Magnate Cafe (메그네이트): Owned by BTS Jimin’s Dad in Busan

You bleed purple and you know this place. Magnate is a cafe owned by BTS Jimin’s dad and since its opening, it has become a holy place for ARMY, or anyone who is interested in Kpop.

Address of Magnate Cafe

135, Jinnam-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, South Korea

How to Get to Magnate Cafe

• Subway: Line 2 (Green Line), get off at Motgol station (못골/214), Exit 4 > Walk to Cafe Magnate. It will take about 13 minutes for 750 meters (about half a mile).
• Bus: Take No. 10, 101, or 138, and get off at Yeonpo Elementary School bus stop (연포초등학교/Yeonpo chodeunghakgyo.)
• Relatively ample parking space is available.

Opening Hours

10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (every day)

Contact

• Phone: +82-51-635-5005
• Instagram feed of Cafe Magnate
• Naver page of Cafe Magnate

Magnate Cafe

Magnate Cafe would have different meanings to two groups of people. If you think it is a spacy local cafe with good coffee and bakeries, you belong to a regular group. If you are a member of ARMY, yes, this is a holy place you have to stop by when you visit Busan. This place has got its fame because a BTS member, Jimin’s dad owns Magnate Cafe. But, it would not be fair to say the cafe gets popular solely thanks to Jimin because it serves up good coffee and delicious pastries. 

Magnate Cafe is located in an area that is not quite popular among travelers. You need to walk a bit from Motgol station if you ride a subway. Or, the cafe is quite close to a bus station. If you drive, Magnate has a quite large parking lot unlike other local cafes in a residential area. When you get there, the grand heavy metal doors welcome you.

Spacious Inside of Magnate Cafe

Magnate is spacious. The inside of the cafe is cozy. You can enjoy natural light through large windows when you sit near the windows. If you are ARMY, you would feel you definitely belong to this place because there will other ARMY in the cafe, for sure. I visited the cafe at a not-too-busy time, but I saw quite a few international guests.

Don’t Expect Too Many Things About Jimin

You may expect Magnate Cafe would be full of goods or things related to Jimin or BTS. Nope. If you are not an ARMY or a fan of BTS, you wouldn’t realize the cafe has anything to do with BTS or Jimin.

However, you will find a few hints that say this is a place worth visiting for ARMY. Among the items, the hat and cap collection on the cabinet is a must-see item. Those are hats and caps Jimin once wore. In the entrance area, you will see several plant gifts for Jimin and BTS as well.

Artistic Interiors

Don’t be disappointed because you can’t grab and touch the love of Jimin. The cafe has quite artistic and unique interiors so it welcomes its guests in its own way. Even the facade of the restrooms is fancy. Plus, there is another restroom on the other side of the cafe.

The Menu at Magnate Cafe

Magnate Cafe serves up good coffee and quality dessert. My wife and I had hand-drip coffee, Americano, cheese bread, and Hallabong black tea cake (한라봉 홍차 케이크). All we ordered was satisfactory. They bake all their pastries on the spot.

Just one thing I would suggest is that there are no English name tags for pastries and desserts (It may have changed since the 2022 concert. I’ll check it out when I visit the cafe again). You can always say ‘this or that,’ but it would be better to know which is which when you order. There is a separate English menu for drinks, though.

Manufacturing Plant to Magnate Cafe

Did you know that Magnate Cafe was once a manufacturing plant? This 50-year-old factory site was transformed into a handsome industrial cafe. Because of its history, you may feel the exterior of the cafe would be metallic or even rough. But, it has its own charm in that way.

Do You Need a Tour of Busan? Busan Day and Night Full Day Tour by Trazy

If you are looking for the most convenient way to travel around Busan, Trazy offers a great local tour that includes Busan’s essential destinations like Gamcheon Culture Village and Oryukdo Island. Visit its page and find out more information about the tour including reviews from previous guests.

Busan Day & Night Full Day Tour

More Cafes in Busan: 7 Best Cafes in Gijing

If you are looking for more cafes in Busan, Gijang is a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee while embracing the fantastic ocean view. Find out the 7 Best Cafes in Gijang.

Gwangalli Beach near Cafe Magnate

The hip and hot Gwangalli Beach is not too far from Cafe Magnate. Read the full post about Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge.

In addition to Gwangalli Beach, United Nations Memorial Cemetery and Busan Museum is near Cafe Magnate. These are great places to learn about the history of Busan and Korea.

If you are a hiker, Igidae Coastal Walk is a great trail for you. Here, you can enjoy Oryukdo Island and Oryukdo Skywalk together.

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