Five cafés for great specialty coffee in Seoul
Seoul has no shortage of excellent coffee, but these five cafés stand out for their quality beans, thoughtful brewing, and distinct personalities. From serious hand brews to cozy neighbourhood spots, here are five places worth seeking out.
1. gml coffee (지엠엘), Hannam
This is our favourite spot in Seoul for hand-brewed coffee.
gml coffee curates beans from roasteries around the world, including respected names like DAK (Amsterdam) and Hatch (Ontario).
At any given time, the menu features more than 20 single-origin options, complete with detailed tasting notes and processing information. If you’re unsure what to order, the baristas are happy to recommend beans that work well black or with milk.
We usually go for the funkier profiles and often order the tasting flight, which lets you sample two different beans side by side. On our last visit, we especially enjoyed Coco Bongo from DAK — cultured with coconut for 144 hours, with clear and expressive coconut notes in the cup.
Address: 22 Hannam-daero 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Hours: 9am–10pm daily
2. Travertine, Yongsan
Yongsan is one of our favourite districts in Seoul. Beyond being home to our go-to ginseng soup spot (see here) and HYBE’s headquarters, the area is also packed with excellent restaurants and cafés (check out our post here).
Travertine is one of the highlights, serving well-executed specialty coffee in a minimal, Hanok-inspired space. It’s calm, refined, and a great place to slow down with a carefully brewed cup.
Address: 18-7 Hangang-daero 7-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (04379)
Hours: 11am–8.30pm daily
3. Milestone Coffee Roasters, Seongsu
Milestone Coffee (마일스톤 커피 신사) is probably the most well-known name on this list. Operating since 2014, the roastery has outlets in Seongsu, Hannam, and Seoul Forest, and is especially known for its Vienna coffee.
During our visit, we went with a flat white — dark, nutty, and pleasantly nuanced, with good balance and depth.
4. siwa Coffee, Seongbuk
Located in the quieter Seongbuk district, siwa is a small independent café serving excellent coffee alongside homemade focaccia sandwiches. The owner is warm and welcoming, and the space has a cozy, neighbourhood feel that makes you want to linger.
Address: 54 Dongseon-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
5. Hit Coffee Roasters, Itaewon
Just steps from Itaewon Station, Hit Coffee Roasters (히트커피로스터스 이태원점) pulls double duty as a café by day and a cozy bar after sunset, offering cocktails alongside its coffee menu.
The Cold Glacier stood out — a clever combination of rum, cold brew, and sweet whipped cream — making this a great spot to end the day.
Address: 127-11, 2F, Itaewon-dong, Seoul
Hours: 9am–11pm (Mon–Thurs), 9am–12am (Fri–Sun)
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