Source: https://heyseorak.com/spots/blua
Last-Updated: 2026-06-15

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# BLUA (블루아)

> Say the romanized name when ordering. Staff will understand even if your pronunciation isn't perfect.

Category: cafe | Type: drink, eat | Area: yeongnangho | Price range: moderate
Address: 582-8 Yeongnang-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
Hours: Mon Closed, Tue–Fri 11:00-18:00, Sat–Sun 11:00-15:00 (Public listings and social posts can vary by season; check Naver Place or Instagram before a late visit.)
English menu available: Yes

## Trust and freshness
- Verification: interview / 2026-06-15
- Menu freshness: updated 2026-06-15T09:03:10.649+00:00

BLUA is a quiet Yeongnangho cafe where the owner turned her own Sokcho life into the menu: hand-drip coffee, gentle brunch, and a warm Haenyeo story rather than a loud beach-cafe concept. Haenyeo are Korea's women sea divers, and here the theme is not decorative only. The owner actually learned to enter the water, gathers local inspiration from the East Sea, and turns that admiration into blue cream drinks, sea-salt waffles, buckwheat noodles, and slow brunch plates. Come here when you want a calm lane near Yeongnangho, not a fast turnover cafe.

Pro tip: Pair BLUA with a Yeongnangho walk. Order the Haenyeo Cream Cafe au Lait if you want the cafe's sweet-salty signature in one cup, or choose Haenyeo Soban when you have time for a quiet brunch. The room is small and unhurried, so it works best when you are happy to sit softly rather than rush.

## Story

### How it started
Before Sokcho, the owner spent years in Seoul, first planning for an outdoor brand and later working around legal and corporate documents. A stay connected to the Rene Blue Hotel event near Songjiho changed the direction of her life. She came to Cheonjin and Goseong for what was meant to be a one-month stay in October 2020, extended it for several more months, and realized that the East Sea felt beautiful enough that she did not need to keep dreaming of Jeju. In 2021 she found a small shop near Yeongnangho, did the putty work and painting herself for three to four months, and opened BLUA in May.

### Philosophy
BLUA is built around work-life balance, not expansion for its own sake. The owner wanted to keep doing what she liked while protecting a slower life, so she began without heavy investment and still runs the cafe in a way that leaves room for other work: early-morning salad delivery, parasol picnic rentals, and longer-stay lodging. That is why the cafe feels relaxed rather than pressured. It is not trying to be the busiest place in Sokcho; it is trying to stay alive in a form the owner can keep loving.

### Signature
The Haenyeo theme came from respect. When the owner first saw local Haenyeo gathering like a circle of mermaids, she was moved by the clarity and pride of women still entering the water in their seventies and eighties. She later learned to go into the sea herself and has gathered things like scallops from the water. In the menu, Haenyeo becomes sweet-salty blue cream, vanilla soda, gamtae waffles, buckwheat noodles, and brunch plates that feel healthy without losing playfulness.

### Finding the place
The location matters as much as the menu. BLUA sits in a small Yeongnangho-side lane with a calmer rhythm than the beach streets, and public parking nearby makes it easy to fold into a lake walk. It is especially good for visitors who want Sokcho's sea, lake, and small-neighborhood mood in one stop.

### Seasonal notes
Fresh fruit, salad delivery, brunch components, and Haenyeo-themed specials can change with sourcing and the owner's schedule. Treat the menu page as a guide and confirm the board when you arrive.

### For international visitors
The owner has traveled and worked around foreign guests, but BLUA is not a place built around long scripted English service. Simple ordering and payment are fine, and the cafe naturally respects each person's quiet time. Keep the English menu open, point to the Haenyeo drinks or brunch you want, and enjoy the slower mood.

> I want to keep doing the things I love whilst maintaining a good work-life balance.

## Services

- **Salad Subscription Delivery** (샐러드 정기배송) — ₩72,000–240,000
  BLUA's separate early-morning salad delivery service.
  1 week 6 packs, 2 weeks 12 packs, or 4 weeks 24 packs.
- **Parasol Picnic Set Rental** (파라솔 피크닉 세트 대여) — ₩45,000
  Rental set for a relaxed outdoor stop near Yeongnangho. The board lists a parasol, chairs, table, mat, and small cookie/snack items.
  Ask ahead for availability.

