Korea Cafe Culture

Cafes in Korea are on a completely different level. As someone who grew up in the States, this was such a lovely surprise. Korean cafe culture is a pride here. It shows Korea's ideals and strengths in the best way possible and has been a highlight of my time here. Korean cafes are everywhere so you can eat wherever, and they stay open late so you can enjoy them whenever! They offer high quality foods and unique themes so you can find a cafe for whatever you may be interested in- even if that means wild animals! Cafe culture has been built up here and cafe hopping (the activity of going from cafe to cafe and trying different things during the whole day) has become a trendy activity because Korea knows how to do cafes right!

Korea is covered in cafes. As I mentioned above, cafes lurk on every corner. Cafe hopping is very easy here as so many special cafes are near one another. This accessibility made the cafe hopping journey much more enjoyable for me. I found myself cafe hopping in Yeonam-dong which was a cute area with so many uniquely themed cafes right beside each other. As well as cute shops and, of course, photo booths to remember the day. 

During my first two years at college I found myself loving going to cafes in the evenings to work. But I always had to leave around 9pm which I was not a fan of. In Korea that is not an issue. Many cafes and restaurants go late into the evening or even 24 hours. This is something that I personally have found a nice luxury. It's so nice to know on a stressful work night I can find myself a cozy cafe or even a cat cafe for some cute kitty therapy. 

Cafe themes make the experience even more memorable. Most cafes have a unique niche that makes them stand out. Whether that be live capybaras or an under the sea theme, they all have one. This makes for a good "instagramable" market which, of course, draws everyone in, me included. Who doesn't want to buy a drink and pastry because it looks cute? I ate at one cafe only because it was themed for one of my favorite movies! Themes make cafes more of an experience here and more rewarding than just getting a drink. Some cafes even offer store options with their themes so shopping can be part of the experience as well. Lastly, these themed cafes offer photo worthy outsides and insides. So not only will you be instagramming your food but also the building you're in!

As someone studying tourism and hospitality, I think Korea knows exactly what they are doing with themed cafes and I have loved exploring them. Cafe hopping has become a big thing in the last couple years. In Korea it is even known as an activity you “must do” when visiting. Korea has set itself up for being known for their cafes. They have done so by being very smart with their theming and hours like stated above. But most importantly, they offer high quality service and food. Even chain cafes tend to feel unique or have good customer care. It feels like you're getting a personal experience and that's what makes it so worth it. Every second of cafe hopping has been so rewarding to me and not just because I am a sweet enthusiast. Korea's cafes stand out and make eating at a cafe an experience and not just a meal. 

Some pictures from my all time favorite cafes I have been to during my journey thus far: