Our pal Bethan visited Busan not too long ago, and whereas there she explored a number of the greatest cafés town has to supply. If you happen to’re planning your individual go to and wish some inspiration for the perfect spots to seize a espresso, a sandwich, or a scrumptious pastry – learn on beneath!
When planning your first journey to Busan, you would possibly need to match some cafes into your itinerary. Korea is the land of attractive cafés, so I extremely suggest café-hopping in any Korean metropolis, together with Busan. Nevertheless, in case you’re sticking to extra tourist-focused locations to your first journey to Busan, discovering well-priced, unbiased cafés could possibly be barely harder than the much less well-known areas of town. I’ve chosen 5 hidden gems which you’ll simply slip into your jam-packed sightseeing itinerary, and can aid you keep away from these franchise cafés – so these are the perfect cafés in Busan!
(We’ve additionally included a useful Google Map beneath that can assist you discover these gems.)
And Espresso, Haeundae
Haeundae is among the hottest areas in Busan for vacationers – Haeundae seaside is an ideal trip spot, and the road markets and recent seafood that this space is understood for convey hordes of vacationers to Busan yearly. It’s actually a must-visit for anyone visiting Busan for the primary time – as a Brit, seeing the skyscrapers alongside the beachfront at night time really blew my thoughts!
Nevertheless, since Haeundae is such a well-known spot, it may well typically be troublesome to seek out an unbiased café that gives a comfortable ambiance, an honest worth for meals and someplace to sit down. That’s why I used to be so completely satisfied to seek out And Espresso!
This café is giant and alluring, and presents a brunch menu in addition to quite a lot of waffles and drinks. This was the proper spot to cease at for breakfast, and the inside felt heat and fulfilling. We ordered a hen panini and roasted vegetable salad between us. The meals was effectively ready and scrumptious; my panini got here with a Korean gochujang-based sauce which went completely with the hen and apple sandwich filling, whereas my pal’s salad got here topped with blueberries which tasted nice. Fascinating ingredient mixtures are a staple of Korean Western meals and is at all times an expertise, whether or not good or unhealthy – my favorite thus far being egg mayonnaise and strawberry jam sandwiches – so experiencing Korean-style Western meals while you’re here’s a must-do. If you happen to go to within the afternoon, you may also seize a chilly beer after a day of sunbathing.
Only a brief stroll from the beachfront, this café is the proper place to begin your seaside day. We arrived round 11am, and the café rapidly bought busy after that, so I like to recommend visiting within the morning if you wish to sit in and eat.
Handle: 317, Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48095
Avant Garde Café, Gamcheon Tradition Village
In Gamcheon Tradition Village, you’re spoiled for alternative in relation to cafés, and the rows and rows of vibrant homes cascading down the mountainside make a incredible backdrop for cafes and eating places. Nevertheless, because the buildings in Gamcheon are very previous, and weren’t initially constructed for tourism, they don’t essentially capitalise on the view. However there was one café that we got here throughout on our journey to Gamcheon that subverted this – Avant Garde.
From the surface, it seems like all common café – the tables nonetheless have the watermarks from a franchise café chain which will need to have been right here earlier than! Nevertheless, what sells this café as a hidden gem is the view. If you need to have the ability to sit and drink espresso while surrounded by the colorful village on all sides, that is the place to go. There may be an indoor seating space, in addition to window seating the place you may take pleasure in searching to the coast. There may be additionally a decking space the place you may sit outdoors and actually benefit from the view you travelled all the way in which there to see. The costs at this café are commonplace (round 6,000W per drink), the espresso is sweet and there are some desserts on provide too. So, if the view is an important factor for you when travelling to Gamcheon, this café is ideal for that!
Handle: 121, Okcheon-ro, Saha-gu, Busan 49365
Yao Tea Gallery, Gamcheon Tradition Village
If you happen to would favor someplace with just a little extra character in Gamcheon, Yao Tea Gallery is the proper place. A terrific various to sitting down for yet one more espresso, this tiny tea café is a good place to sit down and study concerning the artwork of tea ceremony. The proprietor speaks English and might clarify concerning the completely different teas, and there’s info on the partitions as effectively to remind you. If you happen to share a pot of tea, it prices solely 8,000W per individual – which is a good worth, contemplating the time the proprietor takes to show you about tea ceremony and the way to put together the tea. Between two folks, one pot of tea was greater than sufficient.
We ordered puerh tea, a fermented tea originating in China, and had been fortunately guided upstairs to a tiny seating space with simply two tables. If you need a quaint and cosy ambiance, this teeny tiny café is ideal for that. The tables are each dealing with small home windows too so you may take pleasure in a view of the village while sipping your tea. The proprietor got here and confirmed us the way to brew and pressure the tea, and supplied us with a conventional Korean confection known as yanggaeng, comprised of pink beans and mungbeans. You may also purchase conventional model paintings that’s been hand-painted by the proprietor, which might make a incredible memento from Korea.
