Tucked away in a rather nondescript building far away from the long lines to hyped cafes in more touristy parts of town, EERO is a sanctuary in more ways than one. It’s an aesthetic cafe, like so many others in this city, and ones that leans into clean minimal architecture inspired by the elements. The space is sensory and artistic, with a nod to traditional cultural heritage with the mythical creature called the Haetae as a theme throughout the cafe, and striking art installations throughout the space. The main level of the cafe blends the indoor and outdoor, with glass walls overlooking a courtyard garden and a rain fountain layering some visual depth to the stone grey tones. The basement is intimate and earthy, like a minimalist cave with clean lines and mood lighting to escape from the world above.

The aesthetic is woven into the menu. The desserts reflect the space like tiny pieces of art, and the Haetae making cameos as a motif across the pastry display. Like the space, it’s inspired by nature, with a beautiful set of mousse cakes (Haechi’s Divine Forest) by the season. Flavors for the drinks and pastries draw from familiar Korean ingredients: black sesame, mugwort, corn and rice. EERO is a cafe that is confident in its identity, crafting a beautiful experience of taste and ambience that embraces the intersection of mystic tradition and modern design for a timeless endeavor that offers a particular perspective worth coming out of your way to in a city full of beautiful cafes.