10 Teahouses in Seoul, Korea You Need to Check Out

Traditional tea is a deep-rooted part of East Asian cultures – and Korea does not disappoint. One of my favorite things in Korea is to explore the traditional aspects, which is why visiting a teahouse is such a great activity to do when traveling in Korea. So here are my favorite teahouses in Seoul you need to check out!

If you want to learn more about tea culture, check out my guide to tea in Korea.

The Best Teas to Try in Korea

Most teahouses in Seoul will have somewhat of a similar tea selection. Here are some of the most popular to help you choose the one that’s right for you:

• Green Tea 녹차 – the most popular options are Ujeon (from the first harvesting/plucking) and Sejak (from the first or second harvesting/plucking)
• Ginger Tea 생강차 – perfect for cold winter days, ginger tea is consumed widely around Korea.
• Omija Cha 오미자차 – The name of this infusion is quite easy to remember as 오 means “five” in English. Omija can be served both hot and cold.
• Citron tea 유자차 – This is another very popular beverage, especially in the colder months. The infusion is made using yuja marmalade.
• Barley Tea 보리차 – If you’ve ever been to a Korean restaurant before and the water had a mild nutty flavor, chances are it was barley tea! You can find this tea everywhere in Korea.
• Jujube tea 대추차 – This is a very common beverage and you can find it at many cafés around Korea. Dried jujubes or a jujube syrup can be used to make this infusion.

For more information about popular teas in Korea, refer to my guide to Korean tea culture here.

O’sulloc

170 Gwanhundong • 732 6437 • Open 9am–10pm daily

You really can’t go wrong with visiting an O’sulloc teahouse. It’s Korea’s largest tea company founded in 1979 on Jeju island and has many outlets all across the country. Besides Korean tea varieties like their prized green tea from Jeju, their teahouses also offer delicious green tea desserts, such as roll cakes, crepes, and ice cream.

Check out the O’sulloc Amazon store to purchase their teas from outside of Korea.

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Mokmyeok Sanbang

71 Toegye-ro 20-gil • 318 4790 • Open 11am–8:30pm daily

This is one of the teahouses in Seoul with the best views. It is situated halfway up Namsan Mountain and is surrounded by maple and pine trees. Besides traditional tea, you can also order traditional Korean food here. The bibimbap and bulgogi are especially worth trying!

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Cha Masineun Tteul

35–169 Samcheongdong • 722 7006 • Open 10am–9pm Mon– Fri, 10am–9:30pm Sat & Sun

When searching for the best teahouses in Seoul, this place will be one of the first options to pop up. Cha Masineun Tteul is tucked away in the charming Bukchon Hanok Village in a traditional house from the early 1900s.

This lovely hanok teahouse has traditionally low tables that are beautifully arranged around a courtyard. Try their traditional teas and a piece of their delicious bright-yellow pumpkin rice cake fresh from the steamer.

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Tteuran

17-35 Supyo-ro 28-gil • 745 7420 • Open 12pm–10pm Tue– Sun

This teahouse is one of the oldest establishments in the retro Ikseondong neighborhood as it opened back in 2009 when the area was re-developed. The café is especially popular among Japanese tourists due to its appearance in the Korean-Japanese movie “Café Seoul.”

Named after the lovely “inner garden” inside the 80-year-old hanok structure, Tteuran still remains one of the most beautiful locations in Ikseon-dong. Be sure to try its homemade omija tea or one of its handmade medicinal teas, along with traditional rice cakes of all kinds.

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Suyoil

23 Gwanhundong • 723 0191 • Open 9am–11pm daily

This teahouse is one of the older ones in the Insadong area but still retains a modern feel. That’s why it’s very popular among younger people. There are a lot of traditional teas you can try here as well as Korean tea snacks.

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Suyeon Sanbang

248 Seongbukdong • 764 1736 • Open 11:30am–10pm daily

This beautiful teahouse is located in the 1940s home of renowned Korean author Yi Tae-jun (이태준),  and run by his granddaughter today. However, the building itself is a piece of art. It is structured in the shape of the Chinese character 工, meaning work or labor.

K-drama fans might recognize this teahouse from The World of The Married/A World of Married Couple (부부의 세계), The Housemaid (하녀) (2010) and the variety show Infinite Challenge.

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Kyungin Art Gallery Dawon

30–1 Gwanhundong • 730 6305 • Open 10:30am–10:30pm daily

The first Hanok (Korean traditional house) art museum in Korea, Kyungin Art Complex opened in 1983 and consists of five exhibition halls, an atelier, an outdoor garden, and a traditional tea house.

What’s unique about this teahouse is the vast outdoor seating area in the beautiful courtyard, which is excellent during nice weather.

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T.NOMAD

122 Poeun-ro • Open 1:30–8:30pm Mon & Fri, 12pm-8:30pm Sat & Sun

This is one of the most beautiful teahouses in Seoul I have visited. The interior is the perfect combination between modern and traditional. You can truly feel a high level of diligence and dedication to the creation of a great atmosphere here.

Whether you are looking for a traditional cup of green tea or a refreshing matcha beverage, the menu at T.NOMAD does not disappoint and has something for everyone.

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Beautiful Tea Museum

193–1 Insadong • 735 6678 • Open 10:30am–10pm daily

Part museum, part shop, part school, and part tearoom, this hanok-style building aims to promote Korean tea culture in the heart of Seoul‘s Insadong neighborhood.

The museum part of the teahouse goes into great detail about the history of tea in Korea, displaying utensils from the ancient Gaya and Joseon periods as well as items from abroad, such as China and Tibet.

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Margot

129–5 Wonseodong • 747 3152 • Open 11am–7pm Tue–Sun

All of the teas served at this lovely cafe are organic from local tea farms. It’s a great place to check out when you’re in the Bukchon Hanok Village area.

This teahouse was also featured in the K-drama  Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me (흑기사) from 2017/2018.

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Tea Experiences In Seoul

You don’t have to leave Seoul to learn more about Korean tea culture. Whether it’s a traditional Korean tea ceremony session, a visit to a local Matcha café, or a visit to an O’sulloc tea store, there are a lot of places to choose from.

Traditional Korean Tea Ceremony at Bukchon Hanok Village: I did this tea ceremony experience a couple of years ago and it was super interesting and very memorable.  Check out this tea experience here.

Detox Yoga & Teatox Class: This class combines tea with yoga and is super fun to do! Check out this tea experience here.

Korean Flower Tea Culture Experience: This tour is perfect for you if you’re interested in traditional Korean flower teas! Check out this tea experience here.

Tea Tours Around South Korea

To learn more about tea culture in Korea, I recommend heading to one of the four tea regions mentioned earlier. My favorite tea-producing areas in Korea are Boseong, Hadong and Jeju Island.

Here are some of the best tea-related tours and guides to these areas:

• Boseong Green Tea Fields: How and When to Visit
• Boseong Green Tea Festival 1 Day Tour
• Boseong Green Tea Plantation & Naganeupseong Folk Village 1 Day Private Tour
• Hadong Green Tea Region in Korea: Worth a Visit?
• Osulloc Tea Museum in Jeju: Is it worth a visit?
• Jeju Island Road Trip Guide for 1 Epic Week

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