La Montagna: Gangneung’s Stunning Hanok-Meets-Concrete Cafe
Some cafes are worth a detour all on their own. La Montagna (라몬타냐) in Gangneung is one of them — a soaring concrete cafe hidden behind the walls of a restored traditional hanok, where Korea’s past and a bold modern build sit right beside each other.
You arrive through an old hanok gate — tiled roof, timber beams, the works. Step through it and the scale flips completely.
Inside is a vast hall of raw concrete and warm plywood, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the curved tiled roofs of the hanok courtyard outside. Mid-century chairs in mustard, pink and navy are scattered between potted trees — it feels more like a design gallery than a coffee shop.
Overhead, skylights pour light through billowing white fabric, and a single copper pendant anchors a double-height atrium. It’s the kind of space that makes you slow down and look up.
Plywood shelves are styled with books and magazines, and a long steel table by the window makes a perfect sunlit reading nook — the sort of corner where you could happily lose an afternoon.
There’s plenty of room to spread out, including big communal tables that are great for groups. La Montagna is also a Neapolitan-style pizzeria, so you can pair your coffee with a proper wood-fired pizza or an Italian sandwich.
The drinks menu keeps it simple — espresso, lattes, herb teas, fruit ades and smoothies, plus a few signatures and desserts — and prices are surprisingly easygoing for a place this striking.
Good to know
- Where: 22-10 Gwansol-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon-do (강원 강릉시 관솔길 22-10)
- What: a design cafe and Neapolitan pizzeria in one
- Great for: architecture lovers, slow afternoons, and groups
- Tip: visit on a clear day — the light pouring through the skylights is half the experience.
If you’re traveling through Gangwon, La Montagna is an easy detour from Gangneung’s beaches — and a genuine highlight in its own right.