Café
Onion Seongsu
The original branch of the Onion bakery café, set in a stripped-back 1970s building in Seongsu that once housed a factory, known for pandoro and butter…
Fritz Coffee Company Dohwa
The first branch of Fritz Coffee Company, a Seoul roaster and bakery known for its seal logo and retro style, set in a converted house near Gongdeok.
At a glance
- Type
- Speciality coffee roaster and bakery
- Area
- Mapo (Dohwa-dong), Seoul, South Korea
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- fritz.co.kr
Good to know
- Open daily
- In-house bakery
- Coffee beans to take away
Why we recommend it
Fritz Coffee Company is one of the names that shaped Seoul's speciality coffee scene. It was founded by a group of partners that included baristas, a green coffee buyer and a pastry chef, and the company now runs seven cafés across the city. Dohwa, in Mapo, is the first of them, and it is still the branch with the most character. The brand is easy to recognise from its cartoon seal logo and its deliberately retro design, which borrows from Korean graphics of past decades.
The café occupies a converted older house on a quiet side street, with several small rooms rather than one large open space. Coffee is roasted by the company, and the menu usually offers a choice of espresso blends and single-origin filter coffees, alongside milk drinks for those who prefer something softer. Beans are sold to take away, along with branded goods that make popular souvenirs. The bakery counter is as much of a draw as the coffee: croissants, pain au chocolat, cream-filled breads and other pastries are baked fresh, and the best items go early.
Fritz suits coffee enthusiasts, breakfast seekers and anyone who wants a relaxed hour away from the main sightseeing areas. It is busy with locals at weekends, so a weekday morning visit is the most comfortable. It also makes a good stop if you are staying around Mapo, Gongdeok or Hongdae, or passing through on the way to Yeouido.
According to the company, the Dohwa store opens from 08:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Seating is spread across small rooms, so groups may need to split up at busy times. Order and choose your pastries at the counter. Prices are typical of Seoul's speciality cafés.
If you only have time for one coffee stop in Mapo, this is a good choice, as it combines a roaster, a bakery and a characterful building in one visit.
The café is a few minutes' walk from Gongdeok Station, which is served by Lines 5 and 6, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and the AREX airport railway, making it convenient for travellers arriving from or heading to Incheon Airport. The other Fritz branches, including Wonseo near Changdeokgung, are worth seeking out if you like the Dohwa original.
Fritz Coffee Company Dohwa FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The Dohwa store opens 08:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
What is Fritz known for?
Its own roasted coffee, fresh pastries and a retro style with a cartoon seal logo.
Is Dohwa the original branch?
Yes. Dohwa is the company's first store; there are now seven Fritz cafés in Seoul.
Can you buy coffee beans?
Yes. Beans and branded goods are sold to take away.
When is it least busy?
Weekday mornings are calmest; weekends are popular with locals.
What should you eat?
Pick from the bakery counter, which includes croissants, pain au chocolat and cream breads; popular items sell out early.
How do you get there?
Walk a few minutes from Gongdeok Station, which is served by Lines 5 and 6, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and AREX.
Are there other branches?
Yes, including Wonseo near Changdeokgung, Yangjae, Seongsan, Dongnimmun and Jangchung.