Dotori Garden, the Ghibli-vibe Cafe

Dotori Garden isn’t just a charmingly rustic garden cafe in the heart of Seoul, it’s a green island in a concrete storm. Technically, there are two locations: Dotori Cafe and Dotori Garden, but the garden is definitely the better of the two.

While there’s plenty of reasons to visit this endearing cafe, from the delectable snacks to the cute ambience, the vast majority of visitors make there way there for the undeniable Ghibli vibes.

What is Dotori Garden?

Before it became what it is today, Dotori Garden was a two-story house hidden in the backstreets of the Jongno District of Seoul. There’s outdoor seating in the garden that surrounds the house and the interior has been decorated with a Ghibli-styled motif.

While “cafe” might not be in the name, Dotori Garden is 100% a cafe/ bakery with a long menu of sweet and savory snacks. It’s certainly a step up from the likes of Paris Baguette and while the ambience takes center stage here, the food is no slouch.

Acorns and Coffee Beans

There’s plenty on the menu at Dotori Garden. From build-it-yourself yogurt bowls, madeleines and breads to, of course, coffees and teas. The yogurt bowls feature a lot of seasonal fruits, nuts and seeds and there are quite a few combinations to choose from.

Based on the reviews we read on Naver, the yogurt bowls were a must. And while the prices were steep, we couldn’t help but indulge. We opted for dried cranberries, granola, bananas and a huge chunk of honey comb to keep things sweet. The bowls were a bit lightweight for the price, but each bite was undeniably delicious.

The coffees and teas were likewise great, but visually, the bakery is the real star of the show. There are cream-filled breads, their signature madeleines, scones and more. Enough that you can visit several times and still have something new to try.

Explore the Great Indoors

Dotori Garden has a lot going for it, but it’s the vibes that has visitors literally coming from all over the world. Inside, there’s a lot of polished, but well-worn woodwork. And the furniture feels like it’s a generation or two older than it should be.

There are two floors to explore and explore you should. Each room has its own individual personality and feel to it, feeling at once like someone’s home but also a very personal cafe. The individual decor for each room felt like I was visiting my uncle’s old house in the countryside. There’s just so much to take in.

But we’d very much recommend sitting outdoors in the garden. We visited in early summer before the heat and the insects, so it was still cool and breezy. The thick brush and trees block out most of the city around the cafe, so it’s easy to forget you’re still in the center of Seoul. A compliment I’ve never been able to give to a cafe or restaurant before.

Where is Dotori Garden?

Dotori Garden is located in the Anguk area of the Jongno district. It’s easily accessible from Anguk Station on line no. 3. Just take exit 3 from Anguk Station, make the first left. From there, you’ll be walking straight. Pass one alley way and then make a left at the second alley (right before the CU).