## Dietary Summary
- Total menu items: 44
- Common allergens: milk, egg, wheat, shellfish, fish, buckwheat, nuts

## Menu

### Signature Haenyeo (시그니처 해녀)

- **Hae-nyeo Keu-rim Ka-pe O-re** (해녀 크림 카페오레) — ₩6,500 ⭐ Signature
  BLUA's sweet-salty signature: hand-drip cafe au lait with sea-salt blue cream and a gentle hazelnut note. The name keeps Haenyeo, the Korean women sea-diver tradition, as the center of the drink.
  Ingredients: hand-drip coffee, milk, sea-salt blue cream | Allergens: milk
- **Hae-nyeo Keu-rim So-da** (해녀 크림 소다) — ₩7,000 ⭐ Signature
  Blue-curacao soda with basil, cherry, vanilla ice cream, and a diver-at-sea mood. Sweet, fizzy, creamy, and intentionally playful.
  Ingredients: blue curacao, vanilla ice cream, soda | Allergens: milk
- **Hae-nyeo Keu-rim A-mon-deu Wa-peul** (해녀 크림 아몬드 와플) — Half (하프) ₩5,000 / Whole (원) ₩8,000 ⭐ Signature
  An almond waffle finished with apple-cinnamon jam, sea-salt blue cream, caramel drizzle, vanilla ice cream, and a little gamtae seaweed.
  Ingredients: almond waffle, blue cream, vanilla ice cream, gamtae | Allergens: milk, egg, wheat, nuts | Serving: Half or whole waffle.

### Hand-Drip Coffee (핸드드립 커피)

- **A-me-ri-ka-no** (아메리카노) — ₩5,000
  Hand-drip coffee from BLUA's house blend, showing citrus and berry brightness with caramel and nutty sweetness.
  Ingredients: hand-drip coffee
- **Ka-pe Ra-tte** (카페라떼) — ₩5,500
  Hand-drip coffee softened with milk, for guests who want BLUA's coffee profile in a gentler cup.
  Ingredients: hand-drip coffee, milk | Allergens: milk
- **Ba-nil-la Ka-pe O-re** (바닐라 카페오레) — ₩6,000
  Vanilla syrup, hand-drip coffee, and milk in BLUA's cafe-au-lait style.
  Ingredients: hand-drip coffee, milk, vanilla | Allergens: milk

### Decaf Coffee (디카페인)

- **Di-ka-pe-in A-me-ri-ka-no** (디카페인 아메리카노) — ₩5,500
  Decaffeinated hand-drip coffee for a softer coffee stop near Yeongnangho.
  Ingredients: decaf coffee
- **Di-ka-pe-in Ra-tte** (디카페인 라떼) — ₩6,000
  Decaf coffee with milk.
  Ingredients: decaf coffee, milk | Allergens: milk
- **Di-ka-pe-in Ba-nil-la Ra-tte** (디카페인 바닐라라떼) — ₩6,500
  Decaf coffee, milk, and vanilla for a low-caffeine sweet latte.
  Ingredients: decaf coffee, milk, vanilla | Allergens: milk

