9 Gorgeous Cafes From Your Favorite Kdramas To Put On Your Bucket List
Including the Cursed Castle in It's Okay To Not Be Okay
Like so many people, once I started watching Kdrama, I just couldn’t stop. There was something so engaging in the way their story telling. They had such style! One of the things I noticed immediately were the locations. Everything from the houses, shopping centers, museums and offices were beautifully designed. And, as an unabashed caffeine addict, I had a special interest in the cafés.
We can’t travel yet, thanks to the pandemic, but there’s no reason why we can’t imagine ourselves in our favorite Kdrama cafés. And put them on our bucket list for that time when we can finally get our passports stamped once more. Click through the gallery to see the fabulous Cafés.
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Cafe Sanida
For its mysterious, magical atmosphere, it’s hard to beat Cafe Sanida, which stood as the location for the Cursed Castle in It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020). Situated near the top of a mountain in the village of Jusan, the cafe is fairly new, having opened only in 2019. It’s real-life entrance served as the entry point to Moon-young’s home, but the facade of the Cursed Castle was constructed in the garden specifically for the show, and has since been taken down. If you do get the chance to visit, we suggest to go in the afternoon so you can watch the sun set on the beautiful mountain scenery, while you drink coffee on the rooftop. 992-12 Jusan-ri, Hojeo-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea @sanidacafe on IG
Photo Credit: tvN
Cafe Zino
A combination of café and chocolate shop, it was cast as the Canadian restaurant to where Goblin takes his bride in iGoblin (2016). Most recently, Cafe Zino was the posh restaurant in Crash Landing On You (2020) where Yoon Se-ri goes on a date with her musician friend, and she asks him if he knows the song composed by Captain Ri on the piano. 94-5 Daedong-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea @cafe_zino
Photo Credit: tvN
Cafe Zino
If the place is familiar, it’s because Cafe Zino has been the location for over 15 K-dramas including Memories of Alhambra (2018), Why Secretary Kim (2018), and Love Affairs in the Afternoon (2019). 94-5 Daedong-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea @cafe_zino
Photo Credit: tvN
Secret Blue Bakery Cafe
The magic of filming means that sometimes fictional locations are built like Frankenstein, with the interiors shot in one place and the exteriors in another. This gorgeous Cafe’s exteriors, gardens and indoor dining serve as the venue for Ok Psychiatric Hospital in It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020). 31-6 Ayajinbuk-gil, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Photo Credit: tvN
Secret Blue Bakery Cafe
A cafe and bakery built on a hill, its extensive grounds have a stunning view of Ayajin Beach. It does really look like the perfect spot to heal and rejuvenate. 31-6 Ayajinbuk-gil, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Photo Credit: tvN
Secret Blue Bakery Cafe
On the other side of the hill is the Seoraksan Mountain, which provides gorgeous scenery. We badly want to go to this Cafe! 31-6 Ayajinbuk-gil, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Photo Credit: tvN
Tteul
It’s name means “garden” and it’s really a traditional tea house near the Gyeonggi English Village in Paju. This is where Mystic Pop Up Bar’s (2020) Wol-ju and Manager Gwi resolve their 500-year-old misunderstanding, and he finally gives her the jade ring he’s been keeping for centuries. Hee! 39 Yopung-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeongg-do, South Korea
Photo Credit: JTBC
Lapland
Lapland has been a busy locale lately, with filming for Itaewon Class (2020) and Dinner Mate (2020) going on. It's very modern and chic. 178-3 Dolgot-gil, Seopae-dong, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South
Photo Credit: tvN
Lapland
In Dinner Mate, Kim Hae-kyung is tricked by his ex-girlfriend into meeting with her, in the hopes of getting back together. In real life, Lapland is an Italian restaurant in the Paju neighborhood, known for its excellent baked goods. 178-3 Dolgot-gil, Seopae-dong, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South
Photo Credit: MBC
The Romantic
It’s full name is The Romantic, The Most Beautiful Days Of My Life — admittedly quite a mouthful. Described as a “photo-themed” cafe, this is a popular venue for weddings held in Jeju Island. 476, Gyorae 1-gil, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju, South Korea
Photo Credit: MBC
The Romantic
It’s here that Dinner Mate (2020) character Woo Do-hee surprises her boyfriend on his birthday and discovers he’s been cheating on her, thus triggering the entire story. 476, Gyorae 1-gil, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju, South Korea
Photo Credit: MBC
Geuzy Cozy
Located in Jeju Island, it’s while sitting in this Cafe’s garden that Itaewon Class (2020) character Jo Yi-seo learns that her colleague, Ma Hyun-yi, has been exposed as a transgender while in the middle of a cooking competition.177 Bomokpo-ro, Hyodon-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea @geuzycozy on IG
Photo Credit: JTBC
Geuzy Cozy
To shore up Hyun-yi’s courage, she reads aloud a poem from the webtoon that inspired Itaewon Class. It's one of the most emotionally resonant scenes in the show. 177 Bomokpo-ro, Hyodon-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea @geuzycozy on IG
Photo Credit: JTBC
FN Coffee
It’s name stands for “Fashion and Coffee,” and it is one of the trendy cafes for fashion-foodie enthusiasts. This is where Moon Soon-ho listens to Kang In-wook explain the confrontation that happened during his recital, in the series A Piece Of Your Mind (2020) 1F, 62 Jahamun-ro, Hyoja-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Photo Credit: tvN
Berry Good Farm
A full-time coffee farm with a café, they carry over 30 kinds of roasted coffee and even coffee tree seedlings. The Café is lush with greenery and is served as a romantic hideout for My Unfamiliar Family (2020) Kim Eun-hee and An Hyo-seok. 61 Daehwa-ro, Beopgot-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Photo Credit: tvN
Berry Good Farm
We totally understand why they would choose this place, and now we’re craving to go too. Absolutely on our bucket list, for when it’s safe to travel again. 61 Daehwa-ro, Beopgot-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Photo Credit: tvN
