Step Into Your Favorite K-Drama at These Collab Cafes in Korea
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This guide is for international travelers who want to visit K-drama-themed storytelling cafes in person. Korea’s drama-themed cafes fall into two broad categories. The first is the “collaboration pop-up store,” which opens for a limited time by leveraging a drama’s intellectual property (IP). The second is the “filming location cafe,” which became famous after being used as a drama set. Concept cafes have an especially short lifespan, so much of the information floating around online refers to places that have already closed or pop-ups that have ended. Every location in this article has been confirmed as operating as of June 2026.
Key Information at a Glance
- Collaboration pop-up cafes: Usually open for 1 week to 3 months. Your first priority is to check whether they overlap with your travel dates.
- Filming location cafes: Open year-round, but closures and name changes are frequent. Always double-check on Naver Map whether they are still operating right before your visit.
- Information basis: The opening hours, prices, and transportation details in this article were confirmed as of June 2026. They may change over time.
K-Drama IP Collaboration Cafes
A collaboration pop-up cafe is a temporary store that operates while a drama is airing or shortly afterward to capitalize on its popularity. These spaces are decorated with the drama’s world, characters, and signature props, and they sell limited-edition menu items and goods. They typically open in high-foot-traffic areas such as Seongsu-dong in Seoul or The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido.
Features and How They Operate
- Operating period: Very short. Department store pop-ups run in one-week increments, and even longer ones wrap up within 1 to 3 months. You absolutely must check whether your travel dates line up with the pop-up’s run.
- Content: They offer photo zones that recreate scenes from the drama, limited-edition drinks and desserts named after the characters, and official merchandise you can only buy on-site (posters, keyrings, cups, photocards, and more).
- Location: They often open in pop-up-dedicated spaces in trend-sensitive neighborhoods like Seongsu-dong, Apgujeong, and Gangnam, or in the pop-up zones of large department stores such as The Hyundai Seoul and Shinsegae Department Store.
- Reservations: Popular pop-ups have very long on-site waiting lines. Some accept advance reservations through Naver Booking or a dedicated app. It’s important to check the pop-up’s official Instagram account for reservation and waiting procedures before you go.
Price Range
Menu items at collaboration cafes tend to be pricier than at regular cafes, because the value of being limited edition is baked into the price. Below is a rough range for Seoul pop-ups as of June 2026 (it varies by event).
| Item | Price (KRW) |
|---|---|
| Beverage | 6,500 – 10,000 KRW |
| Dessert | 8,000 – 15,000 KRW |
| Merchandise | 10,000 – 50,000 KRW and up |
Notable Past Collaborations
The following are cases that have already ended. They should help you get a sense of what upcoming collaboration pop-ups might look like.
- Lovely Runner (2024): In May 2024, an official pop-up opened in the Iconic pop-up zone on the second basement level of The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido. It sold 17 kinds of limited-edition goods, including drama posters, photocards, and keyrings, and drew thousands of visitors from opening day.
- Queen of Tears (2024): A pop-up was held at The Hyundai Seoul in June–July 2024. It combined a display of actual props used in the show (a hair dryer, an MP3 player, etc.) with official merchandise sales, and was popular enough to later expand to major Japanese cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.
- Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022): In November 2022, an official pop-up opened at Time Villas, Lotte Premium Outlets in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. Themed around whales and gimbap—both favorites of the protagonist—it featured a whale hologram photo zone and a “Woo Young-woo Gimbap” booth (a collaboration with the convenience store 7-Eleven).
How to Find Collaboration Cafes
Because collaboration pop-ups run for such a short time, finding information at the trip-planning stage is key. The fastest sources are social media and pop-up-focused platforms.
- Instagram search: Combine the title of a popular drama airing during your trip with “popup” or “cafe.”
