D’s Café Column: Gallery Café Chaeum – Where Coffee Meets Art

By Dhivyaa S. P. ||

It’s already February! Hope you’ve taken a look at your goals for the year. No rush, slow but steady wins. And speaking of slow and steady moments, how about a café visit?

Gallery Café Chaeum (chae-um), in Ullim-dong of Gwangju’s Dong-gu, isn’t just for coffee lovers. It’s for anyone who likes a place that feels a bit magical, almost like stepping into a mini art museum.

The moment you enter, you’ll see why the name “Gallery Café” fits perfectly. Paintings hang on every wall, sculptures sit quietly beside tables, and even the chairs look like they have a story to tell. Most of the furniture and art pieces are real antiques, over 100 years old.

I read in a blog that the owner of this café personally brings them back from historic cities across England, France, and Italy. Just sitting in this café feels like time traveling through Europe’s old salons. Also, the owner once said he prefers to call this place a salon or drawing room, not just a café.

It’s more than a place to drink coffee. It’s a cultural space where art, conversation, and music meet. Many middle-aged regulars seem to enjoy the atmosphere and coffee deeply, like old friends returning home. Even the bathroom has artworks hanging inside. This place does not skip a corner.

Outdoor seating is available, soft and romantic – perfect for spring or sunny winter days. Inside, it feels like sitting in an elegant living room of a wealthy European family but with Korean snacks and coffee using beans from Brazil, Kenya, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.

As if time rewinds, the space takes you back through art and history. A treat for anyone who loves antiques and art!

P.S. We ate at Sujata (a vegetarian buffet), had coffee at Chaeum, and took a riverside walk on the Jungsim-sa temple course.

Cover Photo: Gallery Café Chaeum. (Dhivyaa S. P.)