Noppensan Seongsu: A Chai-Only Café Near Ttukdo Market
Visit Noppensan, a chai-only café in Seongsu near Ttukdo Market: which chai to order first, what to take home, opening hours and tips for your visit.
Why Noppensan is worth the walk
Seongsu is full of coffee. Walk a few minutes south of the busy café streets, toward the old Ttukdo Market, and you will find a place that has gone the other way entirely. Noppensan (높은산, “high mountain”) serves chai and nothing else, and that focus is exactly why I like it.
The café opened in 2020 in a tiny space of about 10 square metres, moved next door as it grew, and reopened after a renovation in March 2024. Its owner, Kim Saesom, named it after a hike up Triund, a ridge in the Himalayan foothills of northern India. She has said she did not want the space to shout “India”; she pictured it more like a shop run by a Japanese expat somewhere in Southeast Asia. That description fits once you step inside.
What it feels like inside
The room is all warm wood: a slatted ceiling with a slow fan, long wooden benches, low stools that look like they have been used for decades, and a deep red floor that glows in the afternoon light. Big windows open onto a quiet, tree-lined street, so on a mild day it feels half indoors, half outdoors.
The space is split in two. On one side is the bar, where you can watch chai being brewed in pots; the counter is set high so you can drink standing up if the benches are full. On the other side is the seating area, divided by a wooden pillar. It is not a place for long laptop sessions; it is a place to sit for one or two cups and watch the street.
What to order
Noppensan started with just two chais, masala and ginger. The menu has since grown to seven, all brewed from the café's own spice blends:
| If you want… | Order… | What it is | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A classic first cup | Masala chai | Black tea with spices such as star anise, clove, cardamom and cinnamon. | KRW 4,500 |
| Something gentle and warming | Ginger chai | The other original, built around ginger. | KRW 4,000 |
| A fragrant, golden cup | Saffron chai | Yellow-tinted and aromatic, with saffron threads on top. | KRW 5,000 |
| Something rich and creamy | Malai chai | Topped with malai, milk slowly reduced into a cream. | KRW 6,000 |
| Something different | Pink chai | Made with yulmu (Job’s tears) tea and pistachio. | KRW 4,000 |
| An afternoon treat | Rum chai | Chai with Old Monk dark rum. | KRW 6,000 |
| A surprise | Hotel chai | Ask the staff what makes it different from the masala. | KRW 6,000 |
If it is your first time, I would start with the masala chai; it shows you what the café is about. In my photo, that is the one in the small glass, next to a saffron chai in a white cup. If you come back, try the saffron or malai chai for something richer. The rum chai contains alcohol, so skip it if you are driving or avoiding alcohol.
A seasonal iced chai sometimes appears in warmer months, but do not count on it; check the menu board when you arrive. Prices are from Korean map and restaurant listings checked in October 2026, so the board at the counter has the final word. At KRW 4,000–6,000 a cup, it is cheaper than most Seongsu specialty coffee.
Chai to take home
This is where Noppensan makes a great gift stop. Near the entrance, a wooden cabinet holds everything you need to make chai yourself. On my visit, the shelf labels showed:
- Chai pack (single, 6 g): KRW 2,000, in masala or ginger.
- Chai Pack Set (masala ×2, ginger ×2): KRW 8,000, wrapped in paper and tied with string.
- Masala bottle chai (500 ml): KRW 18,000.
- Chai jam (200 g): KRW 15,000.
- Chai strainer: KRW 15,000.
There were also larger 200 g kraft bags of the masala blend. These prices are from the labels in my photos, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise of today’s price. For travellers, the single packs and the four-pack set are the easiest to carry home: small, light and sealed. The bottled chai and the jam are better if you can keep them cool and are not flying soon. Noppensan also sells its chai through an online store.
Tips for your visit
- Expect a short wait at busy times. The café is small, and visitors mention a paper waiting list on busy days. If there is a list, add your name and wander the street for a few minutes.
- Order at the bar, then find a seat. Watching the chai being made is half the fun, so do not rush back to your bench.
- Pair it with Ttukdo Market. The market is a few minutes away. Have a snack there, then come here for chai, or the other way round.
- Keep it to a small group. The benches and stools suit two or three people better than a big group.
Getting there and opening hours
Address: 18-1 Seongsui-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (서울 성동구 성수이로 18-1), ground floor. Search 높은산 or the Korean address in Naver Map or KakaoMap; Google Maps is not reliable for walking directions in Korea. The café sits at the quieter, southern end of Seongsu near Ttukdo Market. From Seongsu Station (Line 2), Exit 3, allow about 10–15 minutes on foot. Use live directions from your starting point for the best route.
Hours: Listings checked in October 2026 show 10:00–18:00, with last orders at 17:30, and closed on Wednesdays. The café has also closed on some extra days and has run later Friday hours in the past, so check @noppensan on Instagram or the Naver Map listing on the day you go.
Parking: There is no dedicated parking. Come by subway or bus if you can.
Takeout and pets: Takeout is available, and pets are listed as welcome.
Who I would recommend it to
I would recommend Noppensan to anyone who wants a break from Seongsu’s coffee crawl, to tea lovers, and to anyone looking for a small, well-made gift. If you are happy to sit on a wooden bench, sip slowly and watch the neighbourhood go by, it is a lovely way to spend an hour in Seongsu.
The photos in this guide are from my own visit. Practical details were researched on October 8, 2026, and prices from my photos are marked by date, so check the latest before you go.
About our visit photographs
Our original visit photographs document the setting and the specific details pictured in this guide. Use them to recognize the place and decide whether its setting suits your visit. They record a visit, rather than current opening hours, availability of every menu item or how busy the venue will be on another day. Confirm operational details through the venue before making a special trip.
Frequently asked questions
›Does Noppensan serve coffee?
No. A sign at the counter says it plainly: only chai, no coffee. If someone in your group needs an espresso, grab one elsewhere in Seongsu first.
›Which chai should I order on a first visit?
Masala chai is the safest first choice: black tea brewed with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, clove and star anise. If you want something richer, try the saffron or malai chai on a second round.
›What are Noppensan's opening hours?
Listings checked in October 2026 show 10:00–18:00 with last orders at 17:30, closed on Wednesdays. Extra closures happen, so check @noppensan on Instagram or Naver Map on the day of your visit.
›Can I buy chai to make at home?
Yes. When I visited, the shelves had single chai packs, a four-pack set, larger 200 g bags, bottled chai, chai jam and a chai strainer. Prices on the shelf labels in my photos are from the day of my visit.
