Al Nuovo Hongdae Cafe Review: A Remote Worker's Oasis in Seoul

Since I can work remotely,

I often find myself looking for a cafe that's great for working

during the week.

On this particular day,

a friend recommended Al Nuovo in Hongdae,

telling me it was a perfect cafe for working with its floor-to-ceiling windows.

So, I decided to visit!

Right from the entrance, the atmospheric garden and the

wooden gate were quite impressive.

It didn't quite feel like Hongdae, did it?!

As soon as I stepped inside, the high ceilings and

expansive windows instantly made my eyes feel refreshed :)

I also loved the fact that there were lush green plants inside the cafe,

creating an atmosphere that was anything but bleak.

Al Nuovo in Hongdae operates with its

first floor as a cafe and its second floor for brunch.

The spaces on the left and right, centered around the stairs leading to the second floor,

had distinct vibes.

To the left, right in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, were

individual or two-person seats perfect for working,

each equipped with outlets and personal lighting.

To the right, there were table seats,

ideal for larger groups.

I loved the floor-to-ceiling window seating, so I chose a

window seat! :)

Al Nuovo Hongdae Menu

The menu had a good variety, and you could even

choose from three types of coffee beans.

I opted for the

Balance roast, known for its nutty body!

They had a surprisingly great lineup of dessert options, including

croffles, scones, Basque cheesecakes, and butter bars!

Water cups and tissues were neatly arranged for self-service as well.

I ordered an Iced Cafe Latte

(with Balance roast),

and my friend got an Iced Americano

(with Decaf roast).

The Balance Bean Latte I ordered

had just the right hint of acidity and a lovely body,

making it a perfectly delicious latte.

And my friend's Decaf Iced Americano

was so good you wouldn't even guess it was decaf,

genuinely delicious!

Hongdae Al Nuovo

Parking & Restrooms

Another great thing about Hongdae Al Nuovo?

They offer parking assistance

for up to 2 hours from entry!

It's a paid service, but

for ~$2, you can conveniently park your car

in the building's parking lot,

making it a great option for those looking for a Hongdae cafe with parking!

I was a little nervous because you need to take a key to use the restroom,

but it's gender-separated

and super clean, which made me really happy!

Hongdae Cafe

Al Nuovo Brunch

While we originally came for coffee,

we were curious about the brunch restaurant's ambiance,

so we quickly popped up to the second floor before leaving.

The second-floor brunch area

has different operating hours than the 1st-floor cafe.

Please note that starting this March,

it operates on weekdays from 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM,

and on weekends from 10:00 AM - 9:30 PM

(with a break time from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM).

(The cafe operates daily from 9:00 AM - 9:30 PM)

It looks like they play music from LP records

on the second floor!

As it's primarily a brunch restaurant,

you'll find more round and square tables than single seats,

with many spots perfect for 3-4 people to dine together.

A peek at the window seats from the upper floor :)

There's even a small garden in front of the windows,

which creates a pleasant distance from the bustling street below, and I loved that.

I find that my productivity skyrockets in such spacious and comfortable environments,

and that day, I managed to finish all my tasks with incredibly high efficiency,

and happily head home!

I saw many people reading books or working on their laptops even in the inner seating areas,

and I totally understood why!

I absolutely recommend Hongdae Al Nuovo Cafe as a fantastic cafe for getting work done!👍

Hongdae Al Nuovo

Wellness Archive Score

A Hongdae cafe perfect for comfortable work, featuring full-length windows and high ceilings.

Pre-trip (Expectation): ★★★

During Trip (Experience): ★★★★

Post-trip (Memory): ★★★★

*What is the Wellness Archive Index?