Platz Coffee - Daegu, South Korea

Information is on @blurah_blah, IG

Having a decent café nearby is truly a blessing. This is especially true on overcast or rainy days, when the humid air presses down on your entire body and your legs stage a rebellion. "We can't carry this heavy air and move far," they seem to protest.

It was one of those ambiguous afternoons when I found myself torn between wanting to laze around at home all day and feeling obligated to accomplish something—anything. Particularly on lazy days like these, this internal struggle feels all too familiar.

When I asked my Swedish friend, who shares my love for coffee, if she knew of any good spots near Chimsan-dong in Daegu's Buk-gu district, she recommended Platz. I found it amusing that a foreign friend had discovered this Korean café near our school before I had.

If I had to describe Platz Coffee in one phrase, I'd say it's like turning "the most extroverted introvert" into a physical space. This peculiar description feels most fitting because of the café's unique atmosphere.

The entrance features floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls and bright acrylic furniture, creating a fresh, open feeling. But as you venture deeper inside, the space gradually becomes more intimate. Wooden furniture multiplies, lighting grows softer, and seating becomes more spacious. Like the process of opening someone's heart, the exterior appears bright and welcoming, but as you move inward, a deeper, more comfortable space unfolds.

The location is exquisite too. Hidden within Chimsan-dong's residential complex, it's shielded from the noise of main roads. Unlike many Korean cafés positioned along busy streets or commercial districts, Platz Coffee exists like an oasis in the urban desert. Life operates on equivalent exchange—you can't have everything. To gain tranquility, you must sacrifice accessibility.

A barista with long hair cascading over his face, making his features barely visible, greeted me. As it turned out, he was a Korean acquaintance of my Swedish friend. His shy yet kind welcome oddly reminded me of an Old English Sheepdog—gentle and sweet-natured, like a dog whose eyes are hidden behind long fur.

Sitting by this window, listening to the rain while sipping a cool latte to beat the heat, feels like a form of healing. This is why Koreans regard cafés as their "third space"—neither home nor workplace, but somewhere you can have time entirely to yourself.

Platz Coffee's interior perfectly satisfies this desire. The right amount of white noise, soft lighting, comfortable chairs, and the tiny sense of intimacy from knowing the barista is a friend of a friend—all these elements offer me genuine rest.

After washing away the musty smell with a satisfying cup of latte, I venture back into the rain. But my mood is different now. The warm coffee has heated my body, and the time spent in that cozy space has soothed my soul.

Platz Coffee is like a hidden gem in Daegu's Buk-gu Chimsan-dong. It's not flashy but authentic, not trendy but distinctly characterized. If you need special comfort on a rainy day, or if your ordinary routine needs a small pause, I recommend seeking out this place.

You too might discover small happiness in a warm latte served by the long-haired barista, just as I did. And perhaps this place will become "a nearby blessing" for you as well.

Cafe Latte

Moderate weight with a smooth body.
Rich milk chocolate notes linger with a nutty finish.

On gloomy days, I drink lattes. This is my small personal ritual. I need the substantial coffee aroma and nuttiness to anchor the heavy, fishy air that settles on such days. Platz Coffee's latte seems made for days like these.

From the first sip, the bitter intensity of rich espresso meets creamy milk in perfect harmony. Unlike many Korean cafés that serve overly sweet lattes emphasizing sugary flavors, this place preserves coffee's inherent taste while achieving balance through milk's natural richness.