🇰🇷 Tak – Scandinavian Style Meets Korean Soul in Gyeongju

Discover Tak in Gyeongju, a stunning café blending Nordic style, great coffee, fresh pastries, and natural wine in one of South Korea’s prettiest towns.

View of a lowrise building with blue sky above

South Korea really struck me as the kind of place that has yet to have its full moment.

Despite the global boom of K-Pop, Korean cinema, Netflix dramas, and the country’s ever-popular beauty industry, I still know surprisingly few people who’ve actually been there. When choosing a destination in the Far East, most people still default to Japan—but that is starting to change.

And if you’re planning a visit, I highly recommend stepping outside of Seoul and heading south to places like Gyeongju.


🏛 Gyeongju – History, Temples, and Surprisingly Good Coffee

Located in the southeast of the country, Gyeongju is famed for its dome-shaped royal tombs, ancient temples, and chilled-out pace of life. It’s often referred to as “the museum without walls” thanks to its rich historical legacy—but what surprised me most was its vibrant specialty coffee scene.

One place that absolutely won me over was Tak.


☕ Tak – Where Korean Hospitality Meets Nordic Design

Tak is a Scandinavian-inspired bakery café that seamlessly blends global flavors, exceptional coffee, and Korean elegance. The space itself is stunning—with soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, and a bright, minimalist design that feels both serene and stylish.

On my first visit, I popped in for a casual afternoon snack and ended up enjoying a divine pain au chocolat paired with a flat white. The café was buzzing with both locals and curious travelers.


🍳 A Heavenly Breakfast and the Smell of Fresh Croissants

So naturally, I went back the next morning.

This time, I had a delicious breakfast dish inspired by Cilbir (Turkish poached eggs with yogurt and chili oil) alongside a pour-over coffee brewed with beans from Strut, a roastery based in Busan.

As I savored my meal, I watched the in-house pastry chef preparing croissants, the scent of butter and dough filling the air. Honestly, the whole place smelled like heaven.


Patissery chef standing in front of a batch of croissants

Pain au chcolat with a flat white

View of a coffee bar with a black espresso machine on top

Interior of a big coffee shop and bakery

📸 Food Photography Is a Whole Thing Here

One thing I found amusing across Korea—everyone photographs their food. Literally everyone. Plates and cups are admired, styled, and snapped before a single bite is taken. Of course, I’m totally guilty of doing the same…


🧀 Natural Wine, Sourdough, and European Roasters

Tak doesn’t just do breakfast and coffee. It also offers a well-curated selection of natural wines, served with fresh sourdough bread and cheese. In true European fashion, the café’s coffee menu features beans from top roasters like:

  • Friedhats (Amsterdam)

  • Datura (Paris)

  • Obadiah (Edinburgh)

Clearly, Tak is as globally connected as it is locally grounded.


✅ Final Thoughts

A bakery that serves outstanding coffee, bakes artisan pastries, and offers a warm, welcoming vibe is always going to be a hit—whether in Gyeongju, Berlin, or Barcelona.

And Tak? Tak is definitely doing it right.

Opening Times:
Mon - Tue: 9 - 18, Wed - Thu: Closed, Fri - Sat: 9 - 23, Sun: 9 - 18
Price Check:
Espresso: ₩5.800 / Flat White: ₩6.000 / Filter: from ₩9.000
Machine:
Synesso
Coffees On Offer:
Various roasters

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