VISIT JEJU

The private garden of Dong Bak Nang was made open to the public as passers kept walking into the garden of full-blown camellias without permission. Dong Bak Nang is a café located in Wimi village famous for camellias. What used to be a house had been renovated into a café as tourists poured in. Later, it introduced an unmanned system to allow more people to come in, take photos and enjoy as much as they please. When winter arrives with the ruby-colored camellias, the 500-pyeong (1,652.9㎡) garden bustles with tourists taking photos. Surrounded by the naturally fenced up camellia forest and looking at the wall paintings of camellias, you will feel as if you are in the middle of a secret garden.

The café consists of two parts: a newly built 2-story building and a small house-turned-into-café. The first floor of the new building serves beverages such as jujube, ginger, and green tea. You can also brew your own coffee and have it your way. The taste is amazing as they are made of the famous Yudong coffee beans. They prepare only the best with hopes to serve guests like they would at home. Pay just KRW 2,000 upon entrance, and you can enjoy the garden sipping a beverage of your choice. On the second floor, you will be able to see Wimihang Port and Hallasan Mountain. On the rooftop, you can enjoy an even better view of Jeju. The smaller café renovated out of a house lets in beautiful sunshine through the window. A picturesque and frame-like view of camellias out the window provides a great spot for a photoshoot.

Address: 275-2, Taewi-ro, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo-si

Hours: 10:00 - 21:30 (Weekdays), 13:00 - 21:30 (Weekends), Closed on Tuesdays

Hyeopjae Beach is among the top one or two picks when it comes to choosing the ocean on the western Jeju coast that offers a beautiful view. This unmanned café greets you at the entrance to Hyeopjae Beach and allows you to enjoy the packed beach a step away from the crowd at an affordable price. Hyeopjae Café Ssissi is the name of the place. You will find this café past Hallim and by the entrance to Hyeopjae. Like its slogan a “café of the people, by the people, for the people,” the place is in business as an unmanned café. It is a lovely café that shows the true beauty of Jeju in stunning view with the emerald-colored sea and Biyangdo Island that are seemingly within our grip.

The first floor has small tables and a corner where you can order beverages. The place offers various beverages and desserts. They sell beverages such as juice and carbonated water, as well as quick fixes of sugar, such as doughnuts, Yakgwa (A traditional Korean cookie made of ginger and honey), cookies, Manju (filled mini cakes), and crackers. You can pay either by putting cash in the money box, transferring the money from your account, or using your credit card. Sitting on the second floor watching the high ceiling and view out the whole glass wall can be refreshing even deep into your heart. It has become a spot for those seeking a scenic view of the beautiful Hyeopjae Beach in peace away from the bustling crowd. The café is also an artwork gallery. The first and second floors as well as the stairs have been showcased with art pieces including paintings and antique furniture. You can buy them if you want.

Address: 450, Hallim-ro, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si

Hours: 11:00 - 21:00

Darak is an unmanned café, loved by tourists for its endlessly long path of hydrangeas. It is located inside Wind 1947, a cart riding theme park in Topyeong-dong, Seogwipo. It is a place hidden in the natural fields of flowers and mandarins. Past the parking lot and the bridge crossing the theme park, you will come across a path of hydrangeas. Walk a little further and you will find an unmanned café hidden deep in the path. “Darak” is a homonym that can either mean to enjoy tea or an attic. The owner named the place in hopes to bring back the old memories the customers might have relating to an attic.

The interior that has been reenacted almost identical to the original shape of what used to be a stone mandarin warehouse is quite impressive. The café is especially popular among people who love to take pictures as the place offers a very good view of Hallasan Mountain on clear days. Here, you can take pictures with a beautiful background in all 4 seasons: canola blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in summer, pink muhly and buckwheat flowers in fall, and camellias and mandarins in winter. While the café no longer sells any beverages, it is still open for Olle trekkers, tourists, mandarin-picking program participants and anyone in need of a place to rest. You can register for the mandarin-picking program at J Factory Café nearby. If you take the mandarins back to the J Factory Café, they will juice them for you.

Address: 78-27, Topyeonggongdan-ro, Seogwipo-si

Hours: 10:00 - 18:00