Anthracite Coffee Seogyo

One of the best if not The best café I visited while in Seoul. Located maybe 20 mins from the ultra-buzzy Hongdae (walking at a very leisurely pace), this Anthracite is peaceful and quietly welcoming. I went at half past nine on a weekday, and with no crowd or queue to contend with, I admired the garden before heading upstairs to what I guess is the main area of the café, though there is ample seating on the ground floor as well, probably for more crowded days. Rather boldly, there was no music was playing, which I’d typically find maybe a bit strange for a café, but in this case it was nice. I could listen to my own music on my headphones without noise-cancelling and also hear a bit of the street outside, which was nicely semi-hidden by the garden. I had the Butter Fat Trio coffee, a salt bread (which has cheese inside, just a tip for those who don’t do dairy) and lemon madeleine, all of which were very lovely, especially the coffee. The coffee was so lovely I couldn’t resist buying a small pack of beans to bring home. The atmosphere is perfect for a quiet, slow morning, either on your own, or with a loved one you can share wordless companionship with. If you visit this outlet due to this review, I only ask you preserve the peaceful ambience and keep the photo-taking quick and minimal as I tried to >< In a city as busy as Seoul, it’s nice to appreciate and engage in some quiet time. Lastly, this Anthracite is open late-ish, so it might be nice for a post-dinner cuppa. It’s definitely just as beautiful when the sun’s down :)

Cafe design was super peaceful, imitating the likes of a tranquil Japanese bonsai garden. There are 3-levels to this cafe, main ordering station is at level 2. It is a self-service cafe, staff seemed really cold and dislike tourists, it seemed like she gave us a side eye and didn’t want to answer any questions that we ask regarding the food/drinks. Desserts and pastries were displayed for patrons to view. Would come back for the views but wouldn’t come back due to the staff. Drinks were mid. That said, there are tons of other cafes that offer good views too so probably won’t recommend or come back on purpose.

Place is always full of people going in and out. The staff is ok.. they are kinder than the ones in hannam. But what anthracite have in common is the non-service oriented staff - probably because it’s such a busy place. Other than that it’s comfortable, half of the people are always people doing work. The outdoor patio outside is great overlooking the small garden. Drinks are great and beans are great. I always buy a lot here

Honestly, u come to this place for 2 things, the coffee and the space. Everything else, pastry, service etc u can put that all away. The space itself is very spacious and impressive. Mulitple photo spots inside and outside the 3 storey cafe. Atmosphere was zen and peaceful. Coffee was amazing, worth a visit on that alone. Skip the pastries, ignore the gloomy faced servers, one can still have a good time here.

Our first stop in Seoul was anthracite Fresh off the plane we were hungry and need coffee to wake us up. This place was wonderful , good coffee, nice atmosphere and the focaccia bread is the best I’ve had in Korea

It’s a piece of art by itself! Love my single-origin, paired with orange carrot cake. Great match. It’d be much better without disgusted content creators.

We arrived there as their first guest of the day. The place is peaceful, staff just finished setting up. There are limited options for pastries and desserts but the coffee is just definitely unbeatable. Love the way they brewed espresso with Moka pot for Latte

One of the most peaceful cafes I’ve visited, where they kindly give you a little note (in Korean) to keep your voice down. I really appreciated this, as it allowed me to truly relax and eased my anxiety. The interior is exceptional, and the exterior is a lush green garden, beautifully framed by large windows. No music is played here, which I absolutely loved. A refreshing change.