Seoul Coffee (서울커피 익선점) is one of the earliest occupants in Ikseondong (익선동) before the area became one of the hippest neighborhoods in Seoul that it is now. Opening its flagship store in June 2017, my first visit to the cafe was a month after its opening. The cafe is housed in one of the numerous old hanok structures that can be found around the small alleyways in Ikseondong area.
The first thing that will greeted you when you visit the cafe is a thick old wooden door with a nostalgic vintage barber shop signage placed above the solid entrance with the words ‘Seoul Coffee’ rotating slowly inside it. The door itself, preserved in its original form which I imagined was used as a shield by the previous occupants of the residence to fend off any unwanted interactions from the outside world, looks quite intimidating. (Honestly, I was intimidated to go in the first time I passed by this place. Had to go around the block to gather up some courage to push open that wooden door.) But the yellow vintage signage and the glass wall next to it providing a glimpse of what’s inside were warm, intriguing and inviting enough to overcome that feeling of intimidation and replaced it with curiosity. At least that was the case for me.
From the moment I stepped into the space, it was clear to me that the owner(s) (and probably the architects) of this place care greatly about the architecture and design of the store. From the structure of the cafe, the choice of materials and furnishings used for the interior, to the well-designed branding of their menus and products, they all work together wonderfully as a cohesive brand. The space exudes a feeling of nostalgia but feels modern at the same time. It’s old and new, rustic and contemporary, organic and structured all at the same time. The abundant natural light illuminating the place during the day also makes it possible for visitors to observe and enjoy these elements and be immersed in the restored vintage space. Combined this with the coffee aroma that filled the place and the aesthetically pleasing pastries (and additionally the cube ice cream during the summer) neatly displayed on the counter, Seoul Coffee easily became one of my favorite cafe in Ikseondong.
During this particular visit, since it was in the middle of summer, I wanted to try their cube ice cream (큐브 아이스크림) which is one of their signature menu. I think before this, I’ve never seen a cube ice cream designed, packaged, displayed and photographed like how theirs are. So I ordered the strawberry cube ice cream (딸기 큐브 아이스크림) and iced Boseong green tea (보성 녹차) to wash down the sweetness of the ice cream. The cube ice cream itself tasted good. It was flavorful and not too overtly sweet, which I prefer.
A little bit of a tip from me, I’ve been going to this spot for numerous times now and I find that the best time to go is on a weekday during a clear day. The cafe is well-lit during this time and it’s not too crowded with people, which makes your visit more enjoyable if you’re looking for a quite place to have your coffee or read a book. In the evenings, the place is pretty dimly lit, which makes a romantic spot, I guess, but might be hard for you to take photographs or read a book at. During the weekends it could get pretty crowded and noisy.
Other than the cube ice cream (딸기 큐브 아이스크림), other signature menus that you might want to try include their Angbutter Bread (앙버터 식빵), Injeolmi Tiramisu (인절미 티라미수), and Vienna Milk Tea (비엔나 밀크티).
