Last month, I had some business in the Mapo area. After finishing my work, I was thinking of just heading back, but I decided to go towards Daeheung Station to take a walk in the Gyeongui Line Forest Park (Yeontral Park) for the first time in a while. As I walked along, I discovered a unique cafe called Pawinhand.
I have loved dogs since I was young, but I couldn’t keep one at home. So, I used to visit dog cafes occasionally to bond with them. However, I saw a sign here stating that you can rescue, care for, and even donate abandoned dogs. So, I went right in. Here begins!
I was surprised by how crowded it was, even though it was a weekday afternoon. Fortunately, there was no line when I arrived, but all the tables filled up quickly. At the table next to me, Chinese tourists were sitting and interacting with the abandoned dogs while drinking coffee. While touring famous tourist attractions is an important part of travel, I believe that delving deeply into the local community is another kind of travel experience.
Here is a tip
I also visited on a weekend, and there were really, really a lot of people. It was around 3 PM, and there were as many as 13 groups waiting in line. Because of this, the cafe has a time limit: 120 minutes on weekdays and 90 minutes on weekends. If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing time, I recommend visiting on a weekday.
Directions to Pawinhand
Pawinhand is located right in front of Daeheung Station. You can get there by taking Line 6. Since it is close to Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong, and Sinchon, it would be even better to stop by here if you are planning to visit those areas. If you walk along Yeontral Park near the cafe, you will find many great restaurants and trendy shops, making it perfect for browsing. For more detailed information about Yeonnam-dong, you can check out Best places to eat in Yeonnam-dong (Personally paid for by travelers).
How to Use the Cafe
The first thing that catches your eye when you enter is the detailed profile cards of the rescued dogs displayed next to the counter. You can place an order after reading the cards, which contain various information such as their names, birthplace, age, and personality.
You must order one drink per person. Prices range from 5,500 KRW to 7,000 KRW. I ordered a refreshing iced Americano. After placing your order, you are given a vibrating pager and a small orange coin. You do not keep this coin; instead, you simply place it in a transparent box located next to the counter. It is a system where a set amount of dog food is donated to abandoned animals whenever coins are collected. It was a system with a good purpose, allowing you to enjoy a drink while also donating to abandoned dogs.
If you go inside and sit at a table, information about the dogs currently at Pawinhand is written on the table itself. Additionally, there are cute goods and souvenirs on one wall. You can make a direct donation by purchasing items such as stickers and badges. It would be a great souvenir to buy from Seoul, especially since it is for a good cause. If you are looking for information on unique Seoul souvenirs, please refer to Dongdaemun Toy Market, a must-visit during a trip to Seoul with children.
Important Information
- For safety reasons, preschool children and visitors accompanied by pets are not allowed to enter the area where dogs can play. Please keep this in mind!
- Pawinhand is a space for dogs waiting for adoption, not a dog cafe. Please refrain from any behavior that might make the dogs uncomfortable. Please do not raise your voice, chase after the dogs, or force them to touch you. Please only pet the dogs if they approach you first.
- Outside food or toys are not allowed.
When I visited, there were three dogs, but most people didn’t pay much attention to them; they were chatting and only petted the dogs when they came close. I did the same. They are so cute! You can find more detailed information on the official Pawinhand website.
Today, I wrote a post about Pawinhand, located near Daeheung Station. I only found out today that there is a cafe where you can empathize with abandoned dogs and even make a small donation. That is why I decided to write this post—to introduce it to foreigners visiting Seoul. I highly recommend that anyone who loves and adores dogs visit at least once.
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