🟢 Hidden Cafes in Korea (2025) – Travel to Korea
Discover Seoul’s hidden cafes loved by locals and trendy spots most visited by foreigners in 2025. Explore unique themes, cozy interiors, and cultural vibes beyond the tourist crowds.
🎯 Learning Goal
- Learn useful Korean expressions to order drinks and ask for recommendations in cafes
- Discover hidden cafes and unique themes off the main tourist paths
- Explore 2025’s top 5 most-visited cafes by foreigners in Seoul
- Get insider tips on navigating Seoul’s cafe culture and trends
Looking for a cafe in Seoul that isn’t on every tourist guide? Seoul’s cafe scene is vibrant and constantly evolving. Beyond famous chains, you’ll find secret alley cafes and unique themed spots where locals hang out — and where foreigners are flocking in 2025.
Table of Contents
- 1. Key Expressions
- 2. Reading Passage & Vocabulary
- 3. Grammar Tip
- 4. Say What?
- 5. Teacher’s Tip
- 6. Top 5 Most-Visited Cafes (2025)
- 7. Hidden Cafe Recommendations
- 8. Practice Dialogue
- 9. Pop Quiz
- 10. Did You Know?
- 11. It’s Your Turn
✨ Key Expressions
- 숨은 카페 (su-meun ka-pe) – hidden cafe
- 시그니처 메뉴 (si-geu-ni-cheo me-nyu) – signature menu
- 사진 찍어도 돼요? (sa-jin jjik-eo-do dwae-yo?) – Can I take photos?
- 추천해 주세요 (chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo) – Please recommend
- 조용한 자리 있나요? (jo-yong-han ja-ri it-na-yo?) – Is there a quiet seat?
📖 Reading Passage & Vocabulary
서울의 카페 문화는 매우 다양합니다. 특히 요즘은 SNS에서 유명해진 비밀 카페들이 많아요. 좁은 골목길 안에 숨겨진 카페나 독특한 테마를 가진 공간은 외국인 여행자들에게도 큰 인기를 끌고 있습니다.
Seoul’s cafe culture is incredibly diverse. Recently, many hidden cafes have become popular on social media. Small alley cafes or uniquely themed spaces are also attracting foreign travelers looking for something different.
📘 Grammar Tip
~아요/어요 polite endings: Used for polite requests/orders. Example: “아메리카노 주세요.” (Please give me an Americano.)
💬 Say What?
한국 MZ세대 사이에서는 “핫플”이라는 표현을 자주 씁니다. ‘핫플’은 ‘핫 플레이스(Hot Place)’의 줄임말로, 요즘 인기 있는 장소나 카페를 말해요.
Among Korean MZ (millennial & Gen Z) generations, the term “핫플” (hot-peul) is widely used. It’s short for “hot place” and refers to trendy spots like popular cafes or restaurants.
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tip
카페에서 주문할 때 한국어 발음을 너무 어렵게 느낄 필요는 없어요. ‘아메리카노’나 ‘라떼’는 그대로 통하니까 “~주세요”만 붙이면 돼요!
When ordering at cafes, don’t stress about perfect pronunciation. Words like “Americano” or “Latte” are understood as is — just add “주세요” (please) at the end.
☕ Top 5 Most-Visited Cafes by Foreigners (2025)
- Thanks, Oat (연남) – Minimalist brunch cafe famous for oatmeal bowls.
- Book a lesson (안국) – Hanok-style cafe with rustic vibes near Bukchon.
- Blue Bottle (성수) – Global brand’s flagship in Korea, loved for spacious interiors.
- Greem Cafe (제주) – 2D comic-style cafe, perfect for Instagram photos.
- Fritz Coffee Company (마포) – Specialty coffee & retro Korean bakery fusion.
🌿 Hidden Cafe Recommendations
- Cafe Layered (북촌): Quiet spot with vintage European desserts.
- Earth Us (익선동): Vegan-friendly cafe with hanok interior.
- Anthracite Coffee (합정): Industrial vibe, popular among local artists.
- C Through (이태원): Known for creative cream art coffee.
- Cheong-su Dang (청수당, 종로): Modern-traditional mix in an alleyway hanok.
🗣 Practice Dialogue
A: 이 근처에 조용한 카페 있어요?
A (EN): Is there a quiet cafe around here?
B: 저 골목 안에 숨은 카페가 있어요. 디저트도 맛있어요.
B (EN): There’s a hidden cafe in that alley. Their desserts are great too.
📝 Pop Quiz
Answer
여기서 사진 찍어도 돼요?2. Fill in the blank: The Korean slang for “hot place” is _______.
Answer
핫플3. True or False: Blue Bottle is a traditional Korean cafe in Bukchon.
Answer
False – It’s a global brand in Seongsu.💡 Did You Know?
Seoul has over 25,000 cafes — one of the highest cafe densities in the world. Many are themed around art, comics, or even pets, making cafe-hopping a unique cultural experience.
✍️ It’s Your Turn
Search for a hidden cafe near your travel destination in Seoul. Write one Korean sentence asking for a recommendation and one ordering your favorite drink. Share it in the comments!
🧾 Final Thoughts
Exploring hidden cafes in Seoul is more than drinking coffee — it’s about discovering culture, design, and local life. Try mixing trendy spots and quiet alley cafes for the perfect balance.
Practice on italki: Book a lesson to practice cafe-related Korean expressions with a native teacher.
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