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Coffee by the Sea: A Jeju Island Café Tour

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Jeju Island, South Korea, is a nature-filled island often called the "Hawaii of Korea." Just a one-hour flight from Seoul, it offers an extraordinary escape where the air feels different the moment you arrive. You’ll find crystal-clear blue waters, black basalt rock formed by volcanoes, and idyllic scenery blanketed in tangerine orchards. In recent years, cafés capturing this stunning landscape have popped up one after another, leading some Korean women to even "fly to Jeju just for the cafés." In this article, we’ll guide you through Jeju's café scene, from seaside coffee spots to local hidden gems. By the time you finish reading, you'll surely be searching for your flight tickets.

Why Jeju Island became a "Pilgrimage Site for Café Lovers"

Many Koreans have started heading to Jeju Island in search of an experience that allows them to escape the hustle and bustle of Seoul and enjoy coffee slowly amidst rich nature. The spark was the social media boom of the late 2010s. A single photo of a latte with the ocean in the background would be shared tens of thousands of times, and the longing to "sit in that chair" became a driving motivation for tourism.

What makes Jeju's cafés special is their architecture and location. Walls built from basalt (Jeju's unique black volcanic stone), floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and terraces jutting out into the sea—the charm lies in an openness integrated with nature, distinct from the sophisticated cafés of Seoul. Furthermore, Jeju is a treasure trove of ingredients like milk, tangerines, and tea. Local drinks crafted from these island gifts have also been key players in supporting the popularity of these cafés. Today, "Jeju = café hopping" is a standard travel itinerary, right alongside beachgoing and hiking.

Getting Started | 3 Ways to Enjoy Jeju Island Cafés

Jeju Island is large; if you wander aimlessly, you’ll end up spending your whole day just traveling. We recommend choosing an area based on your "mood." We’ve broken it down into three general styles.

① The "Coast Side" for soaking in breathtaking views—The west coast area, centered around Aewol. Large cafés where you can have the emerald sea all to yourself.
② The "City Side" for savoring authentic coffee—Jeju City. Focus on specialty shops not aimed at tourists, where local regulars congregate.
③ The "South Side" for healing in nature—Seogwipo. Dotted with forest cafés surrounded by tangerine orchards and waterfalls where you can idle away half a day.

This article will follow these three areas. Feel free to start reading from the style that piques your interest.

Cafés with Ocean Views | Recommendations in the Aewol Area

The greatest charm of Jeju Island cafés is, above all, their breathtaking locations. From cafés built along the coast, on a clear day, the emerald-green sea stretches all the way to the horizon. The Aewol area, in particular, is such a dense collection of ocean-view cafés that it's known as "Jeju's Café Street." Travelers and locals alike all head for this coastline.

▶ Café Monsant de Aewol
A quintessential Jeju Island café built along the Aewol coast. This spot rose to fame largely because it was promoted by G-Dragon, a member of the popular Korean idol group BIGBANG. The blue ocean fills the large glass windows, and at sunset, the horizon dyed in orange is a masterpiece. Lattes made with Jeju milk and handmade scones are popular, with lines forming even before opening on weekends. The terrace seats closest to the ocean are highly contested, so weekday mornings are your best bet.

▶ Anthracite Coffee (Aewol Branch)
One of the top specialty coffee brands from Hongdae, Seoul, has opened a branch in Aewol, Jeju. The space, a bold renovation of a seaside warehouse, features an industrial atmosphere where exposed concrete and glass harmonize. The contrast between the inorganic building and the blue Jeju sea is incredibly picturesque. For coffee lovers, the hand-dripped single-origin coffee is worth the trip. This is for those who want to choose based on flavor, not just "Instagrammability."

▶ By the Sea
A café that exploded in popularity thanks to its "Heugimja (Black Sesame) Latte." The shed-like exterior sitting by the seaside and the visual impact of the ink-deep black sesame latte were shared explosively on social media, turning it into a hit shop with lines every day. The savory and mildly sweet black sesame latte is actually a flavor loved in Korea as a "healthy traditional ingredient." Enjoy it while gazing at the Jeju sea for the perfect balance of photogenicity and deliciousness.

Jeju City Area | Specialty Cafés Loved by Locals

Breathtaking cafés are nice, but if you're in the mood to "quietly savor a truly delicious cup," head to Jeju City. Areas like Tapdong and the "Old Downtown" are dotted with authentic spots supported by local regulars rather than tourists. The charm of this area lies in its solid, no-frills cafés that compete based on the coffee itself.

▶ ZECT Coffee
One of the premier specialty coffee shops in Jeju City. A hidden gem where word-of-mouth has spread about their highly aromatic coffee, which is roasted in-house from carefully selected beans from around the world and extracted one cup at a time. The simple, modern interior has a clean aesthetic stripped of unnecessary elements. It's a space that makes you want to face your cup in front of you slowly rather than engage in conversation. They also sell beans, so taking some home as a travel memento is recommended.

