Japanese Coffee and Melon Soda at Retro Cafe “Kissa Koguma”

Today, I was near Kissa Koguma 喫茶こぐま 킷사 고구마 with a friend. Kissa Koguma means ‘Cafe Little Bear’ in Japanese and is a Japanese retro coffee shop in the heart of Seoul. Hence, here you can find not only coffee but also (Japanese) pudding, Melon Cream Soda with ice, French toast, and more!

For somebody who maybe hasn’t visited cafes in Japan yet, it may not seem very Japanese at first glance. But if you like retro cafes, if you want to get to know Japanese coffee house culture or are already a fan of Japanese Shōwa-style cafes, this is the place for you!

Cafe Kissa Koguma is only about a 10-minute walk from Sindorim Station (Line 2), but well hidden (as is often the case with good cafes in Seoul).
It is situated in a seemingly inconspicuous building in which I probably wouldn’t set foot in Europe and we initially walked past its entrance twice.

Even upon reaching the second floor, we weren’t sure if we were in the right place until we stood right in front of the entrance door.

Kissa Koguma is a typical Japanese old-school coffeehouse (kissaten) that, with its dark carpet, wooden furniture and ornated porcelain dishes, recalls the Shōwa era (1926-1980) and transports you back in time. Kissa Koguma is also run by a Japanese owner and staff, adding to its authenticity.

The coffee parlor seemed quite popular, and we were lucky that a table became available just as we arrived.

I particularly liked the details like the heater in the center of the room with a glass teapot filled with water on top, or the Japanese books on the shelf behind it.

In another corner, a bear supports the small tabletop with a water dispenser (perhaps Kissa Koguma’s name comes from this ‘little bear’ (Koguma) ?).

Menus were available, as far as I saw, in Korean and Japanese, but also with some pictures.

Although I’ve been constantly thinking that I should try Melon Cream Soda at some point (picture bottom left on the menu), as I have seen it in almost every cafe in Japan, I usually end up ordering coffee every time (2 years of living in Japan before I came to Korea, and I still never tried).

Besides drinks, there were also French Toast in various variations like cheese and cinnamon, pudding etc. and this incredibly delicious-looking Pudding Parfait.

We took a while to decide as there were plenty of different coffees, teas, sodas, and cream sodas, but in the end, I had a Coffee Float with iced black coffe and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (not sure if it was gluten free, but I took the risk) and my friend ordered a Vienna Coffee with cream. Both were really good, and I’m sure that next time, I might finally order a Melon Cream Soda.

Final Thoughts

I love Korean cafes and their cool and chic ambiance, but there are times when I crave the atmosphere of Japanese cafes. Kissa Koguma is like a small piece of Japan right in the heart of Seoul and is definitely a must-visit for those who enjoy discovering hidden cafes and retro places!

喫茶こぐま 킷사 고구마
Friday~Monday 12:00~20:00, closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
Instagram: kissa_koguma
Google Maps: 19 Gyeongin-ro 77-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Namseong Apartment Sanggadong 2-ho, 2nd floor
Naver Map