Total, this was a vastly stress-free expertise, which left me with some new cultural data and a refreshed thoughts after consuming heat tea and admiring the view in a comfortable, peaceable café. This café is hidden away up some winding staircases but when yow will discover it, it’s effectively well worth the go to.
Handle: 1, Gamnae 2-ro 119beon-gil, Saha-gu, Busan 49363
madame, madame, Nampo
Busan Tower is one other must-visit spot in your first journey to Busan, so in case you’re in search of a spot to relaxation up after your go to, madame, madame is the proper place.
I heard this café earlier than I noticed it, after a brief stroll by way of Yongdusan Park, the world surrounding Busan Tower. Traditional Christmas songs had been taking part in as we approached, and the café was decked out in basic pink and inexperienced decorations, which I actually loved! This café is nestled alongside one in all many exit staircases on the outskirts of Yongdusan Park, and the way in which it’s so secluded made it really feel like a cottage from a fairytale or a Ghibli film. Aesthetically, this café is simply actually fairly and fulfilling. Madame, madame has actually embraced the European cottage aesthetic, offering an ornamental kitchen space with faux meals and dim lights which additionally give this place a romantic feeling. I consider this café turns into a restaurant at night time, however in the course of the day, it presents quite a lot of gentle pretzels and pretzel sandwiches. We opted to sit down outdoors on the decking, to benefit from the view of the café and the Christmas decorations.
The pretzels are scrumptious and we each ordered scorching chocolate, which was a number of the greatest scorching chocolate I’ve had in Korea – very creamy and candy. On condition that it’s simply outdoors of the park, it’s the good spot to cover away and loosen up for a bit, making it among the finest cafés in Busan. Apart from, the cafe comes with a cat – so what extra may you ask for?
Handle: 30-18, Gwangbok-ro 67beon-gil, Jung-gu, Busan 48949
Offo, Gijang
Some of the underrated areas in Busan for cafés is Gijang, a principally residential space on the outskirts of Busan. Whereas there might not be as a lot to do in Gijang as different bustling areas like Haeundae, Gwangalli or Gamcheon, what this space does completely is ocean-view cafés. There are cafés dotted all alongside the shoreline right here, and it’s value travelling outdoors of central Busan to expertise it.
Of all of the cafés alongside this shoreline, my favorite must be Offo. You’re greeted with trendy structure and loads of area so that you’ll remember to have someplace to sit down after making a protracted journey. Whereas the principle attraction of this cafe is the ocean view, the bread and pastries served listed here are as scrumptious as they’re fairly, and never overpriced regardless of the situation and the ambiance being one in all an costly café. There are additionally brunch choices if you need a heartier meal. You may select to eat indoors or outdoors, the place there are tiered seats and tables dealing with the ocean. Since we visited in December, the café supplied blankets for friends, which made sitting outdoors with a cake and a scorching drink much more cosy. There are additionally tent areas outdoors the place you may sit round a heated desk in colder climate. The picnic bench setup and tented areas make this cafe a terrific place to go to as a household with youngsters or a gaggle of buddies.
Nevertheless, my favorite factor about this café is that there’s entry from the cafe to the rockpools and ocean beneath. While I really like traversing rocks alongside the seafront in any climate, I can think about this to be a terrific place to dip your ft within the summertime. Total, this café was a comfortable place to sit down and benefit from the sea breeze, and a part of me wished I had introduced a ebook together with me to actually really feel like I used to be on trip!
To get to Gijang, you may simply take the subway to Gijang station – nevertheless to achieve the coast, I’d really helpful to rent a automobile or take a taxi. Taxis are additionally comparatively low-cost in Korea in comparison with many different international locations so, particularly for a gaggle of individuals, a taxi can be the easiest way to journey. Why not make a day of café-hopping alongside the coast in Gijang?
Handle: 860, Gijanghaean-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan 46078
The Bonus Café: Magnate, Nam-gu
I needed to embody this café, regardless that it is a bit more on the well-known aspect. Magnate is owned by the dad and mom of BTS’s Jimin, so it’s a well-known spot amongst Okay-pop followers. Nevertheless, to those that know nothing about Okay-pop, this café nonetheless stays a hidden gem.
The café isn’t BTS-themed in any respect, which means it may be loved by everybody – and it needs to be. The shining stars of this place are the pastries, which aren’t solely extraordinarily scrumptious, however lovely to take a look at too. When you munch on a croissant or cheesecake, you may benefit from the industrial design and fascinating paintings adorning the partitions. This café is cosy, the vibe is chilled, and there’s even a tiny outside backyard the place you may sit and revel in iced espresso in the summertime. It’s the proper spot for a date or espresso with buddies, and among the finest cafés in Busan.
Handle: 135, Jinnam-ro, Nam-gu, Busan 48448
You may observe Bethan on Instagram, or go to her weblog at bethinkorea.com. To study extra about our South Korea adventures, go to our vacation spot web page right here.