Cafe Onion Seongsu is the cafe that helped turn Seongsu-dong from a district of shoe factories into “Seoul’s Brooklyn.” Opened in 2016 inside a former factory building, it showed a generation of cafe owners how raw concrete, exposed brick and excellent pastries could draw crowds to an industrial neighborhood.
Below: what to eat, how the space works, hours and how to plan a Seongsu afternoon. For nine more spots, see our guide to trendy Seoul cafes and restaurants.
The Building: Industrial Seoul, Reimagined
The building has had several lives, reportedly as a home, a restaurant, a factory and a metal workshop. Onion’s designers kept the rough walls, broken tiles and steel frames and added only what was needed. Guests carry trays through bare rooms, into a small courtyard and up to the roof terrace. It is unpolished on purpose, and the look has been copied across Seoul.
What to Order
- Pandoro – Onion’s famous star-shaped sweet bread under a snowfall of powdered sugar.
- Seasonal pastries – rotating croissants and danishes.
- Coffee and fresh juice – the carrot juice has a following.
Cafe Onion Seongsu Hours, Address and Directions
- Address: 8 Achasan-ro 9-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (서울 성동구 아차산로9길 8)
- Hours: weekdays 08:00–22:00; weekends 10:00–22:00
- Subway: Seongsu Station (Line 2), Exit 2 – about 2 minutes on foot
Tips for Visiting
- Weekday mornings are the quietest; weekend afternoons get packed.
- Try the rooftop on a clear day.
- Explore Seongsu: pop-up stores, Daelim Changgo and a hearty bowl at Somunnan Seongsu Gamjatang are all a short walk away.
- Compare branches: the hanok-style Cafe Onion Anguk is the opposite mood.
Is Cafe Onion Seongsu Still Worth It?
Seongsu now has hundreds of cafes, but Cafe Onion Seongsu is where the trend began, and it still feels authentic. Visit for the history, stay for the pandoro, and use it as a base for exploring the neighborhood.
FAQ
How do I get to Cafe Onion Seongsu?
Take Line 2 to Seongsu Station and use Exit 2; the cafe is a couple of minutes away.
Is it good for groups?
Yes. Several rooms and the rooftop provide space, though seats fill quickly on weekends.
Is the bread the same as at Anguk?
Many items overlap, including the pandoro, but each branch has its own selection.
Source: iVisitKorea – Seongsu-dong guide
Featured image: Photo: CartoonChess / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photos illustrate the area or dish and may not show the venue itself. Details checked October 2026; confirm hours on Naver Map before visiting.