Sage: A Book & Music Café
Reviewed by Jana Milosavljevic.
Book cafés and boardgame cafés are nothing new in Korea, and due to my love of books and boardgames, I have frequented both. However, if someone told me I would find a coffee shop that has books, boardgames, and delicious coffee and homemade tea on offer in a truly home-like atmosphere, I would not have believed them! Therefore, once I found Sage, it felt like a dream come true. This family-run coffee shop in a cozy neighborhood of Ilgok-dong, away from the bustle and noise of downtown Gwangju streets, is the perfect place to get away from it all. With its charming homey décor, as well as a voluminous collection of books and board games, Sage welcomes everyone – from families looking for fun on a Sunday afternoon, to couples who fancy a relaxed but fun date off the beaten path, and students in desperate need of a study break.
The first impression you will get once you enter Sage is the feeling that you entered the extended home of the owner. The description “Book and Music Café,” coined by the owner himself, genuinely reflects the amount of care and attention the owner puts into selecting the two. It is said that by looking at the books a person reads, one can get a good idea of their personality. At Sage, you could spend hours getting lost in the private collection of books the owner has put out to share with his neighbors and customers.
The same goes for the music. At Sage, do not expect to hear your default coffee shop playlist or the usual mix of pop songs that are popular at the moment and can be heard around every corner. The owner, who is known around the neighborhood as a music lover, carefully chooses the daily playlist, finding inspiration not only in his personal music taste, but everywhere he goes. Since creating a place of comfort in his coffee shop is always on his mind, sometimes he mentions that when he hears a song on TV or elsewhere that he believes would fit the soul of Sage, he will quickly look it up and add it to the playlist. Another passion of the owner is photography. Therefore, naturally, he put his camera-related collection on display in his extended home as well.
The menu is reasonably priced and includes everything from coffee, homemade teas, and smoothies, to cakes, ice cream, and even beer! I have visited Sage on numerous occasions – to study, play boardgames with friends, or just read – and during those visits, I have tasted some delicious coffee, affogato, and cheesecake. Since I am a true coffee lover, it is really important for me that the coffee tastes good. However, I would have to say that my personal favorite is an extra treat that the owner prepares himself and serves with every drink – roasted coffee beans covered in chocolate. If you like to snack on roasted coffee beans as much as I do, you will understand me when I say that having this delicacy dipped in chocolate is one of many reasons I keep going back to Sage!
Speaking of being handmade and making extra effort, all of the tea bases (sweet, thick, pulpy syrups known as cheong in Korean) for popular Korean teas such as yuja-cha (citron tea), jamong-cha (grapefruit tea), and mogwa-cha (quince tea) are indeed handmade with love by the lady of the house herself. Thus, there is no way that true tea lovers will be disappointed by the taste.
Another remarkable effort this family makes that cannot be left unmentioned is the one to protect the environment. Sage has joined hands with the environmental conservation organization called Café Latte Club. This means that all the milk cartons, which require a special recycling process, are washed, cut out, and sent for proper recycling after use in the coffee shop. If you are curious to find out more about the organization itself and its endeavors, you can find a more detailed explanation on its official Instagram page: @cafe_latte_club.
Last, but definitely not least, my favorite part of the coffee shop experience are the boardgames. Since Sage is not a boardgame café per se, there are no limitations or extra charges for enjoying the wide variety of boardgames on offer. Sage’s shelves are packed with boardgames ready for everyone to enjoy with friends or family for as long as one’s heart desires. Finally, in case you would like to take a piece of Sage’s homey atmosphere with you as a souvenir, you can have a look at the gift corner – a cupboard with tea, coffee beans, and other small gifts such as cushions, candle holders, and flowerpots. I am sure that once you visit Sage, its delights and unique atmosphere will make their way into your heart, and you will keep returning to enjoy them, just as I do.
SAGE (세이지)
Address: 33-1, Ilgok-taekji-ro 99-beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 일곡택지로99번길 33-1
Operating Hours: Daily 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Instagram: @sinseon
The Reviewer
Jana Milosavljevic was born and raised in Serbia. She currently lives in Gwangju, and she loves exploring and learning about new cultures and meeting new people. In order to be able to communicate with as many people as possible, apart from Serbian, she has learned English, Japanese, Korean, and German. Instagram: @janemiya