Today I want to talk about mtl in Hannam-dong, a place I visited a while back. I’d been meaning to go ever since seeing photos of its sleek interior, and finally stopped by on my way to Leeum Museum of Art.

The entrance door is distinctive — the sheer size of it opening feels almost exotic. Given Hannam-dong’s usual prices, 5,800–8,000 KRW felt reasonable. The desserts on display looked delicious too.

I ordered an iced Americano. It’s made with beans from Bonanza, a Berlin-based coffee roaster, and had a pleasant, moderate acidity. They also sell beans on-site.

Mtl pursues diversity, community, and sustainability — it doesn’t feel like a space that’s simply selling coffee, but somewhere built around a new kind of experience.

There’s also a concept shop inside carrying a range of well-designed products and running gear, which was fun to browse.

The biggest strength of this place is being able to enjoy the space bathed in sunlight from the large windows. Since the café and the shop share the same space, the interior feels quite large — comfortable enough to sit and chat or get some work done.

They use a deep mint color that could easily look tacky if handled poorly, but here it gives the space a genuinely hip feel — it pairs well with the monotone sofas and adds energy to the room. Hanging plants and monstera add to the overall charm. The tables on the other side use a lighter mint tone, so the color palette stays cohesive while still feeling varied.

Against the mint, they use brown tones in brighter shades, creating a complementary-color effect. Color contrast like this can easily backfire if done carelessly, which is probably why you don’t see it much in Korean cafés — but this space uses that contrast in a genuinely stylish way.

The ceiling has an industrial structure that adds a natural touch, and the contrast between wood and metal textures gives it a modern feel.

There’s also a DJ booth, which suggests they host various events and collaborations. The deep yellow sign and red brick add a further layer of style to the space.

If you want to enjoy coffee in a fresh new space in Hannam-dong, or want to browse products from a well-curated concept shop — mtl Hannam is worth a visit.

opening hours: 9am ~ 10pm

address: 24, Itaewon-ro 49-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

price range: 5,800won ~ 8,000won