Seoul is back in action and with borders lifted, everyone is flocking to the well-loved South Korean city for a holiday. When in Seoul, cafe-hopping is a must. The South Koreans take their cafes seriously – from the coffee and cakes, to the decor and even merchandise.

One that is gaining immense popularity is Shinleedoga Cafe, a huge hanok-style cafe Hongdae near to Hongik University, and it is frequented by students and young locals. You’d never expect to find a modern hanok-style cafe right in the middle of Hongdae.

There is no lack of cafes within Hongdae but Shinleedoga Cafe stands out for its interior and vibes. The entrance is unassuming, you might just walk past it and brush it off, thinking it is another hanok where nobody stays. But follow the stone-lined path and you would be greeted by a mysterious dark alley. And this alley takes you to the cafe that sits within the hanok.

The cafe has a simple yet modern interior. Coupled with the historical exterior, it is alluring and exudes a cosy vibe.

There are both indoor and outdoor seating, and we took a while to take in the beauty of the place when we first stepped in. On the inside, seats are scattered in a random manner, and during the daytime, the sunlight diffuses through the full glass windows to warm the space up.

The cafe is equally charming during the night and it is a cosy space where you can hang out to enjoy a drink and dessert.

There are outdoor seating too, and in winter, there is a campfire where you can roast marshmallow.

The cafe also has a rooftop on the third floor where you can catch a glimpse of the city.

On its menu, expect a mix of caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks, as well as a small selection of bakes. Check out the Black Sesame Latte that is highly popular! While the bakes were nothing life-changing, we thought it was really nice that we could purchase marshmallow on sticks to roast at the campfire during winter.

Shinleedoga Cafe Hongdae
20-12 Jandari-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Does the name ‘Ban Bossy Boutique‘ ring a bell? Those who have heard of the feminist movement in 2014 where the use of the term ‘bossy’ should be discouraged to describe women would probably know where this cafe got its inspiration from.

Boasting primarily pastel colours in pink, mint and white, walking into Ban Bossy Boutique is like stepping into Barbie-land. It is the perfect spot for afternoon tea with your girlfriends, complete with Instagram-worthy backdrops and an appealing array of cupcakes.

The beautiful cafe is tucked away on the third level of a building in Hongdae. The next time you find yourselves in Seoul, you know where to head to.

Ban Bossy Boutique’s dining area features sparkling marble table tops in white, turquoise and rose gold colours which stand out against the white walls while seating is on pastel coloured chairs. The large potted plants in the light-filled cafe offered some tropical summer vibes as well.

Go to the cafe early if you want to get the best seats, which are by the window. During the day, sunlight filters through the floor-to-ceiling glass panels so you have optimal lighting for your OOTD and food pictures!

Ban Bossy Boutique overlooks the bustling Hongdae street, which is frequented by locals, young students who study in the vicinity and tourists. For an unparalleled view, head to their balcony where you can watch the world go by.

An afternoon tea at Ban Bossy Boutique looks something like this—munching on exquisitely decorated cupcakes and sipping on a pretty beverage. Yes, this is the life in Seoul!

We love how the details of the sugar flowers of their Flower Cupcake (W7,500/ S$9.03) stood out. However, it is a pity that the cupcake looks better than it tastes as we found it to be slightly dry and lacking in flavour.

Their drinks options range from espresso-based drinks such as Latte (W5,500/ S$6.62) and Cappuccino (W5,500/ S$6.62) to juices including Detox Green (W7,500/ S$9.03) and Power Orange (W7,500/ S$9.03).

Ban Bossy Boutique
3/F, 17-Waoosan ro- 19-22
Mapo-Gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel: +82 02 337 9896
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Hongdae