Manhole Coffee Western in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul

“Manhole Western” is a slice of the Western experience in the heart of Seoul, and it’s one of the cafes currently making waves on Instagram.

맨홀커피웨스턴 (Manhole Coffee Western)
Tuesday~Sunday 12:00~22:30 (last order: 21:30) , closed on Mondays
Instagram: manhole_western
Google Maps: 24 Yeongdeungpo-ro 27-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Naver Map

The cafe is an 8-minute walk from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Line 2, but it’s also accessible by bus.

When I visited on a Saturday evening in December, it was bustling with people, but with three floors (basement, first floor, and second floor), there were still some available tables.

By the way, as you step in, a cowboy-doorman greets you and welcomes you inside.👀.

Manhole Western offers a variety of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, along with pastries. They also have an alcohol menu featuring cocktails and beer, and they stay open until 10:30 PM. Don’t forget to order until 9:30 PM though.

Before placing my order, I took a stroll around. The first floor, where we had our table, was decorated in the typical Wild West style, complete with fake pistols, barrels, and Wanted posters…

…while the second floor was more elegant and brighter, resembling what I imagine the upper class socializing during the Wild West era. (Did anyone who reads this played Red Dead Redemption 2? The first floor reminded me more of the city Valentine, and the second floor of Saint Denis😼😄.)

The basement was decorated like a workshop…

…and had several seating options for single visitors. I even saw a few people studying there.

Visiting Manhole Western was especially fun in December thanks to their Christmas decoration. A lot of people actually lined up to take pictures with their Christmas tree and accessories like fake pistols or fake dollar bills.

We had two rounds of drinks. In the first round, I ordered a “Manhole Cream White” coffee for 7,500 Won, and my friend got a hot chocolate. I had read in a review that while the atmosphere at Manhole Western was great, the coffee didn’t match up, but I can’t confirm that. While the prices aren’t the cheapest, considering you’re also paying for the atmosphere, I found them reasonable and my coffee was actually good.

In the second round, we ordered tea for 7,500 Won and the Manhole B52 cocktail for 8,000 Won. The tea came in an adorable pot that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, while the B52… was more or less my fault since I ordered it without knowing what it was (I thought it would be similar in size and appearance to the Martini or other cocktails). It wasn’t exactly my favorite, but if you’re a fan of shots and B52, it might be your thing.

Final Thoughts

Manhole Western is definitely an intriguing experience, and I enjoyed my visit. The cafe leans more towards being a photo zone than feeling authentically Western, which is probably hard to avoid given the theme (especially in the middle of Seoul!). However, that doesn’t make it any less worth a visit, and the detailed decor offers plenty to explore. Personally, I liked the coffee and hot chocolate (the tea wasn’t bad either), and next time, I’d probably try the Martini or White Russian.

Manhole Western has secured a spot on my to-go list for friends visiting me in Seoul who want to explore more than just the usual tourist hotspots. (I think my friends from Europe and Japan would have fun, but I’m not so sure about friends from the USA. What do you guys think?? 👀)

Total: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5)
Taste: ★★★★☆(3.5)
Variety: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Atmosphere: ★★★★☆
Access: ★★★★☆