Cheongsudang (청수당): Garden in the City
Seoul is a massive city. In fact, it’s over 10 times larger than Manhattan. And yet it somehow feels so densely packed with some of the most impressive cafes in terms of both variety and caliber. From rustic cafes with lo-fi jazz to industrial-style coffee shops, Seoul has it all.
After my trip to South Korea, my standards for coffee shops have risen to an unrealistic level where I can no longer be satisfied anywhere else. Cheongsudang (meaning “clear water room”) is one of the cafes responsible for my change in perspective.
Just a few blocks south of the 15th century Changdeok Palace, Cheongsudang is located in the heart of Ikseon-dong, an up-and-coming neighborhood for local shops and restaurants in traditional-style buildings. In Korea, this particular house design is called Hanok and was first constructed in the 14th century during the Joseon Dynasty.
Cheongsudang also knows how to (literally) make an entrance. Getting inside the cafe is prefaced with a few stepping stones surrounded by a pathway of bamboo and wooden lanterns. While the exterior of the cafe is hanok-style, the interior is more of a blend of both modern and traditional elements.
Once inside, there are plenty of seating options to choose from. Annie and I opted for the “shoes-off” floor seating with a view of the internal garden space. If the floor seating is uncomfortable for you, Cheongsudang also has regular seats/tables available.
Cheongsudang offers a variety of coffee and tea-based drinks. For our visit, we got Iced Matcha with Milk and Iced Black Tea with Cream. Both options tasted premium and refreshing. Cheongsudang’s specialty is actually with desserts, including warm made-to-order soufflés.
Time moves slowly at Cheongsudang. Even though Annie and I were only here for a short hour, we really enjoyed this time to wind down in a quiet setting, appreciate a cold drink, and escape the summer heat.
Above is a picture of Annie at the entrance. As you can see, it’s likely one of the most Instagrammable spots in Seoul.
Annie and I shared an Iced Matcha with Milk (7,000 WON) and an Iced Black Tea with Cream (7,500 WON). The cakes are priced around 13,000-14,000 WON while the Soufflés are more expensive at 16,000-23,000 WON.
Brew-tiful vs. Beautiful