A lot of the café scene in Seoul is all about the vibes. Fancy drinks and pastries or cakes that are as much a feast for your eyes as your mouth. At some point, you become numb to the vibes. And you just want some good coffee made with finesse without the frills. That’s where Fritz comes in. As a brand, Fritz feels timeless: contemporary design seamlessly integrated into historic contexts. And a cheeky mascot of a seal with a cup of coffee. As a coffee shop, Fritz delivers on the substance. Since coming onto the scene in 2014, it’s cultivated a reputation among coffee lovers as one of the best in the city, and their roasted beans are served and celebrated in many coffee shops far beyond Korea. They keep the food simple as well. Buttery croissants and sourdough breads to complement the coffee.

Many of their locations are in beautifully preserved traditional buildings, retaining a unique character and ambiance for sipping. The aesthetic is a little midcentury vintage, with designs that evoke craft from a different era, complemented by deliberately modern elements. It’s a tried and true place for good coffee, a place where it is worth buying a bag of beans as a souvenir, and most of all a place where you feel compelled to linger and enjoy a little calm amid the constantly moving city.