As a coffee nation, South Koreans are highly obsessed with coffee. You can find coffee shops on almost every corner in the country. You might ask: “What is so special about coffee shops in Korea?”. Coffee shop owners in Korea put a lot of efforts in making their shops attractive. I always have a great time wandering around to explore the hidden charms of each coffee shop.
Coffee shops based on hanok are very popular these days. In Seoul, there are actually a lot of hanok-styled cafes boasting calm and peaceful atmosphere. Not only you get to enjoy the beauty of traditional Korean architecture visually but also enjoy good coffee.
Today, I would like to introduce you guys to a modern hanok-style cafe located near Gyeongbukgung Station- FOLKI.
FOLKI
The exterior appearance of the cafe building looks nothing special or impressive right? There is a saying, do not judge a book by its cover. Don’t let its humble exterior fool you!
As soon as I stepped into the cafe, I was so impressed to watch a whole new scene reveal itself. The cafe features white and wood interior designs, adding the right tone of a warmth and naturesque atmosphere to the space.
Hanok Cafe
The interior of the cafe perfectly presents the “modern meets traditional” concept.
I love how they preserved the old hanok structure while remodeling the space, leaving it a humane atmosphere.
The menu
We had a cup of hot cafe latte and the cafe signature drink- Folki tea. The tea is made from blending of lemongrass, peppermint, rooibos and chamomile. The FOLKI tea is indeed a perfect tea to ward off the chill in winter.
FOLKI LEATHER
FOLKI isn’t just a place to grab a cup of coffee. It is also a creative space for leather crafts and works. You can make your own custom leather wallet, card holder, car key case and as well as watch straps here.
According to the owner, FOLKI uses Italy vegetable tanned leather in making leather craftworks. Vegetable tanned leather is a type of leather that will undergo aging and darken with the sunlight. The colour of vegetable tanned leather improves and matures with age and embodies the experience of an individual. Doesn’t it sound cool?
Hanok cafe & Leather craft
Besides, it is also worth mentioning that FOLKI is featured in the GOOUT KOREA magazine, 2020 July / Aug issue.
Depending on what leather craft you would like to make, the duration for one-day class often varies between 2 and 5 hours in practice.
If you are interested in joining their leather workshop or one-day class, you can contact them at phone number 02-722-0855 or Instagram’s DM at @folki_leathercraft.
For more information on the leather workshop, you can also refer to their naver blog (only available in Korean) here.
Operating Hours
Everyday: from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.
How to get there?
Walk out from Gyeongbukgung Station (Line 3, Exit 1). FOLKI is just 7 minutes walking distance from the station.
Address: 6, Sajik-ro 9 gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Endnotes
If you happen to visit South Korea, you definitely can’t miss out visiting a hanok cafe. I highly recommend this cafe if you would like to visit somewhere with antiques atmosphere and a modern twist. Rejuvenate your mind and enjoy the time crafting your one and only leather work while enjoying nice coffee in FOLKI!
Hope you had a great time reading to my post. Do feel free to comment and let me know if you have any suggestions on interesting coffee shops that worth a visit in South Korea!
