It’s natural to crave a pleasant flavour when walking down the street and catching a glimpse of tasty treats through the window. Not something that tastes like a bad imitation, not something that just looks pretty. Here are four Jongno cafes that do dessert right.
1. Katadin
Katahdin is quietly tucked away in a narrow alley off busy Bukchon-ro with no signage. It’s a small cafe with beautifully plated cheesecake, banana pudding, and baked goods. It’s a great place to leave the house a little early if you have an appointment in Anseong and spend some time relaxing. You can also pre-order custom cakes with fresh flowers.
📍31-6, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu
2. Toobe
At the end of Insa-dong, opposite An Guk-dong, where Catadin is located, is the tea house Tobe. The tea is served in handmade pottery and the desserts are made with natural ingredients. Their signature is lemon jelly. New desserts are available every season, and right now they’re selling corn shaved ice by the second.
📍62-4, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu
3. Foodté
Tucked away in a hanok behind the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Fou de thé is known for its parfaits. Their signature is the matcha Mont Blanc parfait. In addition to parfaits, the shop also serves tea sweets such as yanggang and mochi that go well with tea.
📍40-37, Yulgok-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu
4. Coffee Bronze
When it comes to the best strawberry cake in Seoul, Coffee Bronze, located right in front of An Guk Station, is always mentioned. The fresh cream cake with beautifully layered strawberry slices is just the right amount of sweet and light. Similarly, its siblings are densely packed with mango and kiwi.
📍📍20, Yulgok-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu