Ilsan Cafe BB Haus

BB Haus is one of the most beautiful cafes I have ever been to in South Korea, and that’s saying a lot. It doesn’t take long for anyone who has ever been here to realize that aesthetic cafes are an integral part of life in modern life in South Korea. So what is it that makes this Ilsan cafe stand out among the rest?

Ilsan Cafe BB Haus Theme

The theme of BB Haus is color and light. And, I must say, the architecture is perfectly designed to create interesting features along the two themes.

As I approached the cafe, the first thing I noticed was the large rainbow-colored windows. On one side of the building were floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows spanning two floors. Additionally, the surrounding walls were coated with a brilliant pink that was stunning amid the shades of brown that accompany Korean winters. 

Then, when I entered the cafe, I was left completely speechless. The large stained glass windows let loose a rainbow within the cafe. The colors reflected on every surface. As I stayed there throughout the day, the colors grew, moved, and then faded as the light of the sun moved across the sky. Without a doubt, this stained glass window was the main feature of the cafe.

However, its beauty did not stop there. The first floor was decorated in a style reminiscent of a 1970s utopian dreamworld version of Spanish colonial homes in California. Archways of pink and coral divided the room, streetlamps proudly stood in the center of the hall, globes of light hung from the ceiling, and birds or paradise dotted the room. 

As I went up to find a seat on the second floor, I was greeted by a gallery and unique architectural shapes. This floor was, in itself, a work of modern geometric art. Here, the archways were repeated, but shades of blue and yellow were added to the mix. On one wall was an art arrangement that would have looked very peculiar anywhere else. However, It was almost elegant here.

I found my place in a corner, directly under a painting of a foot with a face.

Food and Drinks

After finding a seat, I made my way downstairs to order. The baked goods table was extremely impressive. Bright colors of cakes, cookies, bread, and pie adorned a long buffet table. I had done my research before I came and settled on one of the cafe’s most popular items – pink bread.

However, I was surprised to find that pink bread was, in fact, an entire loaf of bread. It didn’t stop me. I got it anyway and proceeded to eat the entire thing by myself while I was there in the cafe. It was so delicious, how others would perceive me was an afterthought. Pink bread was a sweet bread covered in pink doughnut icing, with cream in the center and two meringues on top.

The drinks menu was also extremely colorful and beautiful. It features coffees, ades, teas, and cocktails. I went with the Aurora Lavender Ade. Thankfully it was less sweet than I had anticipated and went nicely with the pink bread. Surprisingly it came with a card and actual flowers that were attached to the rim of the cup with a clothespin.  Overall, it was clear that the menu was created for Instagram. However, it did not taste like Instagram. Both the drinks and the baked goods were delicious, which isn’t always the case with aesthetic cafes. 

Conclusion, Visit This Ilsan Cafe

Although this cafe is a bit out of the way, it makes for a good day trip, or a short escape from Seoul. It doesn’t disappoint, whether you go alone or with a friend. I highly recommend staying a few hours in order to really appreciate the beauty of lighting at this place.

BB House  (비비하우스)

Address: 506 Baengma-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Korean address: 경기 고양시 일산동구 백마로 506 1-3층
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Do you have a favorite aesthetic cafe in Korea? Let us know in the comments below!