ab cafe | Gangnam

Seoulites have been raving on social media about a Bali resort-themed cafe in Gangnam, filled with rattan furniture and plants that set the mood for a short but sweet getaway from the busy city scenes. This brand new cafe opened its doors just recently in June.

Walking up a mild slope of Gangnam, I could spot the cafe from afar as it was the only place that looked like a resort you'd expect to see in a tropical setting.

Making an entry through the front door you'll realize right away that the coffee bar is on the right and the many rattan items displayed on the left are for sale. If you're especially fond of the texture of rattan, definitely browse around. You might find yourself taking home a basket or a beach bag!

I visited at 9 in the morning, right when they open their doors. Although their website and social media mention that they open at 9 am, the girl behind the counter said that they wouldn't be able to take orders until 9:30 as they still have to clean the halls and prepare for the day. I thought that was a bit strange, but it wasn't the end of the world.

Surprisingly, I was kept busy for the next 30 minutes because the place was huge and each floor has a slightly different colour scheme to it (More photos of each floor below). The paintings and props displayed throughout the venue was also something that kept me intrigued.

At 9:30, I got to make my order of vanilla latte and lemon pound cake and decided to grab a table in the main hall, just half a storey down the stairs from the coffee counter.

The lemon pound cake (₩6,600) came packaged in a bag. Not very eco-friendly but quite hygenic.

I took out the lemon pound cake and set it up on the plate along with the iced vanilla latte (₩6,500). Not bad, right? My little resort getaway was set up nicely.

I'm a sucker for lemon flavoured desserts and this cake was no exception. The zesty flavour of the soft, fluffly cake finished off with the sweet glazing on top was the perfect way to start off my slow morning. The vanilla latte was pretty average. I would be open to try their americano or a regular latte on my next visit.

I'm 100% open to visiting the cafe again with a book or a couple of friends for a chat especially when I'd want to get away from the bustles of the city. If you're looking to take a break or enjoy some coffee with jazz in the background, why not stop by the little Bali in Gangnam?

The Space

Main Hall / First Floor: Half a storey down from the coffee counter. The long tables that can be found throughout the venue make this place suitable for a group hangout as well.

Basement / Wacom Lounge: The lounge functions as a shared workspace for freelancers and creators. Visitors can also try out Wacom tablets and products for free and make purchases.

Second Floor : Comfortable wooden furniture and rattan decorations give the space a sense of comfort and relaxation. The bar tables by the windows are especially great. You can feel the nice breezes coming in from the window and look out to the streets.

Third Floor : The vivid blue chairs give the third floor a hint of liveliness. The light pastel blue rattan chairs complement the blue well. Although the windows cannot be opened on this floor, it still gives a great view of the streets.

Fourth Floor : The attic reminds me of a childhood friend's home with games and magazines strewn about. The cozy top floor is perfect for those who want to really stretch their legs out and get relaxing to the fullest.

Menu

Information

Address: 서울 강남구 강남대로102길 32

Hours:
Weekdays: 09:00-23:00
Weekends 11:00-23:00

Transportation: Sinnonhyeon Station exits 4 & 5
Gangnam Station exit 11