Gangneung Coffee Street
Gangneung Coffee Street (강릉커피거리; map) runs along Anmok Beach (안목해변; map) on Gangneung City’s coast. It features a parade of cafes operated by major coffee chains and mom and pop roasteries with professionally trained baristas.
Origins
The area was once a remote beachy stretch filled with seafood restaurants, a quaint port, and a scenic but empty beach. Lacking major bus routes, often the only way to reach the area was by taxi. In the 1980s and 90s, word spread about a unique feature that haunted the roadway: coffee vending machines.
Taxi drivers that traveled to the remote Anmok Beach often needed a little pick-me-up while driving sightseers to the area. So they often parked their cars on the side of the road and grabbed a cup of instant joe from one of the countless machines that lined the sandy street. Overtime, the out-of-towners caught on. They too would pop a few coins into these machines and try their brews’ varying flavors.
Arrival of Coffee Masters
In 1998, a new breed of trained baristas and roasters, like Park Yi-choo of Bohemian Roasters and Kim Yong-duk of Terarosa Coffee Factory, invaded quiet Anmok Beach. Using the beach’s scenic seascape as a backdrop, they built brick-and-mortar cafes that served high-quality, hand-roasted coffee.
Word spread and TV networks like KBS, MBC, and SBS sent reporters out to cover the artisanal shops serving specialty coffee. Not long after, crowds seeking sophisticated coffee flocked to Gangneung Coffee Street. They supercharged the area’s economy, leading to improved public transport, skyrocketing rents, and limited parking.
Coffee Shop Renaissance
During this time, Korea had a coffee culture renaissance. Immediately following the Korean War, instant coffee from American soldiers reigned supreme. But in the 1990s, the country loosened tariffs on whole bean importance, leading to a surge in popularity of freshly ground and brewed coffee.
After Starbucks opened its first shop in Korea in 1999, cafes soon became a popular meeting spot. Many South Koreans had moved into cramped apartments, which made meeting friends, reading, and studying uncomfortable — noisy neighbors, grumpy parents, wild kids. Coffee shops became the go-to place to meet friends for long talks or a neutral space to study.
Today, South Korea holds around 90,000 coffee shops that include a mix of international (Starbucks) and domestic brands (Ediya, A Twosome Place, Compose Coffee).
Coffee In Gangneung
Gangneung City is now considered the heart of coffee culture in Korea. The famous cafes that popped up in the 90s eventually spread all throughout the city’s borders. You can find famous roasteries up and down the Gangneung’s coast, with hotspots near Gyeongpodae Lake and Anmok Beach.
The Gangneung Coffee Festival (강릉커피축제) occurs every year in October near Gyeongpodae Lake. Various domestic coffee brands travel from around Korea to show off their brews. Festival goers can attend seminars from master brewers, watch coffee making competitions, and catch a concert.
List of Gangneung’s Famed Coffee Shops
Where exactly are Gangneung’s most popular coffee shops? While most cluster along the city’s coast, you can find several well-known roasteries further inland. Below, find a list divided into three sections: Gangneung Coffee Street, Gyeongpodae Lake, and Other Locales.
Gangneung Coffee Street
- Coffee Cupper Museum (커피커퍼박물관)
- Coffee Cupper Museum is a museum and coffee shop where visitors can explore the history of coffee. It is in the Gyeongpodae Lake near the north end of Gangneung Coffee Street and Chodang Sundubu Village.
- Location: Just off of Gangneung Coffee Street (map)
- Hours: 8:30 AM ~ 6:00 PM
- Features: Coffee history and culture exhibition, comfortable ambiance for coffee enthusiasts.
- 346 Coffee Story (346커피스토리)
- Seated near the top of Gangneung Coffee Street, 346 Coffee Story provides specialty coffee and expansive sea views. The cafe takes pride in its baked bread, prepared fresh each morning, and coffee crafted by professional baristas and award-winning roasters.
