Over the past few years, I have tried all coffee chain stores and seen the evolution of coffee shops in Korea. Starbucks has remained a safe choice for me for the standard of service, quality and variety of coffee choices. It finally reached a tipping point when I feel the difference and will try more independent coffee shops. And there are so many coffee shops in Korea now, more accessible than convenient stores. Moreover, many coffee shops offer unique ambience. Bukchon, iterally “north village” is a traditional residential area with many hundreds of years old traditional houses called “Hanok”. Many tourists would come to the area for a walk after visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung. In recent years, more and more of the traditional houses are turned coffee shops, tea houses, restaurants and guest houses, offering a unique cultural experience for both locals and tourists.