South Korea is attracting a new wave of western design lovers, who are drawn to the country’s unique architectural take on merging old with new. Local practices are embracing modern minimalist design principles and blending them with traditional Korean practices and materials to create spaces that put aesthetics first.
There’s been a burst of new cafes and restaurants opening in Seoul’s colourful creative neighbourhoods recently – as well as a few further afield. We’ve picked out 6 of our favourite new coffee shops in South Korea that serve a side of minimalist design with their coffee.
Saem Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Designed by local practice Labotory, Saem Cafe is inspired by a traditional Korean garden to create a sense of calm among visitors. The studio has used a neutral colour palette, as well as natural textures and open spaces to channel tranquillity. Transparent materials hang from the ceiling to separate tables without closing them in.
446, Namsejong-ro, Sejong-si, Republic of Korea
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Saem Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Designed by local practice Labotory, Saem Cafe is inspired by a traditional Korean garden to create a sense of calm among visitors. The studio has used a neutral colour palette, as well as natural textures and open spaces to channel tranquillity. Transparent materials hang from the ceiling to separate tables without closing them in.
446, Namsejong-ro, Sejong-si, Republic of Korea
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Saem Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Designed by local practice Labotory, Saem Cafe is inspired by a traditional Korean garden to create a sense of calm among visitors. The studio has used a neutral colour palette, as well as natural textures and open spaces to channel tranquillity. Transparent materials hang from the ceiling to separate tables without closing them in.
446, Namsejong-ro, Sejong-si, Republic of Korea
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Cafe Oriente, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Sleek design is paired with traditional Korean elements at Cafe Oriente in Seoul’s creative Itaewon neighbourhood. Designed by local practice, Labotory, the cafe is partially submerged into the ground and features a combination of raw concrete, untreated wood, gravel, rock and a touch of greenery.
682-16 Hannam-dong Itaewon
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Cafe Oriente, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Sleek design is paired with traditional Korean elements at Cafe Oriente in Seoul’s creative Itaewon neighbourhood. Designed by local practice, Labotory, the cafe is partially submerged into the ground and features a combination of raw concrete, untreated wood, gravel, rock and a touch of greenery.
682-16 Hannam-dong Itaewon
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Cafe Oriente, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Sleek design is paired with traditional Korean elements at Cafe Oriente in Seoul’s creative Itaewon neighbourhood. Designed by local practice, Labotory, the cafe is partially submerged into the ground and features a combination of raw concrete, untreated wood, gravel, rock and a touch of greenery.
682-16 Hannam-dong Itaewon
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Cafe Oriente, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Sleek design is paired with traditional Korean elements at Cafe Oriente in Seoul’s creative Itaewon neighbourhood. Designed by local practice, Labotory, the cafe is partially submerged into the ground and features a combination of raw concrete, untreated wood, gravel, rock and a touch of greenery.
682-16 Hannam-dong Itaewon
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Felt Coffee, Juun J Flagship, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Triangular cafe ‘Felt Coffee’ can be found inside Juun J’s flagship store in Seoul. The geometric, all-black structure – designed by Korean practice WGNB – has a circular courtyard and skylights which channel angular streams of natural light inside the coffee shop. The monochromatic cafe is a minimalist’s dream.
Juun J, 23 Eonju-ro 164-gil, Sinsa-dong
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Felt Coffee, Juun J Flagship, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Triangular cafe ‘Felt Coffee’ can be found inside Juun J’s flagship store in Seoul. The geometric, all-black structure – designed by Korean practice WGNB – has a circular courtyard and skylights which channel angular streams of natural light inside the coffee shop. The monochromatic cafe is a minimalist’s dream.
Juun J, 23 Eonju-ro 164-gil, Sinsa-dong
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Felt Coffee, Juun J Flagship, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Triangular cafe ‘Felt Coffee’ can be found inside Juun J’s flagship store in Seoul. The geometric, all-black structure – designed by Korean practice WGNB – has a circular courtyard and skylights which channel angular streams of natural light inside the coffee shop. The monochromatic cafe is a minimalist’s dream.
Juun J, 23 Eonju-ro 164-gil, Sinsa-dong
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Felt Coffee, Juun J Flagship, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Triangular cafe ‘Felt Coffee’ can be found inside Juun J’s flagship store in Seoul. The geometric, all-black structure – designed by Korean practice WGNB – has a circular courtyard and skylights which channel angular streams of natural light inside the coffee shop. The monochromatic cafe is a minimalist’s dream.
Juun J, 23 Eonju-ro 164-gil, Sinsa-dong
Photography: Yongjoon Choi
Yyyyynnn Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
It’s all about the clean lines and concrete at ‘Yyyyynnn’ which opened earlier this year in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong neighbourhood. Designed by local practice Studio Unravel, Yyyyynnn’s stripped-back interiors open onto the street through bi-folding glass doors. A monumental communal bench acts as the centrepiece.
