House Seoul

The shop is located across from the Asia Village Apartments in Songpa-gu. It occupies the basement, first, and second floors of a four-story red brick building, and also features a rooftop. On the first floor, a U-shaped kitchen and narrow wooden floor seating line the windows and walls. The basement floor houses a gallery and tables, while the second floor displays books on walls and flat platforms, with several tables available for enjoying coffee. The books in the bookstore are from independent publishers, and there are also many books on the subject of coffee. In the kitchen, three young baristas prepare drinks. There are three types of coffee beans available: two house blends and one from Oso Coffee Roasters. Oso Coffee Roasters beans are roasted by establishments like 'Coffee Roasting Bear' near Hanti Station and are said to have a noticeable acidity. I ordered a latte made with Oso Coffee Roasters beans. The latte was savory and pleasant. After ordering, I explored the basement and second floors. On the basement floor, various people were seated: some studying, some chatting, some simply drinking coffee. It felt like a tranquil space where one could enjoy spending a long time doing something. The second floor, with its diverse exhibition of books, creates a unique atmosphere, perfect for savoring a cultural ambiance. Among the books displayed on a flat platform, I perused 'Surviving Cafes,' which features interviews by author Jo Jae-ho, an interior designer for cafes, with twelve cafes in various locations and environments. The practical stories about cafe operations seemed intriguing. House Seoul is operated by a company called Cafe Show, which is known for organizing many coffee events at COEX. This space is said to be a complex cultural venue introducing coffees from various related coffee shops. On a nice day, it would be pleasant to drink coffee here and then take a walk in the nearby park. House Seoul in Songpa-gu is a space where one can enjoy coffee and book exhibitions.