Cafe Gongmyeong Yeonnam

Cafe Gongmyeong's Yeonnam branch is the first and largest shop of a small Seoul chain run by a publishing company, and it feels like a cross between a bakery and a bookstore. The space covers about 400 square meters on the ground floor of an office building a few minutes from Hongik University Station, with high ceilings, soft lighting, big windows and one wall filled floor to ceiling with books that you can browse or buy. Seating is varied, from tables with power outlets to low sofas by the windows and long shared tables, with room for around a hundred people. The bakery counter is the main event: the signature biscuit choux comes in plain, chocolate and matcha and is packed with vanilla custard cream, and there are croissants, salt bread, scones and seasonal cakes. The Gongmyeong latte, served iced only, layers sweetened milk coffee under a thick cap of cream. For coffee, you choose between three house beans named after nearby neighborhoods, including a decaf. Opening at 10:00 and closing at 22:00, it is one of the few big cafes in the area that stays open late.