[Insta Walk] Cafe Jan - Where Humans, Objects, and Space Meet

Choose Your Drink Glass Freely... Comfort Through 'My Own Glass'
Multiple Offices on the Same Floor Combined to Install Large Table
Various Patterned Wallpapers and Unique Lights... Hip Cafe in Euljiro

A large table between open walls. A unique interior design exclusive to Cafe Jan./Photo by Suwan Kim suwan@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Suwan Kim] A one-minute walk from Euljiro 3-ga Station Exit 11. The cafe is located inside a building without a proper signboard among old buildings on one side of the road. Although foot traffic in the area has significantly decreased due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), on the afternoon of the 3rd, a seemingly empty alleyway still saw visitors coming in pairs one after another. It is clear that this is a space that comforts busy city dwellers.

Climbing the narrow and steep stairs of the building up to the third floor, you can encounter a different world. Upon entering the unremarkable entrance, the phrase "Please choose a cup that suits your taste" next to the counter catches the eye. According to Louis Park, the cafe’s founder, this alone quickly captured the hearts of people in their 20s and 30s. The shelves are filled with cups rarely seen in everyday life, from wine glasses to cups decorated with elaborate patterns. Sometimes, customers can be seen drinking beverages like ade from coffee cups.

The walls that once divided the floor into several offices were removed to create a spacious area of about 132㎡ (40 pyeong). A large table is placed between the open walls, allowing customers to sit separately and chat. Lampshades decorated with hats and wallpapers with different patterns on each wall fill the space, creating a unique atmosphere. "There is nothing from tables, lighting, wallpaper, to even music that hasn’t passed through my hands," said Park, adding, "Having experience in various fields such as fashion styling and photography probably led me to create this distinctive interior." The cafe’s name was also devised to be easy to remember. "I wanted to give it a name that sticks easily after hearing it once," he said, introducing that the cups used to serve customers were personally sourced from various places both domestically and internationally, fitting the cafe’s name.

The signature menu here includes Vietnamese condensed milk latte, made by extracting coffee using a dripper (a funnel-shaped device used to brew coffee directly into a cup), and the so-called sweet and salty cream-topped salt latte. In the evening, various types of wine are also available, offering a different charm from daytime.

Hat-decorated traditional lanterns and wallpapers with different patterns on each wall fill the room./Photo by Suwan Kim suwan@asiae.co.kr

Customers who feel the vintage vibe become deeply immersed in the fun of taking photos for Instagram. Couples busy taking pictures of each other said, "It’s our first visit, but after looking around every corner, it seems like a prettier space than expected." Some read books wearing masks, while others chatted quietly. Among them, a man in his 30s said, "I always stop by after lunch. These days, there are many times when there are no people, so I enjoy reading books alone in peace." Another customer occupying a different table said, "The reason I came here despite the spread of COVID-19 is that I wanted to admire the pretty cups and take pictures," adding, "I always carry a mask and hand sanitizer, so I’m not too worried about infection." Park admitted, "It’s true that the number of customers has decreased compared to before COVID-19," but he smiled awkwardly and said, "I can’t just close the cafe for those who keep coming."

Why are customers captivated by the cups they can choose themselves? The answer can be found in the words of a male customer in his 20s who visits whenever he remembers. "At first, I chose only large cups based on cost-effectiveness, but later I found myself looking for pretty cups. So, I think it’s a more interesting place." It sounded like he found comfort through cups that could hold his feelings.

Inside the store, a small stage is set up on one side. Various musicians are invited to perform in this space. In 2018, jazz guitarist Seongho Choi and Argentine traditional music musicians were invited for free performances. Through programs that can spread by word of mouth, the cafe is strengthening its identity as a hip place. Park introduced, "The cafe is myself. It’s a place that fully reflects my life." He also said, "I hope the visitors take away moments of happiness through the cups I personally selected and collected."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.