Yeonhui-dong is a neighbourhood right next to Yeonnam-dong, and is usually overlooked by visitors heading towards the Hongdae area. However, located within this neighbourhood are lots of hipster cafes and restaurants, plus you get a lesser crowd when compared to Yeonnam and Hongdae! One of the cafes to visit here is Gwehdo Coffee Roasters (궤도 연희).
Conveyor Belt Cafe in Seoul
Located on the 2nd floor of a building, one might pass by Gwehdo Coffee Roasters unknowingly. Do keep a lookout for their sign, or the bright orange Laika Cinema signage to find the building.
Once you head up to the second floor, you’ll find Gwehdo Coffee Roasters.
The first thing you’ll notice is the long rectangular table placed in the middle, with a LED projection of bright, blue water elements such as waves. Surrounding this table is a U-shaped table with a sleek, metallic conveyor belt, almost like you’re at a sushi restaurant.
Orders can be placed at the corner counter, where the staff will ask you to choose a number. When you see the number on the conveyor belt, the items that follow behind it are yours, and you’ll have to transfer them out from the conveyor belt yourself.
Don’t worry if you miss your order, the staff will be able to bring them to your table (or let it go round and round until it reaches you again).
Gwehdo Coffee Roasters Menu in Yeonhui-dong
The Yeonhui-dong cafe serves up coffee and beverages such as Espresso Injeolmi Con Panna (4,500won), Short Latte (5,500won), Americano (5,000won0, Basil Sparkling (6,500won) and Super Vanilla (6,000won).
For desserts, the selections are quite limited, with items such as a Coffee Mousse (6,000won) and Honey Cake (7,000won).
If you opt for takeout, the cafe offers a 1,000won discount.
While the coffee such as their Americano and Latte were well executed, we really enjoyed the Injeolmi Einspanner (6,000won), which we would probably include in our top 3 einspanners list (should we have one).
Coming with a skewer of injeolmi rice cakes on top of a layer of smooth, thick roasted soybean cream, the drink was packed with the fragrance of injeolmi and paired amazingly with the bitter flavours of the coffee. If you’re an injeolmi lover, this is definitely up your alley!
The Honey Cake (7,000won) was one of the desserts we tried, and it tasted similar to the one we had at Tidewater Cafe, just slightly drier in texture.
From far, one could mistake it for mochi, but is actually their Seasonal Sorbet (7,000won) in basil and lemon flavours. This icy treat was refreshing and bright, with the herbal and sour flavours complementing each other.
Cafes Near Hongdae
Gwehdo Coffee Roasters is one of the more unique cafes near the Hongdae area and is worth checking out, especially if you’re an avid cafe hopper. However, just the injeolmi einspanner alone would be worth the visit!
Gwehdo Coffee Roasters Yeonhui (궤도 연희)
2F, 18 Yeonhui-ro 8-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
서울 서대문구 연희로8길 18, 2층
Mon-Fri, 12pm-9pm, Sat-Sun, 12pm-10pm
Nearest Subway: Hongik University (Line 2), Exit 3
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg
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