New Korean café hotspot: vintage large tables and bottled milk tea are a big hit

Photos provided by / Man E & Man J — A Man’s Daily Life —

When I visited Seoul in mid-February, I just happened to catch the grand opening of the Social Club Seoul café. A classical and luxurious crystal chandelier hung dramatically over a long white table, where everyone sat around sipping bottled Earl Grey tea, as if each person was vying to take the most beautiful photo.

The Social Club Seoul, which opened in mid-February, is located about an 8-minute walk from Exit 2 of the Yeompo Station in Mapo District. There aren’t many beverage options—aside from Americano, all coffee drinks come with milk and whipped cream. The most popular items in the store right now are the bottled Earl Grey tea and scones, and recently they’ve also launched a limited-edition white chocolate cheesecake available in April and May.

The Social Club Seoul, which caused quite a stir on Seoul’s social media right after opening, is run by the same people behind Seoul’s well-known cafés “cafe Utter” and “REGULAR SERVICE COFFEE.” When “Cafe Utter” announced its closure, they mentioned they would be back with everyone again, but no one expected it to be under such a unique new brand. The café only accepts walk-in reservations on-site, and there was always a huge crowd waiting outside the glass doors. We waited about 30 minutes for a table that day.

Large European-style palace plates and porcelain are casually placed on the long tables, while the entire space is decorated with white curtains and wooden panels, giving off a slightly artistic vibe.

The bottled Earl Grey tea for takeout contains 82% milk, giving it a rich milky flavor with not-too-sweet taste and a hint of Earl Grey aroma.