Seoul Cafe Review: Art and Nostalgia at Cafe Hyuga

A restful cafe hidden in Nonhyeon-dong

Sometimes it is the less visible cafes that make the largest impression.

Cafe Hyuga (카페 휴가) literally means “Cafe Vacation” when translated from Korean. The name is fitting, as it feels like a vacation and respite from the hustle and busyness that defines the vast majority of Seoul.

Areas like Nonhyeon-dong are not typically seen as the tourist-heavy areas of Seoul, so many may say this cafe is off the beaten path. It certainly isn’t the easily found cafe standing proudly on a busy or popular street like many of the cafes we tend to frequent.

Instead, Hyuga is nestled in a residential neighborhood and is so subtle you may miss it if you aren’t looking for it.

After walking from the train, you will walk down the main road for a moment before turning and walking down a road with a pretty steep incline. The road is home to many homes and the random restaurant or two, but it’s after about 10 to 15 minutes of walking that you will finally come upon the cafe.

Once you do see it, you instantly know you’ve found the right place. The gorgeous entry to the cafe is one of my favorites out of all the cafes I’ve visited (no matter the weather), and after walking through the textured concrete and wood accented entry, you walk up a short flight of stairs surrounded by greenery.

After entering the cafe, there is a simple room that is mostly empty, except for a suitcase, statue of the Eiffel Tower, and a hand-drawn photo of the band BTS.

At this point, you may have been wondering how this cafe in a random neighborhood in Nonhyeon-dong came to be. This building didn’t start out as a cafe. It actually started out as the home of the seven-member band BTS when they were still living in a dorm together.

Photos of the band during their time living in this building.

This building was their second dorm and home from roughly 2014-2016. They lived in another area of Nonhyeon-dong first (2010-2013) before moving into this dorm.

They even talk about their first Nonhyeon-dong dorm in their song “이사” or “Moving On” and the memories made during this time in their album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” or “HYYH,” which released during their time living in the building which has become Hyuga.

(Italicized lyrics translated from Korean)

“This place smells like us

Let’s not forget this scent, wherever we are

We cried a lot and laughed a lot but it was so beautiful

Let’s move

Goodbye to this place, that we grew attached to

Let’s move

Now to a higher place

While taking the last box out of the empty room

I looked back for a moment

Times we cried and laughed

Goodbye now.”

Hearing this song, and visiting this cafe, always reminds me that even the most bittersweet goodbyes are just a catalyst into even more beautiful moments and memories.

After closing their chapter at this dorm, it was turned into a cafe. If the original intent was to have the cafe be a generic cafe, it didn’t work. The cafe instead has become a place where ARMY come to work or study, hang out with friends, and leave messages to the band.

I don’t know if the band will ever see the messages left behind in this cafe, but I love the idea of it. It’s so fun walking through all of the beautifully decorated rooms to see messages people have left behind. These messages tell stories of people inspired to travel, who bonded with friends and family members through BTS’s music, and stories of dreams coming true. It’s always so touching to see, and I always enjoy leaving my own message as well.

After finding a seat to work, I ordered my food. This cafe always has such a great mix of sweet and savory options, with pastries like croissants (plain and with cream cheese + fruit), various types of cakes, cookies, and savory items like mini pizzas and sandwich-type items.

Though I initially came with the mindset of ordering something healthier than a pastry, I couldn’t resist the cream cheese croissant with grapefruit, strawberries, and kiwi, all of which happen to be my go-to fruits.

For my drink, I ordered one of the cafe’s signature drinks — a raspberry lemon tea/ade (I can’t remember the exact name of it now, oops).

I normally don’t enjoy ades that much, but I did really enjoy this one. Imagine a raspberry lemon iced tea with the fizz of a sprite — it honestly took me back to summer days as a child drinking raspberry tea while sitting outside in the grass… there’s just something about this cafe and the nostalgia it brings! It almost feels like a haven for youth.

The croissant was really sweet (almost too sweet for how I was feeling that day), but it was absolutely delicious. The fruit (which appeared to have been dipped in some kind of syrup?) was the best part.

I spent quite a bit of time here, working and listening to the music being played, which was a wide range of music, jumping from BTS to other modern pop songs and some more classic-sounding songs.

Though the cafe periodically gets busy with ARMY coming in to see the cafe and leave their notes to BTS, it is such a fun place to work, relax, and spend time alone or with friends. I even met two of my friends in this cafe, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since :)

I cannot forget to mention the art at this cafe. Every time I’ve visited, the art has been different, allowing various artists to showcase their talents as an art display of sorts. I always enjoy looking at the art that is being featured when I go.

If you love art, aesthetically beautiful cafes, BTS, and need a vacation from the busyness, don’t forget to visit Cafe Hyuga while in Seoul!

153-1 Nonhyeon-dong

Gangnam-gu Seoul