One of my favorite things about living in South Korea is experiencing the insane cafe culture. On any given street, you’re likely to find at least a few beautifully decorated cafes, and a common hobby to pick up here is “cafe hopping”. While coffee shops in America tend to serve coffee and breakfast, the cafes in Korea are typically coffee and dessert focused, and are incredibly aesthetic. Below is a list of 10 of my favorite local cafes here in Pyeongtaek:

-Prefer Cafe. This large 3-story cafe near Buraksan is the perfect spot to grab lunch with friends or sit for a few hours doing work. There is plenty of seating, beautiful decor, and a large rooftop area to enjoy during the warmer months. The menu offers a wide selection of pastries & treats, as well as a few sandwich and wrap options.

Hours: 9am - 9pm

Parking: There is a large parking lot directly across the street.

Naver pin here.

-Jukbaekhwa Cafe. This minimalistic cafe sits in front of a pear orchard towards Starfield Anseong, and looks especially beautiful in the snow or early April when the pear trees blossom. Seating can be limited, so you’ll want to visit on a weekday during pear blossom season. The menu consists of coffees, teas, mulled wine, and desserts.

Hours: 9am - 10pm

Parking: There is a small parking area on site.

Naver pin here.

-Ten Dogs. This beautifully decorated cafe is close to Camp Humphreys and is known for their flower entryway. There is plenty of seating, so this is also a good option if you have a large group getting together. Their menu consists of pastries, pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. They also create custom latte art on hot drinks.

Hours: 10am-9:30pm (closed Mondays)

Parking: There is street parking on a secluded residential road.

Naver pin here.

-Mollick. This stunning cafe consists of two separate buildings and a pretty patio in the back, so there are plenty of spots to sit or take photos. Menu consists of coffees, teas, and pastries.

Hours: 12pm - 9pm

Parking: There is a large parking lot on site.

Naver pin here.

-Saridang Cafe. This pretty hanok cafe features coffees and traditional Korean desserts. Indoor seating can be a bit limited, however there is also outdoor seating throughout the property and heated tents for the colder months.

Hours: 12pm-8pm (closed Mondays)

Parking: There is a gravel parking lot across the street.

Naver pin here.

-Cafe Rahyo. This was actually the very first Korean cafe I found on Instagram and visited after moving here. The location can be a bit deceiving as it’s on the 4th floor of an obscure building near Star Hills apartments. However, it is well worth the visit. This cafe is beautifully decorated and features a small rooftop area, a selfie spot, and plenty of aesthetic seating areas. The menu is coffees and some limited desserts.

Hours: 12pm-10pm (closed Mondays)

Parking: Parking can be tricky; there is very limited parking on either side of the building. However, if those are full you’ll need to drive to a side road and find street parking.

Naver pin here.

-Cafe Rebirth. This small but pretty cafe in the Godeok area features coffees and beautiful vegan & gluten-free desserts. If you visit in May, the fence across the street is covered in roses.

Hours: Wed-Fri 11am- 9pm, Sat-Sun 12pm- 9pm

Parking: Street parking can be limited as a lot of the Samsung employees park in this area.

Naver pin here.

-Cafe Timeslice. This is a another really beautiful cafe towards Anseong that is designed like a greenhouse. It is built into a hill, so it’s 2-stories with an entrance on each level. The 2nd floor (the front entrance) is all glass and features lots of greenery and a nice outdoor space. The lower floor has a darker/moodier vibe, plenty of seating, and a huge selection of pastries and desserts to choose from.

Hours: 9:30am-10pm

Parking: There are two separate parking lots available; a small lot out front & a larger parking lot around back by the 1st floor entrance.

Naver pin here.

-Ewharo 256 Cafe. This pretty cottage-style cafe is a great cherry blossom spot to visit in the Spring and features plenty of outdoor seating, a lunch menu, and a cute treehouse photo spot. The portions are huge, so you could honestly share a meal between two people.

Hours: 9:30am- 9pm

Parking: There is a small dirt parking lot on site.

Naver pin here.

-Boaz Mansion. This cute cafe sits behind kookje university on a quiet, tree-lined road. My favorite time to visit is during cherry blossom season (the road is lined with them) or during the holiday season, however there is also a nice rooftop patio to enjoy during the Spring and Fall months. Menu consists of coffees, teas, and desserts.

Hours: 10am - 9pm (closed Sundays)

Parking: There is a small parking lot on site. During cherry blossom season it can be pretty packed.

Naver pin here.

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xoxo