I will share with you some cafes that you can visit to feel festive at Christmas.
1. Dinga Cake House (Hongdae)
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/muum_mu
Address: 252-18 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 동교로29길 68
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University, Exit 3
Business Hours: Mon- Thurs, Sun 11:30am – 22:00, Fri-Sat: 11:30am-23:00
At Dinga Cake House in Yeonnam-dong, you can take a step into the past. The interior is very reminiscent of a 1950′s era home in the U.S. The place is two floors and is decorated with vintage family photos. It’s my second time to visit the cafe and I love it every time. My friend and I shared the Santa banana cake. If you like banana bread, I think you would like this cake. They also were serving a winter seasonal drink that was made with pumpkin that I did not order.
2. Mama Mia (맘마미아) (Apgujeong)
SNS:https://www.instagram.com/mammamiadosan/
Address: 45 Apgujeong-ro 42-gil, Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
강남구 압구정로42길 45; Seoul, Korea 06020
Nearest Subway Station: Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Exit 5
Business Hours: 10:00 – 23:00
Mama Mia might be my favorite cafe in Korea. It is so pretty and lovely! The outside of the cafe is completely pink with large white letters spelling out the cafe’s name. When I saw that they were selling Christmas and winter themed treats this month, I raced to go there. They put up multiple Christmas trees as well as made their own with lights on the first floor as well as the upper floor. Their pastries are so delicious. I wanted to buy and eat everything, but my stomach can only hold so much. ㅠㅠ I also ordered the hot chocolate and it was bomb! It was very rich and contained multiple types of chocolate that complimented each other so well. And I loved the touch of the name written in chocolate and placed as an edible topper. The hot chocolate is a seasonal item.
3. Zapangi (자판기) (Mangwon)
SNS:https://www.instagram.com/mammamiadosan/
Address: Seoul, Mapo-gu, World Cup-ro 13-gil
79 해오름 주상복합 1층
Nearest Subway Station: Mangwon Station, Exit 2
Business Hours: Everyday: 10:00~23:00
Zapangi seldomly updates their instagram page, but I saw they were selling Christmas themed items and so off I went! I have visited this cafe on multiple occasions, including at Cherry blossom season when they had fun cherry blossom themed items. Most times of the year, they sell tins with cakes in them with mermaid tails on the top. I loveee it. This season, they are selling Santa caked and reindeer cakes. We were lucky enough to get the second-to-last reindeer cake and one Santa cake. The cakes seemed to be the same flavor–light tiramisu. I enjoyed them and the cookie toppers. We also both ordered the seasonal lattes that were a total surprise when they came out. When our drinks and cakes were ready to be picked up, I was so excited. Christmas music playing made me feel so festive.
4. Cuore Espresso ( 쿠오레에스프레소 )
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/cuore_espresso/
Address: 서울 서초구 강남대로 275
Nearest Subway Station: Yangjae Station, Exit 2
Business Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00am- 22:00
Saturday/Sunday: 12:00 – 21:00
Cuore Espress was a new cafe find for me. I saw it posted on Instagram and I thought their items for sale looked so cute! This cafe’s “mascot” of sorts is a Shiba Inu dong. They carry this cheesecake slice that they add different designs to according to the season. The Christmas version was too adorable for me to pass up. Sometimes, things that are cute can lack flavor, but I was not disappointed and very pleasantly surprised. I’m normally not a fan of cheesecake, but it was delicious! We also ordered the tree brownie dessert, and I recommend that one as well. I included a picture of antlers and a big red ball /reindeer nose that were on the wall. It seemed that the writing next to the red ball was encouraging patrons to pick up the red nose and pose with it. I love a place that also has props!
5. BitStopping 비스토핑 ( (Sinsa)
SNS:https://www.instagram.com/bistopping/
Address: 68 Sinbanpo-ro 47-gil, Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 서초구 신반포로47길 68
Nearest Subway Station: Sinsa Station, Exit 4
Business Hours: Everyday 11:00am – 22:00
Bitstopping is a hit with many foreigners and I am one of them. The place is on the smaller side, but they decorated it well for Christmas. This place is accommodating for foreigners as when we were reading the menu, they asked if we wanted to see an English menu which we gladly received. You should pick your flavor of ice cream, if you want a cup or cone (and the cone options are so fun!) and a cookie(s). They make seasonal cookies and I went there with the purpose of getting something Christmas-y. It was delicious ice cream and the cookies were also good, too!
6. Viva Salon (비바쌀롱) (Mangwon)
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/vivasalon_toycoffee/
Address: 84 Poeun-ro, Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 포은로 84 1층
Nearest Subway Station: Mangwon Station, Exit 2
Business Hours: Mon. off / Tuesday – Sunday: 11:00am-22:00pm
Viva Salon is a cafe and toy shop that serves animated character inspired drinks. One of their more famous drinks is a Cookie Monster drink. For their winter menu, they are selling Frozen (2) Olaf drinks. It comes by default as a cafe latte, but there are different options that you can choose from, and I changed my drink to be a vanilla latte.
7. IMI (이미) (Hongdae)
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/cafeimi/
Address: 7 Donggyo-ro 25-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 동교로25길 7
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University, Exit 1
Business Hours: 12:00pm – 22:00
I randomly decided that I missed drinking egg nog, so I quickly searched and found just one place. I also didn’t try very hard… haha. This cafe in Hongdae is selling the cozy holiday drink. It was served hot, which is actually different than what I am used to, but I enjoyed it all the same. If you are in search of a place selling egg nog, check it out. Very close to Hongdae station and they have many pastries to enjoy. I introduced creme brulee to my boyfriend and he enjoyed it. 🙂
8. Cre8 Cookies ( 크리에잇쿠키 역삼점 ) (Yeoksam Station)
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/cre8cookies/
Address: 36 Teheran-ro 25-gil, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway Station: Yeoksam Station, Exit 6
Business Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 – 21:30 , Sat-Sun: 9:00am-21:30
I hadn’t visited Cre8 cookies in a long time, but as always they really hit the spot. If you have been craving western style cookies, these are them. They have so many varieties and I have tried multiple. I have enjoyed every cookie that I have ever tried from their shop. Their Christmas cookies are tasty as always.
9. Carin Lounge (카린홍대라운지 홍대점) (Hongdae)
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/cre8cookies/
Address: 7 Hongik-ro 2-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 홍익로2길 7
Nearest Subway Station: Hongik University, Exit 9
Business Hours: Everyday 10:30 – 22:30, Closed on Holidays
Carin Lounge has been tempting me with it’s pink interior. It’s my favorite color. 🙂
A lovely place is now even more lovely as they are selling some seasonal items. I ordered the Christmas tree cake. It has a yuja flavor. Despite initially being wary of anything yuja flavored, I took a chance and I am glad I did. It was light and refreshing.
Rebecca's Refreshing ROK 