Vending Machine Cafe Zapangi (자판기) Seoul
Zapangi - The famous pink vending machine cafe in Seoul.
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Seoul is famous for its numerous themed coffee shops. In a city where aesthetic of a cafe is more important than what coffee they serve, one has to have a killer concept to break through the crowd.
You can check my blog post about 2D black and white cartoon cafe in Hongdae here.
Anyone that knows me, knows I am a sucker for an aesthetic and photogenic cafe. So when I have found out that there is a cafe in Seoul whose entrance is a pink vending machine and its cakes, pancakes and drinks are unicorn and mermaid themed, it was a no brainer to put down on my bucket list of places to visit in Seoul.
Zapangi (자판기) is without doubt the most famous coffee shop in Mangwon (Neighbourhood in Seoul) and one of the most aesthetic cafes in Seoul. The iconic vending machine door probably attracting influencers, tourists and design lovers more than the coffee they serve.
Cakes are served in cute tins with mermaid tails sticking out and you can get your mocha topped up with a pastel rainbow whipped cream and sprinkles. They also sell unicorn decorated doughnuts and milk tea in cute glass bottles. Seasonal offers make for a great excuse to revisit the place over and over again.
There is even a machine where you can make personalised transportation card!
I have really liked the interior of this place as it is big, bright and airy. It is probably not the best for larger gatherings as the seating plan is more suited for two people sharing improvised tables at the same time.
Left picture is a courtesy of @isabellekravanja
Zapangi Menu Prices
Coffee will cost you between 4 500 KRW and 5 500 KRW
Milk Tea will cost you between 5 500 KRW and 7 000 KRW
Tin Cakes will cost you between 6 500 KRW and 7 000 KRW
(please note prices might have changed)
Whilst prices might be a bit higher than in your average coffee shop, they are quite in line with other aesthetic and themed cafes of Seoul.
How to get there
Zapangi is located in slightly off the beaten path Mangwon neighbourhood in comparison to trendy Hongdae which is a home to the new Harry Potter cafe. The easiest way to get there is to take subway number 6 (brown line) and leave the train at the stop Mangwon, take Exit 2 (make a right U turn as the exit is facing the opposite direction of the cafe), and walk straight down World Cup-ro 13-gil road for about 10 minutes. The pink vending machine and pink Koons style dog will appear on your left hand side.
Zapangi (자판기) (Literally translates into vending machine)
Address (English): South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, Mangwon 1(il)-dong, World Cup-ro 13-gil, 79 해오름 주상복합 1층
Address (Korean): 서울특별시 마포구 망원1동 월드컵로13길 79 해오름 주상복합 1층
Opening Times: 10 AM - 11 PM
Instagram: zapangi_official
As with all instagrammable coffee shops in Seoul, I would advise you arrive bright and early (or as bright and early as the cafes in Seoul open :D) to avoid the crowds and get that perfect insta shot. (If you are in Seoul on a budget, you don’t have to order anything in the cafe itself to be able to take a photo in front of the entrance.)
Would you visit this cafe? Let me know in the comments below or on my Instagram.
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