Jongno bakery picnic with onion bagels: Munhwa Bakery

Munhwa Bakery is within walking distance of Seosulla-gil, Cheonggyecheon, Jongmyo Shrine, Seoul National University Hospital, Ikseon-dong, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Chungmuro, and Sewoon Plaza from Jongno 3-ga Station. Today, I sat by Cheonggyecheon and tried Munhwa Bakery's freshly made, delicious breads.

Honestly, I do not often have a reason to go to Cheonggyecheon either, so today I made a point of going in full tourist mode. I found a spot in the shade cast beneath a bridge, but everyone was already sitting there resting.

With the sound of water and a cool breeze gently fluttering through, I just melted into a good mood. Snack time outdoors, away from a stuffy interior, is one of those small joys that blows everyday stress away.

Things to know before visiting Munhwa Bakery

• The shop is on the small side, so two parties may enter at a time.
• The line can be long, but it moves incredibly quickly because people choose their bread and head right out, so there is no need to worry.
• Tell the owner which breads you would like, and they will pack them for you. It feels very hygienic.

Even though I arrived around 3 p.m., quite a few breads were already sold out, which was a shame.

There were exactly two coffee breads left, so the person behind me and I happily took the final ones. If you want plenty of choices, it is better to make an early visit. That day, I chose an onion bagel (₩6,000) and coffee bread (₩5,800) with a soft mocha aroma.

The onion bagel I recommend

What surprised me personally was the texture of the onion bagel. Its exterior had that satisfyingly crisp crunch, yet it was neither tough nor hard, which was amazing. The cream cheese tucked throughout was not at all rich or greasy, and there was no worry about scraping the roof of your mouth right through the last bite. A crisp onion bagel that does not hurt your palate! I recommend it.

Fragrant coffee bread that is sweet without overdoing it

The aroma of the coffee bread was no joke. The subtle sweetness of the mocha topping coating the outside. It was delicious because it was not too sweet. That was exactly it. Fragrant, not overly sweet, not greasy mocha cream! How did they strike this balance? The soft bread and cream melting together in my mouth were perfectly matched.

Munhwa Bakery is already well known, so I had high expectations for how good it would be, but it was even more delicious than I expected—and it practically melted away the moment I put it in my mouth~

Each bread came neatly wrapped in its own plastic bag, so nothing got on my hands and no bread smell escaped outside. It was nice for taking public transit or putting them in a bag. The display shelves inside were spotless too, and although I kept asking questions, they answered so kindly. I felt a little sorry because they were busy... ^^;;

The bread is delicious, of course, but Munhwa Bakery also has great hygiene, atmosphere, and service, so I immediately understood why it is such a popular bakery around Jongno 3-ga.

After enjoying them happily at Cheonggyecheon, I went home in the evening and shared the remaining breads with a friend.

My friend picked the coffee bread, with its lingering coffee aroma, as the top choice, while I raised my hand for the crisp onion bagel. Rather than flashy toppings that are popular these days, Munhwa Bakery is a Jongno 3-ga bakery focused on the fundamentals of classic flavors!

An easy route for a Cheonggyecheon takeaway picnic

It is an easy place to pick up something to enjoy while planning an Ikseon-dong date or an outing around Jongno, or as a light tea-time snack for people working in the area. The breads are not overpowering and sit comfortably in the stomach—perhaps they ferment them well? As a Jongno 3-ga bakery built on such solid basics, I want to visit earlier on my next outing and try the other breads one by one! These are breads that anyone, young or old, can enjoy without much chance of dislike, so I definitely recommend stopping by at least once!

Like I did, you can take them away and sit by Cheonggyecheon to eat. Just walk a little downhill and Cheonggyecheon is right there!