Cafe Libro
Catchlight Building

Catchlight is a building in the heart of Hongdae which houses a gorgeous café/ restaurant called Café Libro. Café Libro opened in February 06 and has enjoyed great success due to it’s easy to find location next to Su norebang (Su Norebang is now has a different name) off parking lot street. The interior of the cafe has funky sixties inspired chairs and colorful banquettes with decorative pillows. Don’t forget to peruse the design book shop which operates inside the café.
The café features a huge outdoor garden with lots of plants, red umbrellas and wood walls and aluminum tables. Some areas are raised and some are sunken. There’s also a big terrace with a red awning and a wooden deck. The outdoor spaces seem to be tailor-made for people-watching. The third and fourth floors of the Catchlight building host some kind of talent agency, so there are always actors, actresses, stylistas and movie industry related people mulling about. (In fact last time I was there, they were filming a TV drama inside the cafe called ‘Seoul Mate’ and I mistakenly asked one of the actors for a coffee LOL!)
Besides the wide array of coffees, teas, fresh juices, cakes and sandwiches which are available all day, Café Libro also offers Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. Actually the meals come from the 2nd floor restaurant called Cafe Piatto, but you can order food for consumption in the garden or terrace. Cafe Piatto does not have a good atmosphere, so don't bother going up there.
You can get starters like rucola salad with parmesan cheese, and procuitto with melon. There are also several pastas like linguine, spaghetti, gnocci and risotto. The extensive pizza menu has a pizza for every tastebud. Try the Romana with pimentos, chicken, tomato and mozzarella or, the tart Diavola with olives, salami and capers. Meat lovers can try the pizza with sausage and pepperoni and seafood enthusiasts can try the pizza with clams, mussels and squid. Cheese lovers can go for the 4 cheese pizza. If pasta and pizza is not your thing, there are main course choices such as beef filet and salmon. The food is edible but not the best. Hongdae isn't really known for it's great restaurants anyway. Most places cater to students.

If you are at the Starbucks near the Hongik university subway station, go down the "Parking Lot Street" (the one with the cars parked down the middle) until you reach the Su norebang (a white building on the corner with round shaped doors) turn left onto that street and you will see Cafe Libro's red awnings.

364-26 Seokyo-Dong Mapo-Gu
02) 320-9320
http://cafe-libro.co.kr

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