### Non-Coffee Lattes & Shakes (논커피 라떼와 쉐이크)

- **Ra-ben-deo Ra-tte** (라벤더 라떼) — ₩6,000
  Lavender syrup and milk. Add an espresso shot if you want it to lean coffee-like.
  Ingredients: lavender, milk | Allergens: milk | Serving: Hot or iced. Espresso shot +₩500.
- **Che-ri Ra-tte** (체리 라떼) — ₩6,000
  A cherry milk latte with a dessert-like finish.
  Ingredients: cherry, milk | Allergens: milk
- **Ba-jil Chi-jeu Ra-tte** (바질 치즈 라떼) — ₩6,000
  Basil, mascarpone cheese, oligosaccharide, and milk. Unusual, creamy, and very BLUA.
  Ingredients: basil, mascarpone, milk | Allergens: milk | Serving: Espresso shot +₩500.
- **Cho-ko Ra-tte** (초코 라떼) — ₩6,000
  Chocolate milk latte, served hot or iced.
  Ingredients: chocolate, milk | Allergens: milk
- **Ttal-gi Ra-tte** (딸기 라떼) — ₩6,000
  Strawberry milk latte, one of the simple choose-your-flavor lattes on the board.
  Ingredients: strawberry, milk | Allergens: milk
- **Jo-ri-pong Swei-keu** (조리퐁 쉐이크) — ₩6,500
  Korean Jolly Pong cereal blended with milk and vanilla syrup into a simple sweet shake.
  Ingredients: Jolly Pong cereal, milk, vanilla | Allergens: milk, wheat
- **Deo-beul Cho-ko Swei-keu** (더블 초코 쉐이크) — ₩6,500
  A richer chocolate shake for a dessert-style drink.
  Ingredients: chocolate, milk | Allergens: milk
- **O-re-o Swei-keu** (오레오 쉐이크) — ₩6,500
  Choose strawberry Oreo or blueberry Oreo.
  Ingredients: Oreo, milk | Allergens: milk, wheat

### Juice, Ade & Tea (주스, 에이드와 티)

- **Ttal-gi Re-mon Ju-seu** (딸기 레몬 주스) — ₩6,000
  A fresh fruit drink with strawberry and lemon.
  Ingredients: strawberry, lemon
- **Beul-lu-be-ri Ba-na-na Ju-seu** (블루베리 바나나 주스) — ₩6,000
  Blueberry and banana blended into a thicker fruit drink.
  Ingredients: blueberry, banana
- **O-ren-ji Chak-jeup Ju-seu** (오렌지 착즙주스) — ₩6,000
  Fresh-squeezed orange juice.
  Ingredients: orange
- **Bok-sung-a Beul-lu Ra-im E-i-deu** (복숭아 블루라임 에이드) — ₩6,000
  Peach and blue-lime tea turned into a fizzy ade.
  Ingredients: peach, blue lime, sparkling water
- **Yu-ja Min-teu E-i-deu** (유자 민트 에이드) — ₩6,000
  Yuzu and mint tea made bright and sparkling.
  Ingredients: yuzu, mint, sparkling water
- **Ze-ro Ja-mong E-i-deu** (제로 자몽 에이드) — ₩6,000
  Grapefruit ade with low sugar
  Ingredients: grapefruit, sparkling water
- **Ze-ro Cheong-po-do E-i-deu** (제로 청포도 에이드) — ₩6,000
  Green-grape ade with low sugar
  Ingredients: green grape, sparkling water
- **Kae-mo-ma-il** (캐모마일) — ₩5,000
  Floral herbal tea, served hot or iced.
  Serving: Hot or iced.
- **Pe-peo-min-teu** (페퍼민트) — ₩5,000
  Clean mint herbal tea, served hot or iced.
  Serving: Hot or iced.
- **Eol-geu-re-i** (얼그레이) — ₩5,000
  Black tea with bergamot aroma.
- **Ra-ben-deo Ti** (라벤더 티) — ₩5,000
  A calm herbal tea with lavender aroma.
- **Ttal-gi Ba-nil-la Beul-laek-ti** (딸기 바닐라 블랙티) — ₩5,500
  Black tea with strawberry and vanilla. Can be changed into milk tea.
  Allergens: milk | Serving: Milk tea style available.
- **Yu-ja Min-teu Baeng-syo** (유자 민트 뱅쇼) — ₩6,500
  Yuzu syrup, peppermint, and apple tea for a warm, herbal winter-style drink.
  Ingredients: yuzu, peppermint, apple tea

