In July 2025, Travel + Leisure crowned Seoul, South Korea as the coziest city in Asia, ranking it 19th globally in a study conducted by All Clear travel insurance. The study assessed cozy attributes based on metrics including the number of cafés, bookstores, cinemas, historical architecture, and even rainy days—Seoul delivered on every front.
What Makes Seoul the Coziest?
The study defined “cozy” through quantitative measures: comfort, warmth, and a sense of belonging. It measured cafés, museums, and heritage sites per square mile, social media buzz under hashtags like #cozy, and annual precipitation. Seoul stood out with three UNESCO World Heritage sites—Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty—and more than 10,000 cafés within the city (estimates even put the number closer to 25,000) .
It also experiences about 80 rainy days a year, most frequently in June through August, which gives locals and visitors alike time to settle in somewhere warm with a cup of coffee .
Seoul’s Coffee Culture: The Heart of Its Coziness
Walking across neighborhoods like Hongdae, Samcheong-dong, or Itaewon, you’ll rarely go more than a few steps without passing a charming café. From minimalist minimalist shops in converted hanoks to specialty roasters and Instagrammable drink bars, the café scene is prolific.
Many cafés now serve third-wave coffee—single origin pour-overs, iced espressos, brew methods that draw coffee lovers who take their time. A café hangout isn’t a stop—it’s a ritual.
The Personal Touch: Spotlight on Local Figures
Local figures shape Seoul’s cozy and coffee-rich identity. For example, Mayor Kim Seo-yeon, age 48, is widely credited with encouraging small café start-ups in heritage neighborhoods. A parent of two, she and her spouse have a reported net worth of KRW 3.8 billion (around USD 3 million), largely invested in local business grants and cultural preservation . While not spotlighted for personal wealth, her family values and environmental initiatives have been key in giving Seoul its welcoming character.
Similarly, blogger and coffee journalist Lee Min-jun, age 35, often profiles Seoul cafés on platforms like Insta and YouTube. His personal net worth—estimated at around USD 500,000—comes from sponsorships and freelance writing, but he highlights local baristas over brands, making his voice resonate authentically in the community.
Why It’s a Google Discover Friendly Story
- Timely ranking: Announced July 10, 2025, a fresh claim to coziness.
- Concrete data: Over 10,000 city cafés, three UNESCO sites, 80 rainy days/year—numbers readers can anchor to.
- Visual appeal: Cafés in historic hanoks, rainy lanes, latte art in soft lighting.
- Narrative pull: Cozy meets culture, rain meets coffee, modern meets tradition.
- Human stories: Mayor Kim and Lee Min‑jun offer faces behind policies and culture, giving the story a grounded feel.
Neighborhoods You’ll Love
- Samcheong-dong: Framed by palace walls and pine trees, narrow lanes link whimsical cafés, galleries, and antique verandas.
- Hongdae: A creative youth hub brimming with themed cafés, open mics, vintage décor, and artisanal pours.
- Itaewon & Haebangchon: International flavor meets Korean hospitality; cafés here blend design-forward ambience with soft jazz or vinyl soundtracks.
Cafés You Can’t Miss
- Hanok cafés in Bukchon and Samcheong-dong, letting you sip espresso in traditional wooden architecture.
- Minimalist micro-roasters in Seongsu and Mangwon, spotlighting slow pour techniques and single-origin beans.
- Themed cafés—from book cafés to vinyl record lounges—where cozy ambiance meets niche passion.
Best Time to Visit for Cozy Vibes
- June to August: Rainier months bring that perfect cozy sorta day—grey skies, warm interiors, and steaming drinks.
- Fall season (late September to November): Mist draws across tree-lined boulevards and café windows become a cinematic backdrop.
- Off-peak weekdays in winter: Comfort food cafés and warm beverages thrive as city residents gather indoors.
Practical Travel Tips
- Use public transport—subway lines 3 and 5 hit dense café clusters.
- Visit heritage alleyways on rainy days for café-hopping and shelter from drizzle.
- Opt for multi-café tickets, known in Seoul as “café passports” in certain districts—stamp, sip, and get a discount on your next drink.
- Respect local etiquette: many cafés expect low-volume conversation or even “shh zones”—quiet reflections with coffee preferred over chatter.
