{"id":1646,"date":"2026-05-27T20:48:55","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T11:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ktripmate.com\/?p=1646"},"modified":"2026-05-30T00:44:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:44:25","slug":"hongdae-hidden-retro-cafe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ktripmate.com\/ja\/hongdae-hidden-retro-cafe\/","title":{"rendered":"Nakrang Parlor Review Near Hongdae Station"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Quiet Retro-Style Cafe Hidden in the Yeonnam-dong Side of Hongdae<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I found this place while walking around the quieter streets of Yeonnam-dong near Hongdae, and it ended up being one of the cafes I remembered the most afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s about a 10-minute walk from Hongik University Station, but once you leave the busy main streets behind, the atmosphere changes pretty quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to the crowded tourist-heavy cafe areas around Hongdae, this place felt more like somewhere local people actually come to relax and spend time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were people reading books, working on laptops, and quietly talking with friends instead of just taking photos and leaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The red brick exterior also stood out immediately, so I naturally ended up walking in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Retro<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Retro-style<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A Space Inspired by Old Korean Coffee Houses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nakrang Parlor has a very distinct retro atmosphere overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, I found out the cafe was inspired by the name of one of Korea\u2019s first modern-style coffee houses from the 1930s, which honestly makes sense once you see the space yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole cafe has that old Korean coffeehouse feeling without trying too hard to look vintage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heavy wooden door, brick walls, old-style signs, and warm lighting all work together naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the rusty standing sign outside that says \u201cOasis in the Alley\u201d somehow fits the mood perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, the lighting is soft and warm, which makes the whole space feel surprisingly cozy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vintage props and decorations are placed throughout the cafe, but the space never feels cluttered or overdesigned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally, I liked the window seats the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When sunlight comes through during the afternoon, the atmosphere gets even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And during cooler weather, the terrace seats outside would probably be really nice too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cozy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Retro<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A Cafe That Actually Cares About Coffee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This place roasts its own beans, and you can tell coffee is a big part of the experience here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Near the counter, they display two signature house blends called \u201cNak\u201d and \u201cRang.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, I found out the names came from the caf\u00e9\u2019s name itself \u2014 \u201cNakrang\u201d (\u6a02\u6d6a). The character \u201cNak\u201d (\u6a02) represents joy and comfort, while \u201cRang\u201d (\u6d6a) means waves or flow in Chinese characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each blend also seemed to reflect its name quite well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNak\u201d had a lighter body with brighter acidity, while \u201cRang\u201d felt nuttier, smoother, and slightly deeper overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I usually prefer balanced coffee without too much acidity, so I went with the Rang blend, and it was easy to drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It didn\u2019t feel like they were simply separating beans by flavor notes \u2014 the whole concept connected naturally with the atmosphere of the caf\u00e9 itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also have several signature drinks that feel more unique than typical chain cafe menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nakrang Cream and Peanut Latte seemed especially popular, and there were also chestnut lattes and strawberry lattes for people who don\u2019t drink coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fresh<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Local<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"nakrang<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The Egg Tarts Were Better Than Expected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The dessert selection was bigger than I expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were cookies, scones, and cakes, but the egg tarts were probably the highlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They had several different flavors including lemon, pistachio chocolate, and raspberry white chocolate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crust was flaky while the filling stayed soft and creamy, which paired really well with the coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was even a small sign asking customers to carefully pick up the tarts by hand because they break easily, and after trying one, I understood why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The desserts looked good visually too, but they didn\u2019t feel overly sweet or made just for photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Retro<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Much Bigger Inside Than It Looks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From outside, the cafe looks fairly small, but it actually has three floors including a basement level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each floor has a slightly different atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basement feels quieter and more private, the first floor has the strongest vintage mood, and the second floor feels brighter and more open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It feels like the kind of cafe where people stay for a while instead of quickly leaving after taking photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though there were quite a few people, the space still felt relaxed overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On weekends, it can get pretty busy, so going slightly earlier might be a better idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Quiet<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Overall Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hongdae has no shortage of trendy cafes, but many of them can feel overcrowded or overly focused on aesthetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nakrang Parlor felt different in a quieter and more comfortable way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of trying too hard to be flashy, it focuses more on atmosphere, coffee, and creating a place where people actually want to stay longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It felt more like a local neighborhood cafe than a typical tourist cafe around Hongdae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re visiting Hongdae and want a cafe that feels more local and less touristy, this place is definitely worth checking out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Warm<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Old<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Find Nakrang Parlor on Google Maps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located in the quieter Yeonnam-dong side of Hongdae, Nakrang Parlor is about a 10-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 3. It\u2019s tucked away in a small alley, so it can be a little easy to miss at first, but the red brick exterior makes it easier to spot once you get close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n