Tucked along the peaceful Yangjae Stream in Dogok-dong (도곡), you’ll find a charming lineup of cafés, bakeries, and restaurants perfect for a relaxing stroll or a quiet bite. One standout is Sim Jae (心斋), a specialty dessert café known for its creative fusion-style cakes sold by the slice. While this location focuses on cakes, Sim Jae’s other branches also serve up tarts, bagels, brownies, and a variety of other handcrafted treats—each one as thoughtfully made as its serene name suggests.
If you’ve been to Seoul, it’s not surprise that Seoul has a record 284 Starbucks coffee shops.
If you’re interested in specialty cafes that serve drinks and desserts beyond a latte and a bagel, check out this story at the Korea Times. The article has some great pictures too.
My favorite: green tea adzuki bean sherbet.
When I arrived in Korea seven years ago, there were many non-specialized coffee shops that served beer, soda, and not so great coffee. Today, it’s completely different story. There are great coffee shops on every corner. My little neighborhood has no less than 10 coffee shops within a 3 to 4 minute walk. Koreans prefer local food over foreign food but not for soft drinks.
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