Seochon Village is an area located right next to Gyeongbukggung. Nearby this area are a couple of familiar names such as Tosokchon Samgyetang and Tongin Market. If you’re looking for an area to explore hanoks or catch a glimpse of old Seoul besides Bukchon Hanok Village, this is a great place to consider. The neighbourhood is also filled with lots of cafes, one of which is Tidewater (타이드워터), a relatively new cafe hidden in an alley over at Seochon.
Hidden Hanok Cafe near Gyeongbukgung
If you do a quick search for Seochon Village online, you’ll most probably come across a photo of an old-school bookstore known as Dae-o Bookstore (대오서점). The iconic bookstore has been a photo spot for many tourists and Koreans alike.
Tidewater is actually located directly opposite Dae-o Bookstore, in an alley that’s usually overlooked by many. If you head in that direction, you’ll come across a beautiful hanok, where Tidewater is housed in.
Over at the entrance, you’ll be greeted by a water installation that provides calming sounds of flowing water. There’s also an open space with a couple of seats. Even if you opt for the air-conditioned space, the glass doors help to lessen the feeling of a barrier, and the cafe still feels quite large despite its size.
The interior is very much hanok-focused, with the traditional roofing complemented by wooden and stone elements, along with simple lighting fixtures. A sense of calm and stillness can be felt when the cafe is empty. However, when packed, the space can be quite noisy due to multiple conversations happening.
Menu at Tidewater Cafe
The menu over at Tidewater (타이드워터) is quite simple. For espresso-based beverages, you have classics like Espresso (4,500won), Americano (5,000won), Latte (5,500won), Vanilla Latte (6,000won), and Valrhona Mocha (6,000won).
Other beverages include items like a Kiwi Lemon Mixer (6,000won) and a seasonal Shine Muscat Ade (7,000won). There are also a couple of tea options, such as Peachy Oolong (5,500won) and Rooibos Supreme (5,500won).
For dessert, the cafe currently only serves honey cakes in 3 different options – walnut, choco, and lemon.
We tried the Tide Latte (6,500won) which is their signature drink. Essentially, the drink is somewhat of a latte, topped with a bit of cream and cocoa powder. The cream isn’t too cloying and complemented well with the coffee.
For desserts, we had the Walnut Honey Cake (5,500won) which had a chewy and soft texture, similar to a marlenka cake. Just like our Tide Latte, the dessert was topped with cream and cocoa powder. It was pretty sweet, so pairing it with an Americano would be the best choice.
Cafe in Seochon
If you’re looking to spend some time in Seochon Village, Tidewater is a great spot especially if you love hanok architecture.
Tidewater (타이드워터)
21-16 Jahamun-ro 11-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul
서울 종로구 자하문로11길 21-16
Mon-Sun, 11am-8pm
Nearest Subway: Gyeongbukgung Station, Line 3, Exit 2
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg.
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