Even though Seoul is best known for its trendy cafes and adorable Korean desserts, you might be surprised to learn that you can also enjoy a traditional, English-style, afternoon tea. Hidden away in a quiet Gangnam neighborhood is Cafe Treeanon, a cute garden themed cafe that serves a beautiful afternoon tea set – complete with an entire teapot of tea, a two-tier serving stand and a cozy garden vibe. If you’re looking for a quieter way to enjoy an afternoon in Seoul, here’s everything you need to know before you visit.
My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more here.
🚙 Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars – just make sure to have a copy of your international driver’s permit with you!
🏨 I always use AGODA to compare hotels & prices in Asia.
📶 To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).
📸 For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.
🦋 Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.
🧳 Lastly, my essential packing list when visiting Korea.
Planning Your Visit to Cafe Treeanon
When exploring Seoul, an English-style afternoon tea might not be on your list of top things to do, you might not even know that places like this exist in Korea. When I found Cafe Treeanon on social media I was pleasantly surprised. Located in a quiet neighborhood of Gangnam, this adorable cafe serves a traditional, English-style afternoon tea, similar to those you’d typically find in London. Similar to afternoon teas in other countries, Cafe Treeanon’s afternoon tea includes an entire teapot of tea, delicious desserts and small bites to munch on, and a beautiful garden setting, perfect for slowing down after a busy day of sightseeing in Seoul. Because it’s an afternoon tea set, I recommend trying to visit sometime in the afternoon. They can get a little busy around lunch time, so I’d try to time your visit for around 2-3 in the afternoon.
According to Cafe Treeanon, you need to make a reservation to make sure you’ll be able to enjoy their afternoon tea, otherwise they don’t promise that they’ll have everything they need to create your tea set. You can make reservations through their NAVER listing or by messaging them on their Instagram. If for some reason you aren’t able to reserve ahead of time and they don’t have everything they need for the afternoon tea set, you’ll likely need to order from their al-a-carte menu. This is still a great option if you’re looking for cute drinks and pastries, you just wont get the entire “Afternoon Tea” experience and 2 tier serving platter. Parking in this neighborhood is extremely tight, especially since the cafe is hidden away in a residential area, so I recommend taking the subway. You’ll want to make your way to the Gangnam-gu Office Station and take Exit 4, from there you’ll have about a 1/2 mile walk to the cafe.
My Must-Do Tours in Gangnam :
-> Gangnam Personal Color Analysis
My Honest Afternoon Tea Experience
When you get to the cafe you can sit wherever you’d like, they have cute and cozy indoor seating or more garden tea party style outdoor seating. On the top floor of the cafe is a small boutique store, unaffiliated with the cafe. Cafe Treeanon’s afternoon tea set is large enough for 2 people, so I recommend going with a friend and sharing. When I visited we were given an entire teapot of your choice of tea, I chose Earl Gray, but they have endless tea options – from what kind of tea, to what kind of sugar or milk, they even had boba pearls as an option. We were also give a two-tiered platter of small bites and snacks. The bottom layer was filled with more “savory” breads and pastries like small sandwiches, muffins, scones, etc. On the top layer were more “sweet” items – like macarons and fruits.
Overall, I really enjoyed Cafe Treeanon’s Afternoon Tea experience! Even though I’ve been lucky to enjoy a proper English-style afternoon tea multiple times in London, I felt the tea and small bites were tasty, the cafe ambiance was great, and the staff was so kind and welcoming. Even though it’s not a traditional Korean experience, I thought it was a really fun way to spend the afternoon and escape the crowds to enjoy something a little different, and it’s definitely a spot I would go back to. I think Cafe Treeanon is perfect for couples, birthdays, girls’ trips, families, or anyone wanting a slower-paced afternoon in Seoul!
Watch My Afternoon Tea Adventures Here!
Other Blog Posts You Might Be Interested In :
-> Seoul’s Harry Potter Cafe Guide
-> Cafe Onion Anguk, A Visitor Guide
-> A Guide to Korea’s Poop Cafe
Pin this Seoul Tea Review for Later!
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