Tucked in behind the metropolis of Yongsan station’s Ipark mall and surrounds, is an old derelict looking area filled with shady looking motels and delicious looking Korean restaurants. Yet recently the area has had trendy cafes and restaurants popping up here and there. One of these is the café Nega.
To get to the café you must climb the stairs to the fifth floor of the building. Once you enter the café, you are greeted with a large and open space.
The space itself has an industrial feel which was down to the materials. While the walls were painted with white, the floors were polished concrete and the ceiling was left grey with very rough texture. The ordering counter and some of the other cabinetry was made of a light plywood.
However, the way the space was decorated was very chic and had a modern art museum feel. Large posters and images brought interest to the eye. Old overhead projectors and filming lights also added to the museum feel. There were also plants and flowers in the space which added a nice naturalness.
Also since my friends and I went on a lovely early summer afternoon, the space was well lit with natural light streaming in through the windows. However the centre piece of the café is a circular table with a beautiful flower arrangement. This really tied in the whole space together and gave the cafe a beautiful focal point.
As for seating, there were circular and rectangular tables for groups of two and fours and there was a large table for a bigger group. This, and the atmosphere made the space good for socialising and working.
The café also had a large rooftop with a view of the Yongsan area cityscape. The seats on the rooftop were definitely for socialising and taking in the view.
As for the drinks, I got Hadong Green Tea and my two friends ordered iced americanos. We also ordered a pound cake. The pound cake was lovely and buttery, and even my friend who doesn’t like cake couldn’t stop eating it. The only down fall of it was that it was small.
Both my friends said that the coffee was very tasty. As for my tea, the Korean tea was expertly brewed and well presented. While the flavour was a little grassy for my taste, it was still clean and refreshing and perfect for more savory lovers of tea.
Also, the service when ordered and when the drinks were served was very professional. The owner explained carefully about how and why the coffee and tea was served. This was a really nice touch and showed real attention to detail for the drinks and that the café was not just visually beautiful.
Everything about this café has been expertly and thoughtfully executed. In dead beat terms, this café is like a well curated art gallery. Not only was the space beautifully decorated, the attention to detail in the way the drinks were served was very thoughtful. On top of this, the café also has a beautiful rooftop to enjoy the Seoul’s very own art display.
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