- Example searches (English):
#<DramaTitle>popup,#<DramaTitle>cafe(e.g.,#QueenOfTearsPopup) - Example searches (Korean):
#<드라마제목>팝업,#<드라마제목>카페(e.g.,#눈물의여왕팝업)
- Example searches (English):
- Pop-up-focused information platforms: Korea has sites that compile only the schedules of currently running pop-up stores. Popply is a leading example, and for Seongsu-dong specifically, local curation sites like “Seongsu-dong Gorilla” post monthly pop-up lists. They’re Korean-language sites, but browser translation makes them easy enough to read.
- Naver search: Korean users share a lot of information on Naver blogs and Naver Map. Searching with Korean keywords like “서울 팝업스토어” (Seoul pop-up store), “성수동 팝업” (Seongsu-dong pop-up), or “더현대 팝업” (The Hyundai pop-up) will surface much more local information.
K-Drama Filming Location Cafes
A filming location cafe is a real, operating cafe that served as a drama’s backdrop. Unlike collaboration pop-ups, they’re open year-round, which makes them easy to fit into your itinerary. That said, the current interior may differ from how it looked in the drama, and filming location cafes also close or change names frequently—so be sure to check on Naver Map whether they’re still operating right before you visit.
“Goblin” Filming Location: Cafe Zino (Heyri, Paju)
Drama: Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, 2016)
Scenes: The first floor was the restaurant where Kim Shin and Ji Eun-tak eat steak in “Quebec, Canada,” and the second floor was used for the chairman’s office scenes, among other interior shots filmed here.
Located near Heyri Art Village in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Cafe Zino 📍 (Chocolatier Zino) is a specialty chocolate cafe famous for an antique interior that feels like stepping into a European museum. Beyond Goblin, several other dramas have been filmed here.
- Location: Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, near Heyri Art Village
- Hours: 12:00–19:00, closed every Monday, with occasional temporary closures for private events (as of June 2026 — we recommend re-checking by searching “지노” on Naver Map before visiting).
- Menu: Chocolate beverages are the signature offering. Based on recent visitor reviews, drinks are priced at a flat rate of around 10,000 KRW.
- Getting there: You can reach it from Seoul with a single bus ride.
- Board the express bus 2200 at the stop in front of Exit 1 of Hapjeong Station (Lines 2 and 6) and get off at Heyri. It takes about 45–50 minutes, with buses every 10–15 minutes.
- You can also catch the same 2200 bus in front of Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station.
- While you’re there: Heyri Art Village itself is a neighborhood packed with galleries, museums, and distinctive cafes, making it perfect to combine into a half-day course.
“Our Beloved Summer” Filming Location: Haenggung-dong Cafe Street, Suwon
Drama: Our Beloved Summer (2021)
Scenes: Scenes of the protagonist Choi Ung’s house and studio were filmed in Haenggung-dong, the fortress village around Suwon Hwaseong.
Choi Ung’s house was a set the production team created by renovating a closed cafe in front of Bukporu at Suwon Hwaseong. It’s no longer an operating business, so you can only view it from the outside. Instead, the Haenggung-dong cafe street in that area is a neighborhood that retains the drama’s atmosphere, so the classic plan is to combine a walk along the fortress walls with a cafe tour. The UNESCO World Heritage Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace are right next door.
- Recommended cafe: Gravitate 📍 — A rooftop cafe right next to Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, with sweeping views of the palace and Paldalsan from the roof. Themed desserts like the “Newton’s Apple” are its signature items. Open 13:00–21:00, last order 20:30 (as of June 2026 — we recommend re-checking on the official Instagram).
- Getting there: About 1 to 1.5 hours from Seoul.
- Get off at Suwon Station (Subway Line 1), then take bus 11, 13, 36, or 39 from the bus stop on the north side and get off at the “Hwaseong Haenggung” stop. The bus ride takes about 15–20 minutes.
- From Exit 4 of Sadang Station in Seoul, take express bus 7770 and get off at “Janganmun,” then walk about 10 minutes. This route is the most convenient since there are no transfers.
- Note: Haenggung-dong cafes are open on weekday afternoons, but as independent cafes their closing days can be irregular. We recommend checking same-day operating status on Naver Map before heading out.
