Everything BTS touches turns to gold, including their old dorm that has been turned into a cafe. While it was BTS’s old dorm, Cafe Hyuga will provide you a unique experience that goes beyond just BTS that even non-ARMYs can enjoy.
Image credit: 태리 via Naver
When you first step through the front doors, you’ll be greeted with a mini bamboo forest and a pebble path that makes it feel like a zen garden.
Image credit: 빽빽이 via Naver
Once the guests are indoors, they can also appreciate this beautiful garden via the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Seated in the cafe, you’ll be surrounded by a relaxing atmosphere for those who want to have a stress-free afternoon.
Image adapted from: 태리 via Naver, 햇살송달빛진 via Naver
Complementing the zen garden aesthetics are many art pieces scattered throughout the cafe, including one right beside the large windows. This combination of art creates a feeling of sophistication, and bougie-fies the cafe-hopping experience.
Image credit: 태리 via Naver
The second floor of the cafe’s vibe shifts to one that’s more akin to a traditional Japanese house, with thick wooden furniture and smaller windows that offer more privacy compared to the seats on the first floor.
Image adapted from: 태리 via Naver
There are also tables lined up against the smaller windows for those that still want to gaze upon nature while they enjoy the cafe’s treats.
The third floor returns to a more open concept setting, with larger windows that connect the space with the outside garden. There’s also a greater variety of room designs on this floor, so you’ll be spoilt for choice as to where to sit for the perfect photo.
Image credit: 태리 via Naver
To accompany the great views and vibes, Cafe Hyuga offers a delectable selection of pastries and drinks that will elevate your experience to an 11/10.
Image credit: 셍 via Naver
One of their more unique offerings is their canele, a soft custardy pastry with a thick and crunchy outer crust.
Cafe Hyuga offers 3 flavours of the pastry: Fig, Matcha, and Earl Grey for KRW3,400 (~USD2.44) each. They also have classic-flavoured caneles for KRW2,500 (~USD1.80) each and mini ones for KRW1,500 (~USD1) each. You’ll be hard-pressed to find caneles as delicious and affordably priced.
Image adapted from: novatovis via Naver
Their crowning special is their Bulletproof Salt Bread, named after the group whose dorm the cafe used to be. It goes for KRW2,000 (~USD1.40) each, and KRW8,500 (~USD6) for 5. We recommend getting the bundle because just eajoying 1 of these delicious bakes will definitely not be enough.
Image credit: @rara_fm via Naver
The cafe has many more bread-based treats available, from sandwiches to custard breads, and croissants to cookies. So no matter your pastry preference, there’s bound to be something for you to enjoy here.
Image credit: 빽빽이 via Naver
To quench your thirst, we recommend their Watermelon Juice (KRW5,800, ~USD4.15), which comes with spherical watermelon pieces. The cafe also has standard caffeinated beverage offerings.
Image credit: @firstsight_JK via Instagram
ARMYs will know that this space used to be their 3rd dorm room, and it’s where they lived when they were first able to have separate roommates instead of crashing in the same room together.
Image adapted from: @Kashalia26 via Twitter
The cafe house was minimally remodelled to preserve as much of the original layout as possible. In fact, the exterior has hardly been touched, and aside from the cafe logo and signs, looks almost the same as it did when BTS was staying there.
Image credit: 김아미의 일상 via Naver, 햇살송달빛진 via Naver
The owner even put up some pictures to indicate what some rooms used to be when BTS was still living there, as well as screenshots of videos BTS members have filmed in the dorm.
Image credit: 김아미의 일상 via Naver
The cafe kept the original living room wall intact on the first floor, as they’ve kindly corroborated with a photo for proof. They did, however, change it into a post-it wall for fans to write BTS messages.
If you’re a loyal ARMY eager to pay your post-COVID pilgrimage to Korea, be sure to add Cafe Hyuga to your itinerary. You’ll come for BTS, but stay for the cafe itself.
How to get there:
Address: Nonhyeon-ro 119-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 10am-9.30pm, Daily
Contact: 02-3444-2022
For more about the K-pop group, check out 20 BTS songs with hidden meanings, 21 underrated BTS songs, Yoojung Sikdang: the restaurant that BTS visited, 17 BTS facts that even hardcore ARMY may not know and Uijeongbu Art Library: cultural complex where BTS RM donated books.
Cover image adapted from: @jemfirmalo via Instagram, @rara_fm via Instagram, @agustdsgyg__ via Instagram
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