Chaegro 채그로

West-facing windows frame Yeouido, the Han River and Mapo Bridge, so sunsets land straight in view. As the sun goes down, staff raise the blinds and dim the lights. Floors are divided by use: a restaurant on 5, a book cafe on 6 with wood finishes and a mirrored ceiling, a regular cafe on 8 and a rooftop on 9. Window seats are a talking zone where books and laptops are discouraged, and reading and work belong in the quiet areas. Cheonhyehyang ade, made with a Korean citrus, stands out on the drinks list, and desserts are limited to cakes.