- Location: Top of Gangneung Coffee Street (map)
- Hours: 8:30 AM ~ 11:00 PM
- Features: Oceanfront view, freshly baked bread, specialty coffee by skilled baristas.
- Cafe Lumiere (카페 뤼미에르)
- Near Anmok Beach, Cafe Lumiere offers specialty organic herbal teas, fruit teas, handmade desserts, light dining options, and a splendid view of the East Sea. An excellent spot to relax.
- Location: Bottom of Gangneung Coffee Street (map)
- Hours: 9:00 AM ~ 11:00 PM
- Features: Specialty teas, homemade desserts, panoramic ocean views.
Gyeongpodae Lake
- Bohemian Roasters (보헤미안박이추커피)
- One of Korea’s pioneering baristas started the roastery and coffee shop. It is known for its artisanal approach and offers a classic hand-drip coffee experience north of Gyeongpodae Lake. Ideal for coffee connoisseurs.
- Location: Near Gyeongpodae Lake (map)
- Hours: 9:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM
- Features: Signature hand-drip coffee, serene ambiance, expertise from a first-generation barista.
- Terarosa Coffee Factory (테라로사 커피공장)
- Terarosa Coffee Factory is a coffee chain known for its extensive selection of hand-drip coffees and baked goods. The company keeps two shops in Gangneung: a headquarters far off the bike path, and a small shop near Gyeongpodae Lake. Its headquarters is a spacious flagship cafe with a tranquil garden, making it a pleasant retreat for those seeking a quiet coffee experience.
- Location:
- Headquarters far from the bike path (map)
- Small shop next to Gyeongpodae Lake (map)
- Hours: 9:00 AM ~ 9:00 PM
- Features: Wide variety of hand-drip coffees, beautiful garden seating, serene ambiance.
- Cafe Toetmaru (카페 툇마루)
- This cafe serves up a twist on traditional coffee flavors with its unique brew that blends milk, espresso, and black sesame whipped cream. It also serves a variety of desserts, including corn choux and black sesame cookies.
- Location: Near Gyeongpodae Lake (map)
- Hours: 11:00 AM ~ 7:00 PM
- Features: Unique coffee blends, a variety of desserts, cozy atmosphere.
- Gallerybaps (갤러리밥스)
- Gallerybaps is celebrated for its Cho-dang corn coffee, a unique brew that uses sweet Haenam Cho-dang corn. They also offer a variety of specialty desserts and snacks. It’s for those who appreciate a twist on classic flavors and a cozy setting.
- Location: Near Gyeongpodae Lake
- Hours: 11:30 AM ~ 7:00 PM (map)
- Features: Original Cho-dang corn coffee, unique dessert offerings, and a cozy ambiance.
- Chodangmil (초당밀)
- Chodangmil is a dessert-focused cafe known for its traditional egg tarts and unique Cho-dang corn tarts. The cafe provides an array of innovative desserts, including Cho-dang soft tofu gelato.
- Location: South of Gyeongpodae Lake (map)
- Hours: 11:00 AM ~ 8:00 PM
- Features: Traditional and unique egg tarts, Cho-dang corn and soft tofu gelato, close to Gyeongpo Beach.
- Aeshidangcho (애시당초)
- Aeshidangcho is a retro-themed cafe renowned for its butterscotch latte, light coffee, and unique beverages, like Bada Milky and Dongbaek Flower Ade. The cafe has a peaceful and comfortable environment.
- Location: Southeast of Gyeongpodae Lake (map)
- Hours: 11:00 AM ~ 8:00 PM
- Features: Unique butterscotch latte, retro-themed ambiance, variety of unique beverages.
Other Locales
- Bau Cafe (바우카페 본점)
- Sitting on Sacheon Beach (사천해변; map), Bau Cafe offers seaside views and a black sesame latte. A family-run business, the shop has a warm atmosphere.
- Location: Northern Gangneung Coast on Sacheon Beach (map)
- Hours: 10:00 AM ~ 9:00 PM
- Features: Black sesame latte, a range of unique desserts, perfect for seaside relaxation.
