Just down from the main shopping area of Hongdae, you can spot the dark brick arched exterior of Coalmine. This wasn’t the first time I’d been to this café, however this time, due to social distancing rules we were only allowed take out.
There are two entrances into the café, however my friend and I entered though a small courtyard, which has the best view of the café’s beautiful brick exterior, complete with a covered area fronted by brick arches.
Entering into the café you’re greeted with a lovely sense of warmth. The colour scheme was mainly black and off white with dark concrete floors, which gave a sophisticated yet homely feeling to the space. There were also wooden finishes here and there, from the cabinetry and ceiling to the edges of the tables, which made the space feel softer.
On one side of the café there were beautiful arched windows mirroring the brick arches outside. While on the opposite of the café were rectangular windows, that looked out on the street below. Along this side of the café was a large bar style bench, which was the perfect place for people watching, or chatting.
As for the other seats in the café, most were black table and chairs for groups of two, three or four, expect for a larger rectangular table for a bigger group. The uniform height of the tables meant that they were good for working, as well as socialising.
The lighting of the café was one of the main decorative and mood creating aspects of the café. The ceiling pendants were little orbs, and on the tables were rectangular paper lamps that both filled the space and gave off beautiful warm lighting.
My friend and I went in there evening, and while the cafe is nice in the day time, the best visiting time is the evening when you can take advantage of the prime lighting.
Moving on to the beverages. I got a hot chocolate and my friend got an americano. When my friend, the same ‘friend’ who is in 80 percent of my posts, took his first sip of the coffee, his face lit up. This was the first time I had seen this kind of reaction from him. He said the coffee was very nice and would suit anyone’s taste.
As for the hot chocolate, it was like a real Italian style hot chocolate. The flavour was incredibly rich and thick. And though I would have usually said the serving size of this was too small, for this hot chocolate, it was just right. In fact for me it was a little too rich for me that I couldn’t finish it myself.
Coalmine is a sophisticated yet comforting space in the middle of Hongdae. In Dead Beat terms, this is a café that fits many needs. The drinks are of high quality, and the space takes a step away from the bustle of Hongdae; it’s a warm and relaxing space to chat with friends, or do work, especially on a cool winter evening.
Comentarios