This is an interesting cafe set in a old building. Not an old traditional hanok, it’s more modern than that, perhaps from the time of Japanese colonial occupation.
The name of Stairs House Cafe (계단집) either refers to the duplex style of stairs to the upper floor on the outside of the building, or to the steps leading up to the building from the street. Either way, it’s an unusual name. It’s hidden in the back streets on the north side of Namsan Mountain. Hoehyeon Station and Namdaemun Market are close by too. You’ll need to walk through a few windy streets then access the property up a set of steps. It’s a yellow two-storey building.
The interior is cosy and warm on account of the wooden décor in the counter area. Upstairs, it is designed in a Japanese style with tatami mats and low seating.
They sell hand drip coffee (the reason I went) and everything about the coffee and how they serve it shows attention to detail. The cups were very cool too!
The photos are from two trips I made there, the date of this post and another trip in February 2023. I’ll definitely be going again. The owners seem quite proud of the house’s transition and seems to have been featured in some architectural showcase. There is a model of the house on the second floor and photos of the remodelling that they did. It’s well worth a trip.
| Location | 35 Toegye-ro 6-gil, Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 중구 회현동 퇴계로6길 35 |
| Ease of access | Go Hoehyeon Subway Station, Line 4, Gate 3. |
| Features | Colonial era house, refurbished with pleasant Japanese interior (tatami, wood) |
| Nearby | Mandaemun Market, Namsan Mountain & N-Tower. |
Location of Stairs House Cafe (계단집):