“Vincenzo” Filming Location: Sewoon Sangga and Euljiro’s Retro Tearooms
Drama: Vincenzo (2021)
Scenes: “Geumga Plaza,” the drama’s main backdrop, is none other than Sewoon Sangga. The faded signs and narrow corridors look exactly as they did in the drama.
Sewoon Sangga, completed in 1968, was Korea’s first mixed-use residential-commercial building, and you can freely walk the corridors lined with electronics-parts shops to soak in the Geumga Plaza atmosphere from the drama. The building itself has no admission fee. And a 5-minute walk away in the alleys of Euljiro, there’s a retro-concept cafe that pairs perfectly with Vincenzo’s period setting.
- Address (Sewoon Sangga): 159 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Cafe to pair it with: Coffee Hanyakbang 📍 — A hanyakbang (traditional Korean pharmacy)-concept cafe tucked into a narrow alley on the former site of Hyeminseo, a Joseon-era medical institution. The interior, decorated with mother-of-pearl cabinets and old wooden furniture, has the feel of a 1920s tearoom. Hand-drip coffee and red-bean porridge desserts are its signature offerings. Open weekdays 10:00–22:00, Saturdays 11:00–22:00, Sundays and public holidays 11:00–20:00 (as of June 2026). It’s about a 3-minute walk from Exit 1 of Euljiro 3-ga Station, inside the narrow alley to the right of the GS25 convenience store.
- Getting there (Sewoon Sangga): Easily accessible since it’s in central Seoul.
- About a 5-minute walk from Euljiro 4-ga Station (Subway Lines 2 and 5).
- About a 5-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station (Subway Lines 1, 3, and 5).
- Note: The Sewoon Sangga area is undergoing phased redevelopment, so some sections and shops may have closed. The drama’s exterior itself can still be seen as is.
Essential Information for Foreign Travelers
Transportation and Navigation
In Korea, Google Maps’ walking and public-transit directions can be inaccurate. The Naver Map or Kakao Map apps are the most accurate. Both apps support English versions. All of the cafes in this article are reachable by subway or express bus.
About taxi apps (as of June 2026): Kakao T supports registration of overseas credit cards and sign-up with overseas phone numbers, so foreigners can use it too. The Uber app also works in Korea as is. Both are easier than hailing a cab on the street, and the fares match the meter exactly. If you need help, you can get English assistance through the 24-hour tourist interpretation hotline 1330.
Reservations
Popular collaboration pop-ups or famous filming location cafes on weekends may require a reservation or on-site waitlist registration. They mainly use Korean apps like Naver Booking or Catch Table, which sometimes require verification with a Korean phone number. The most reliable approach is to follow the reservation link and instructions on the cafe’s official Instagram. If reservations aren’t possible, going right at opening time or on a weekday morning is the way to minimize your wait.
Visiting Etiquette
- Filming location cafes: Before they were drama filming spots, they are regular operating businesses. Browse quietly so as not to disturb other customers, and refrain from occupying a seat for long periods or photographing the interior without permission. It’s best to ask a staff member before taking photos.
- Collaboration pop-ups: They get very crowded and busy. Line up according to staff guidance and follow the rules, such as limits on the quantity of merchandise you can buy.
Editor’s Tip
- Buying limited-edition goods: Limited goods at collaboration pop-ups sell out quickly. If there’s an item you want, going during the opening week—and specifically on a weekday morning—raises your chances of getting it.
- Planning your route: It’s efficient to plan filming location cafes as a one-day course paired with nearby attractions. Cafe Zino in Paju pairs naturally with Heyri Art Village, and the Haenggung-dong cafe street in Suwon flows seamlessly into the UNESCO World Heritage Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.
- One final check before you go: Concept cafes are among the shortest-lived business types in Korea. Getting into the habit of searching the shop’s name on Naver Map on your departure day to confirm the “Open” status and the date of recent reviews will save you a wasted trip.
