No train is coming, but Nakwon Station 낙원역 still has people waiting along the tracks, except most are here for coffee, cake and that very photogenic hanok courtyard.
Located within the hip Ikseon-dong in Seoul, “Nak-Won” 낙원 means “paradise”, while yeok 역 means “station”, making this quite literally “Paradise Station”.
The “Nak-Won” name feels even more fitting here, as Ikseon-dong sits right beside Nakwon-dong and the long-time Nakwon Music Mall.
The café takes its name quite seriously, with the space designed around the idea of an old railway stop where trains no longer arrive.
Railway tracks run over gravel through the hanok courtyard, with plants growing alongside and little lights lining the route.
You can imagine that many people do stop by for photos (and some without buying anything).
The railway idea continues at the ordering area, where desserts go around on a conveyor-belt-style display rather than sitting ‘quietly’ inside the usual cake refrigerator. Cute.
As to which cakes to pick, the Green Grass (₩13,800) and White Double Cheese (₩13,800) were among the signatures, though on the pricier end.
Other slices include NY Cheese (₩10,800), Italian Tiramisu (₩10,800), Earl Grey Chocolate (₩10,800), Deep Chocolate (₩10,800), Cream White (₩10,800), Creamberry (₩10,800) and Cookies & Cream (₩10,800).
I picked the Cranberry Cheese Tart 크랜베리 치즈 타르트 (₩11,800), which came as a substantial rectangular slice with a thick cheese layer, darker cranberry layer, crumble and a scoop of cream on top.
What I liked was the mix of textures, especially the smooth cheese filling against the more crumbly top and tart base.
The drinks menu when I visited included Americano (₩5,900), Café Latte (₩6,700) and Vanilla Latte (₩7,500).
But if you prefer something not so ‘boring’, look out for the Maple Cream Coffee (₩8,500), Peanut Cream Latte (₩8,500), Matcha Express Latte (₩8,500), and seasonal Purple Sweet Potato Latte (₩8,500).
My pick was the signature Coal Coffee 석탄커피 (₩8,500), described as bittersweet coffee with black cacao powder and sweet maple cream.
The drink came with a very dark coffee base under a thick layer of white cream, with streaks of cacao appearing along the glass where the two started mixing.
It reminded me somewhat of an Einspänner, with the sweetness coming first from the maple cream, followed by the darker coffee and cocoa flavours.
I would resist stirring everything together immediately, and take a few sips through the cream first.
My suggestion is to get a seat facing the railway garden if one is available, because that narrow track really is the part of Nakwon Station I kept looking at while having coffee.
Nakwon Station 낙원역
166-32 Ikseon-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 종로구 익선동 166-32
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun), Last Order 9:30pm
Naver Maps – Nakwon Station 낙원역
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