Those in the know will know that Factory is a cocktail bar that has been a fixture in Hongdae for a long time. It was around before the single malt boom ever hit Korea. I heard a rumor that they had opened a second branch as a cafe, so I dropped by while I was in Gongdeok anyway.
The front entrance
Visiting Factory in broad daylight.. who knew this day would come. It sits right in front of a park and I came during the day, so it seemed to be full of ladies from the neighborhood. Probably also because the atmosphere is a notch more upscale than your average cafe.
Whisky
Anyone who knows a bit about whisky would be startled by how good the list is. They are not doing proper evening hours yet, but it should be fun once they do. Of course, a few more places for round one would have to open nearby before it gets easy to use. Namhae Bada, maybe?
Inside
Great taste. It feels like not a single item was picked at random. This must be their first cafe, and yet somehow they have created a space this lovely.
Piña Colada
Since it was daytime I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail, and it is on a whole different level from the drinks you get at a regular cafe. Fresh fruit juice is all the rage these days, but when it tastes this good it is worth going out of your way for, even if the price is a bit steep. If there is a problem, it is only that the summer is so brutally hot and the drink is not all that big.
Very Berry Cooler
Come and see what a cocktail from a mixology expert is like~ It is a taste no ordinary cafe can compete with.
Coaster
Same as the one in Hongdae.
Simple snacks
I did not order these, but they brought them out on the house. I hardly knew where to put myself.. They are well stocked with drinking snacks too, so I will have to come back in the evening.
Bread
I asked for something simple to nibble on, and they said they were working on bread these days and brought this out. The plate is pretty, and the bread is nicely baked, crisp on the outside and moist inside. That plain bread can feel like a proper drinking snack is, I think, a sign of Factory’s depth. I hope the new cafe does well too.
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