Zapangi - Magwon
In the Mapo-gu area, around 500 meters from the Magwon subway stop, lies a cafe that has a small menu filled with some beautiful creations. Zapangi offers decorated donuts, cakes in a tin, milk in a bottle, as well as colorful drinks.
In the Mapo-gu area, around 500 meters from the Magwon subway stop, lies a cafe that has a small menu filled with some beautiful creations. Zapangi offers decorated donuts, cakes in a tin, milk in a bottle, as well as colorful drinks. I found this cafe to be quite pricey, however. If I remember correctly, the drink in the picture above was around 12,000 won with donuts costing 5,000.
You'll find that many people come to just get a photo of the entrance. It's the most interesting door I've come across in the country. There is a bench, dog-shaped figure, and the door is the font of a vintage vending machine displaying their four offerings. It's perfect to get that perfect picture for your friends.
Seating isn't a strength of Zapangi. There isn't much seating to begin with and what is there is only bench seating without proper tables. At least there are seat cushions and pillows that make it fairly comfortable.
Our order was surprisingly tasty. The donuts weren't too sweet or too cake-like. The drinks were average fair but I think many people order them more for their presentation.
In conclusion, I'd recommend going to this Zapangi once or twice to enjoy the experience. However, I don't believe this is a spot I'd keep going back to. While what we ordered looked very nice and tasted fine, the high price and distance from other options make me look for closer options.
Address: 400-2 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Ban Bossy Boutique
A bright cafe three stories up with wonderful hot chocolate and photogenic decorations.
Ban Bossy is a moderately large cafe that is bright and spacious. The floor to ceiling windows and location on the third floor allow for an abundance of natural light that would make for a great place to read.
There is a lot of seating in the space including tables, a couch, and bean bag chair outside. The tables are particularly attractive with the tops made out of sage, grey, and brown colored granite-like material. The chairs on the balcony look like they would be a great place to relax during the summer months.
There are plenty of photogenic decorations scattered around the cafe. In one corner there is a vending machine selling leggings. In the opposite corner, there is a small booth to take photos in that says, "I'm not bossy. I am the boss." No matter where you are in the space, it is easy to get the cafe's nice sign in your photos.
We ordered a banana latte, hot chocolate, and two macaroons. The hot chocolate was the highlight of our order. So much so that I felt as though I could drink a gallon of the stuff. It came in a tall matt black mug. The banana latte was a big disappointment. I had high hopes when it came out in an adorable little teacup but it tasted off and I wouldn't recommend ordering it. As for the macaroons, I never really order them but I found them to be enjoyable.
The look of "I ordered the wrong drink."
During the hour or so of our visit, there was only one other patron so if you are looking for something a bit less crowded than normal this might be a good option.
Hoho Myoll - Hapjeong
A cafe with a VW bus inside.
Hoho Myoll is a medium sized cafe with a full sized VW bus that includes a small floor table and blankets. In the back, there are two large cubbies to sit in and, if you aren't getting photos in the bus, this is where I would recommend sitting as they have the most room. There are also a number of smaller tables throughout the space.
Since I was going last year, they changed the layout a bit so that the coffee bar area sits near the entrance to the cafe leaving the kitchen area exposed. The kitchen wasn't in use during our visit but there were a few signs up and having it exposed was more interesting that it just being a wall.
The real reason I have come back here more than a few times is because I really enjoy the drinks. The creme is delicious and you should get one with it. I always ask the barista if my order comes with it. During one of our visits, my friend just ordered a cup full of creme.
The cafe has been quite busy while we've been there and many of the visitors want pictures in the VW bus and it often one of the first places people sit, so you might have to wait a bit for a turn in it..
Wifi password: hohomyoll