1F, 71, Yunboseon-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Photography: Sunghoon Han
Yyyyynnn Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
It’s all about the clean lines and concrete at ‘Yyyyynnn’ which opened earlier this year in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong neighbourhood. Designed by local practice Studio Unravel, Yyyyynnn’s stripped-back interiors open onto the street through bi-folding glass doors. A monumental communal bench acts as the centrepiece.
1F, 71, Yunboseon-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Photography: Sunghoon Han
Yyyyynnn Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
It’s all about the clean lines and concrete at ‘Yyyyynnn’ which opened earlier this year in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong neighbourhood. Designed by local practice Studio Unravel, Yyyyynnn’s stripped-back interiors open onto the street through bi-folding glass doors. A monumental communal bench acts as the centrepiece.
1F, 71, Yunboseon-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Photography: Sunghoon Han
Yyyyynnn Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
It’s all about the clean lines and concrete at ‘Yyyyynnn’ which opened earlier this year in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong neighbourhood. Designed by local practice Studio Unravel, Yyyyynnn’s stripped-back interiors open onto the street through bi-folding glass doors. A monumental communal bench acts as the centrepiece.
1F, 71, Yunboseon-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Photography: Sunghoon Han
Etcetera Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Stark concrete and glass interiors reign supreme at Seoul’s Etcetera Cafe. Local designer Jeonghwa Seo created furniture and lighting for the coffee shop which has rough sections of concrete dotted about. Guests can sit on an indoor/outdoor bench which appears to cut through glass windows framing the brutalist cafe.
28 Eonju-ro 170-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Photography: Unreal Studio
Etcetera Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Stark concrete and glass interiors reign supreme at Seoul’s Etcetera Cafe. Local designer Jeonghwa Seo created furniture and lighting for the coffee shop which has rough sections of concrete dotted about. Guests can sit on an indoor/outdoor bench which appears to cut through glass windows framing the brutalist cafe.
28 Eonju-ro 170-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Photography: Unreal Studio
Etcetera Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Stark concrete and glass interiors reign supreme at Seoul’s Etcetera Cafe. Local designer Jeonghwa Seo created furniture and lighting for the coffee shop which has rough sections of concrete dotted about. Guests can sit on an indoor/outdoor bench which appears to cut through glass windows framing the brutalist cafe.
28 Eonju-ro 170-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Photography: Unreal Studio
Etcetera Cafe, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Stark concrete and glass interiors reign supreme at Seoul’s Etcetera Cafe. Local designer Jeonghwa Seo created furniture and lighting for the coffee shop which has rough sections of concrete dotted about. Guests can sit on an indoor/outdoor bench which appears to cut through glass windows framing the brutalist cafe.
28 Eonju-ro 170-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Photography: Unreal Studio
Waveon Coffee, Gijang, Busan, Republic of Korea
Sitting on the serene shores of South Korea’s second-largest city, Busan, Waveon Coffee maximises its sea views. The IDMM Architects-designed building towers above the sandy beach below. Cafe-goers can take in the sights or admire the architecture from its three levels, including a rooftop deck.
286 Haemaji-ro, Jangan-eup, Gijang, Busan, South Korea
Photography: Jaeyoon Kim
Waveon Coffee, Gijang, Busan, Republic of Korea
Sitting on the serene shores of South Korea’s second-largest city, Busan, Waveon Coffee maximises its sea views. The IDMM Architects-designed building towers above the sandy beach below. Cafe-goers can take in the sights or admire the architecture from its three levels, including a rooftop deck.
286 Haemaji-ro, Jangan-eup, Gijang, Busan, South Korea
Photography: Jaeyoon Kim
Waveon Coffee, Gijang, Busan, Republic of Korea
Sitting on the serene shores of South Korea’s second-largest city, Busan, Waveon Coffee maximises its sea views. The IDMM Architects-designed building towers above the sandy beach below. Cafe-goers can take in the sights or admire the architecture from its three levels, including a rooftop deck.
286 Haemaji-ro, Jangan-eup, Gijang, Busan, South Korea
Photography: Jaeyoon Kim
Waveon Coffee, Gijang, Busan, Republic of Korea
Sitting on the serene shores of South Korea’s second-largest city, Busan, Waveon Coffee maximises its sea views. The IDMM Architects-designed building towers above the sandy beach below. Cafe-goers can take in the sights or admire the architecture from its three levels, including a rooftop deck.
286 Haemaji-ro, Jangan-eup, Gijang, Busan, South Korea
Photography: Jaeyoon Kim
