by Mich KDL

Goodbye Spring, and hello Summer! Time to stash away those coats and boots, and pull out the tank tops, shorts and flip-flops for some fun in the sun.

Not planning on being at the beach anytime soon? You can still get your summertime dose of Vitamin D, have a cool drink in hand, and enjoy an amazing view — all from a rooftop café, which Seoul has plenty of. Here are just some of them that’s recently been featured in K-Dramaland! Click the links to visit their respective listings.

45-1 Sinheung-ro 20-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울 용산구 신흥로20길 45-1)

When I first saw this café featured in My First First Love (2019), my first (first?) thought was, “Where are the railings?!” I must admit, though, that I did like the illusion of seeing Do-hyun and Tae-oh ‘on the edge’ as they calmly enjoyed their chat over lunch.

This rooftop in Huam — with a close-up view of N Seoul Tower — is part of The 100 Factory, a three-storey building that also has a 1st floor shop, and a 2nd floor restaurant called ‘Seats’. The 3rd floor rooftop has a name, by the way (‘Fantastic Rooftop’), and offering Korean-Western fast food from handmade burgers to skewer sticks. Fantastic indeed!

29-17 Duteopbawi-ro 38-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울 용산구 두텁바위로38길 29-17)

Just a minute’s walk from The 100 Factory is this Japanese restaurant and café. Though it only briefly appeared in My Fellow Citizens! (2019), it also made quite an impression with its impressive rooftop view! Unlike what a distracted Jung-kook pointed out to an excited Mi-young, we hope that the view during your visit to Doodoong Namsan isn’t marred by fine dust.

2-3F, 134-5 Susaek-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (서울 서대문구 수색로 134-5)

As seen in web drama Alrang Malrang (2019) — the building of this rooftop café in Bukgajwa is also where much of Namgoong Ye-ji’s house interior scenes were filmed.

24 Pyeongchang 30-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 평창30길 24)

Located on the third floor of an art gallery, this cafe/restaurant in Pyeongchang also has an indoor section — which we see Seo Do-jae and Han Se-gye walk through in The Beauty Inside. We reckon the view from the terrace is worth dining alfresco for though, so kudos to Do-jae and Se-gye for making a decent choice on their (orchestrated) first date.

86-5 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 삼청로 86-5)

Blink and you’ll miss it — this may have been the case if you’ve seen this street in Devilish Joy (2018) and Should We Kiss First (2018). Shown fleetingly in the latter drama is the sign for FATUM, a café in Samcheong with a rooftop that can be seen along that street. And as this blogger shows us, for example, it is a view that shouldn’t be missed. No wonder it heralds itself as the ‘view point for couples’!

Tip: Naver/Kakao Maps will direct you to Bukchon-ro 5na-gil, which is the street in the abovementioned dramas. The entrance of FATUM, however, is actually on Samcheong-ro itself. Best to start from there — you may not be able to enter the place otherwise!

156 Dongil-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 광진구 동일로 156)

Need to cool off after a long day out in the sun? Not only does C156 at Hwayang‘s H Avenue Hotel (Kondae Branch) have a bar on its rooftop — it also has a pool! While it may be only reserved for hotel guests, it still seems nice to chill there with a refreshing drink in hand, while watching the sun set on yet another day.

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Have we missed out any others from your favorite Korean dramas? Tell us in the comments! Otherwise, we hope you have a ‘cool’ summer with these awesome rooftop cafés and restaurants!