### Haenyeo Brunch & Noodles (해녀 브런치와 면)

- **Hae-nyeo So-ban** (해녀 소반) — Single (단품) ₩18,000 / Set (세트) ₩22,000 ⭐ Signature
  A Korean brunch tray inspired by Haenyeo food culture, with seafood, greens, small rice or grain elements, and hand-drip Americano in the set version.
  Ingredients: seafood, greens, rice, hand-drip coffee | Allergens: shellfish, fish, wheat | Serving: Single ₩18,000 / set ₩22,000. Exact side dishes may rotate.
- **Deul-kkae Me-mil Guk-su** (들깨 메밀국수) — ₩10,000 ⭐ Signature
  100% buckwheat noodles with perilla. Nutty, clean, and lighter than a heavy brunch plate.
  Ingredients: buckwheat noodles, perilla | Allergens: buckwheat | Serving: Mini salad +₩3,000, shrimp +₩4,000, grilled fish +₩5,000.
- **Tot Ba-jil Pa-seu-ta** (톳 바질 파스타) — ₩10,000
  Tot seaweed, basil pesto, olive oil, and parmesan cheese in a simple ocean-herb oil pasta.
  Ingredients: tot seaweed, basil pesto, olive oil, parmesan | Allergens: milk, wheat

### Waffles & Light Meals (와플과 가벼운 식사)

- **Syu-keu-rim Ang-pat Wa-peul** (슈크림 앙팥 와플) — Half (하프) ₩6,000 / Whole (원) ₩10,000
  A waffle with pastry cream, strawberry jam, and red bean paste.
  Allergens: milk, egg, wheat | Serving: Half or whole waffle.
- **Chi-kin Wa-peul** (치킨 와플) — Half (하프) ₩7,500 / Whole (원) ₩12,000
  Waffle with chicken, grain mustard, and cheese. Sweet, salty, and closer to a light meal than dessert.
  Ingredients: waffle, chicken, grain mustard, cheese | Allergens: milk, egg, wheat | Serving: Half or whole waffle.

### Salad, Sandwich & Services (샐러드, 샌드위치와 서비스)

- **Dak-ga-seum-sal Sael-leo-deu** (닭가슴살 샐러드) — ₩10,000
  A straightforward chicken-breast salad from BLUA's salad board.
  Ingredients: chicken breast, greens
- **Ba-jil Chi-kin Sael-leo-deu** (바질치킨 샐러드) — ₩11,000
  Chicken salad with a basil-forward flavor.
  Ingredients: chicken, basil, greens
- **To-ma-to Cheese Ham-bak-seu-te-i-keu Sael-leo-deu** (토마토 치즈 함박스테이크 샐러드) — ₩12,000
  A salad topped with Tomato Cheese hamburg steak for a more filling bowl.
  Ingredients: hamburg steak, greens
- **Dak-an-sim Be-i-keon Saen-deu-wi-chi** (닭안심 베이컨 샌드위치) — ₩8,000
  Choose bagel or ciabatta for this chicken-and-bacon sandwich.
  Ingredients: chicken tenderloin, bacon, bagel or ciabatta | Allergens: wheat | Serving: Choose bagel or ciabatta.
- **Ba-jil Chi-kin Saen-deu-wi-chi** (바질치킨 샌드위치) — ₩9,000
  Basil chicken sandwich, served on your choice of bagel or ciabatta.
  Ingredients: basil chicken, bagel or ciabatta | Allergens: wheat | Serving: Choose bagel or ciabatta.

### Light Alcohol (가벼운 술)

- **Hae-nyeo-ui Nak-won** (해녀의 낙원) — ₩5,000
  A light yuzu-makgeolli glass with fermented sweetness. Best treated as a gentle day drink.
  Ingredients: yuzu, makgeolli
- **Kal-lu-a Mil-keu** (칼루아 밀크) — ₩7,000
  Coffee liqueur and milk. A soft, dessert-like cocktail.
  Ingredients: Kahlua, milk | Allergens: milk | Serving: Rum shot +₩1,000.
- **Seu-keu-ryu Deu-ra-i-beo** (스크류 드라이버) — ₩7,000
  Vodka and orange juice.
  Ingredients: vodka, orange juice
- **E-seu-peu-re-so Ma-ti-ni** (에스프레소 마티니) — ₩7,000
  Vodka, coffee, and syrup in a cafe-style cocktail.
  Ingredients: vodka, coffee, syrup