▶ Local Cafés along the Tapdong Coast
Cafés lining Tapdong Coastal Park are frequented by locals and are reasonably priced. If you're tired of tourist-trap prices, take a break around here. While enjoying smoothies made with Jeju "Hallabong" tangerines or light snacks using island ingredients, you can feel the "raw" daily life of Jeju that hasn't been overly commercialized. Spending time mingling with locals during an evening stroll is a real treat of travel that you won't find in guidebooks.

Seogwipo Area | Healing Spaces where Nature Meets Cafés

Seogwipo, on the south side of the island, is blessed with lush, deep green nature, with famous waterfalls like Jeongbang and Cheonjiyeon nearby. At the cafés here, the sensation is less about "gazing at a view" and more about "being enveloped by nature." There are scattered forest and water healing spaces where time seems to slow down.

▶ Bomnal (Spring Day)
True to its name, this is a café that utilizes nature itself, surrounded by tangerine orchards and a small stream. With warm wooden furniture, a lush garden, and soft light streaming through large windows, the comfort makes your senses unwind. It's not uncommon to spend half a day here with a fresh juice made from Jeju fruit or a piece of cake. Known as a filming location for popular dramas, it's also a spot visited by many fans for "pilgrimages."

▶ Cafés around Lee Jung-seop Culture Street
A cultural street spreading across the land where the representative Korean painter Lee Jung-seop once lived. This area is dotted with unique cafés fused with art galleries. Having a coffee while viewing the works of local artists feels like taking a break in a small art museum. The "cultural walk" of exploring shops along the hill is a way of enjoying Seogwipo that is entirely unique to the area.

Must-Try at Jeju Island Cafés | A Guide to Local Foods & Drinks

The real thrill of Jeju Island cafés is the limited-edition menu—"tastes you can only drink or eat here"—made with an abundance of the island's specialties. Here are the stars you should check out before your trip.

・Hallabong Latte... A latte featuring syrup made from Jeju's native "Hallabong" tangerine. The island’s signature drink, where the refreshing citrus aroma meets the mellowness of milk. Start with this one.
・Heugimja (Black Sesame) Latte... A savory and mildly sweet cup that gained popularity at By the Sea. It also has tremendous visual impact.
・Jeju Matcha/Green Tea Drinks... Jeju is one of Korea's leading tea-producing regions. Deep green lattes and ice cream feel like a sophisticated island souvenir.
・Black Pork Sandwich & Jeju Strawberry Smoothie... Perfect to accompany a sweet cup. If you want to dig into the island's bounty, go for these.
・Basalt-Motif Sweets... Cakes and breads uniquely shaped to mimic Jeju's famous basalt rock are also perfect for photos.

Conquering one signature drink per shop—this "drinking tour" can also be a legitimate purpose for your Jeju café trip.

Best Season & Smart Ways to Tour Jeju Island Cafés

While Jeju Island is warm throughout the year, the best seasons for café hopping are definitely spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). April is especially stunning, with canola flowers (yuchae-kkot) in full bloom; photos with the yellow carpet in the background are truly "one-shots you can only get now." Areas like Café Monsant and Bomnal in Aewol offer exceptional scenery during the canola season. While it gets crowded with beachgoers in the summer, if you visit seaside cafés like By the Sea in the early morning, you can have the spectacular view all to yourself before the crowds arrive.

A few tips for getting around: A rental car is almost essential. Cafés are scattered along the coast and in the mountains, making public transport inefficient. It's smart to install the "Naver Map" app for smooth navigation. Note that Google Maps' accuracy is limited in Korea. For popular spots, the golden rule is weekdays and right after opening. It's not rare to wait an hour for a popular seaside café on a weekend. Also, since the ocean side is often quite windy, bring a light outer layer if you're aiming for terrace seats. You'll want to avoid the common "Jeju experience" of having your hair so messy from the wind that you can't take a photo of the gorgeous view.

Summary | Making Your Jeju Island Café Tour a Memorable Trip

Jeju Island is a "little paradise" that has it all—ocean, nature, gourmet food, and café culture. Watching the sunset sink into the horizon at Café Monsant in Aewol, being surprised by a black sesame latte at By the Sea, and being healed by the breeze in the tangerine orchards at Bomnal in Seogwipo—the memories carved at each café will enrich the trip itself. Why not fly to Jeju on your next vacation to find your favorite cup?

And remember, the wind and sun of your destination are quite a challenge for not just your skin, but your hair as well. At the end of a day exposed to the sea breeze, be sure to treat your hair with careful care. As part of your beauty routine that continues with your travel memories, please take along the KEMA hair care series, born from Korean beauty consciousness.