breeds, all inspired by dogs that the owners have come across. There’s an Earl Gray Bichon Frise, a Chocolate Banana Yorkie, and even a Salted Caramel Maltipoo.

The cafe is pet-friendly too – you’ll often spot regulars bringing their furry friends down for a cupcake break!

Address: 206dong 127ho, 300 OMok-ro, Mok 1(il)-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: Friday – Wednesday, 10am – 9pm. Closed Thursdays.

Photo Credit: @chefjustinlee_jldessertbar on Instagram

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For a dessert experience you won’t forget, make the trip to JL Dessert Bar. With over 15 years of culinary experience under his belt, Chef Justin Lee started the eponymous JL Dessert Bar, a concept that focuses on plated desserts and pastries that springboards off seasonal ingredients.

Pick the Dessert Tasting for a full experience, with five Asian-inspired dessert courses that’ll take you on a journey of flavors. The spherical Hanrabong dessert is one showstopper – this deliciously sweet hybrid citrus fruit is paired with buttery 32% Dulcey blond chocolate, all tied together with ginger, cardamon, hazelnut and a dash of cognac.

Address: 744-31 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: Daily, 1pm – 10pm

Photo Credit: @cafe_un.forget

For the perfect marriage of macarons and tea, head to Cafe Un.Forget. Their Tea Series Macarons are very popular, with many flavours often snapped up long before the cafe closes.

Photo Credit: @cafe_un.forget

The series is split into six different macarons – No. 1 through No. 6 – with various levels of intensity and paired with different fillings. One of the favourites is the No. 5, consisting of a matcha macaron base layered with intense green tea filling, adzuki bean paste, a wedge of unsalted butter and a sprinkling of salt.

Photo Credit: @cafe_un.forget

Head down early to avoid leaving empty-handed, or check in on their Instagram for updates on macaron stocks. They also serve a range of tarts and cakes, like their Dark Chocolate Green Tea Tart, along with a small latte menu.

Address: 40 Daehak-ro 11-gil, Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 1-10pm. Closed Mondays

Photo Credit: @147cm.jp on Instagram

Located on the 3rd floor of shops that line the streets of bustling Myeongdong, Cacao Green is every chocolate lover’s dream. This cafe serves all things chocolate, with a chocolate-centric menu that includes artisanal chocolate drinks, truffles and desserts.

The Triple Chocolate Bingsu is the dessert to order. Made with a base of chocolate Korean shaved ice, this bingsu is topped with brownies, chocolate truffles, homemade chocolate gelato and candied walnuts. All you need for a chocolate overdose.

Photo Credit: @147cm.jp on Instagram

For a break from all that chocolate, the Strawberry Gelato Pie is well-worth the wait. A white chocolate strawberry ice cream sphere is nested atop towering layers of puff pastry and sweet cream, accompanied with a pitcher of hot strawberry sauce for you to pour over.

Address: 14 Myeongdong 8-gil, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: Daily, 10am -11pm

Photo Credit: @littleneckseoul on Instagram

Check out Littleneck Cheongdam for a slice of New York in Seoul. This Gangnam cafe has a vibrant menu of produce-focused New American plates and comforting diner-style dishes.

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Start your day with their beautifully plated Avocado Toast, served with a blanket of lemon ricotta cheese and a generous layer of crisped bacon crumbs, topped with a poached egg. It’s not quite a weekend brunch without drinks – get a fresh juice or a fruity cocktail to nourish the body and soul.

Address: 653-7 Shinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Opening Hours: Daily, 11am – 9.30pm

Photo Credit: @jaeinn on Instagram

If you’re seeking a classic American diner experience in Seoul, Cafe Travel Maker makes the cut. Located in the hipster neighbourhood of Hongdae, Cafe Travel Maker’s menu is centred around classic diner comfort food – sugar-dusted french toast, crispy hash browns with scrambled eggs and bacon, buttery cast iron waffles, the works.

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Thick, fluffy and drenched in pools of sticky maple syrup, the diner plate-sized Pancakes are sure to slay any hotcake cravings. Select your choice of fruit compote to pair with these pillowy stacks – you can’t go wrong with classic Strawberry and Banana or Blueberry.

Address: 37, Yanghwa-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Opening Hours: Daily, 7am – 5pm

With so many different cafes to visit, you won’t be short of options in Seoul. Before jetting off to Seoul, here are some essential items to nail your trip of a lifetime.