Tucked into a side street near Yeoksam Station, TBS Coffee Work (탕비실 커피워크) is a small neighborhood coffee shop. Its Korean name means “office break room,” and it is exactly that kind of place: somewhere you can pop into without a second thought. Finding a spot like this among the office towers in the middle of Gangnam is a nice surprise.
What the Name Means
The Korean name comes from tangbisil (湯沸室), the pantry or break room found in Korean offices. It is that little room where you step away from work for a cup of coffee. This small space of about 40 square meters (roughly 12 pyeong) actually plays that role. The interior, designed by studiohoon, combines concrete, wood and stainless steel, and feels clean but still warm.
The Communication Board
The most unusual thing about this cafe is the “communication board” that covers a whole wall. Each month the cafe posts a question and customers write their answers. There is also a prize draw. First-time visitors and regulars who come in every day leave notes on the same wall, and it creates a quiet sense of connection. Next to it, the wall is packed with customers’ Polaroid photos.
The Space and the Mood
There are seats by a large window with a clear view outside. The wooden tables and chairs are simple, and the “view” (?) of office buildings is very Yeoksam. There aren’t many seats, so they fill up quickly at lunchtime on weekdays.
An illustrated TBS Coffee Work poster stands in front of the counter, and behind it you can see an E61 group espresso machine and grinders. A map of Ethiopia’s coffee-growing regions hangs on the wall, which tells you this place takes its coffee seriously.
Along one wall are JBL 4312G speakers, a Yamaha RN402 receiver and a collection of vinyl records. Soft jazz plays in the background. The beans come from Bean Brothers, a specialty roastery in Hapjeong.
Menu and Prices
Prices are reasonable. Espresso and Americano are 4,000 KRW, and lattes are 4,500 KRW. Filter coffee runs 6,000–8,000 KRW depending on the origin, and if you order a filter coffee you can get an Americano refill. All drinks are 500 KRW off for takeout.
| Menu | Price |
|---|---|
| Espresso | 4,000 KRW |
| Americano | 4,000 KRW |
| Latte / Vanilla Bean Latte / Flat White | 4,500 KRW |
| Filter coffee (Guatemala to Colombia) | 6,000–8,000 KRW |
| Earl Grey Milk Tea / Matcha Latte / Ade | 6,000 KRW |
| Flower Egg Tart | 3,500 KRW |
| Mellow Custard Pudding | 5,500 KRW |
| Basque Cheesecake | 6,000 KRW |
Among the desserts, the egg tart is a popular pick. The mellow custard pudding also gets a lot of praise in reviews: people say it doesn’t have too much gelatin and is just a little firmer than soft tofu. The iced latte I had was well balanced too. Overall, nothing here is overdone, and that is what this cafe is about.
Basic Info
| Address | 1F, 9 Nonhyeon-ro 66-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 논현로66길 9, 1층) |
| Hours | Weekdays from 08:00 (check Instagram for exact closing time) |
| Prices | Americano 4,000 KRW / Latte 4,500 KRW |
| Parking | None (use a nearby paid parking lot) |
| Seating | About 12 pyeong, around 10 seats |
| Good to know | Americano refill with a filter coffee order / 500 KRW off for takeout |
| @_tbs.coffeework |
It’s a good place when you want a quiet cup of coffee in Yeoksam, or when you’re after coffee and a setting that don’t try too hard. You can feel how a small space has built its own little neighborhood community.
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